How can I take notes more effectively ?

Answer 1

To take notes more effectively, don't just write everything that's on the slide in the presentation, also pay attention to the details that the teacher is talking about and add those to your notes. Important details that you want to add to your notes would be important dates, how an event unfolded etc. (think of the who? what? when? where? how? and so?)

Having a highlighter also helps. Highlighting important details and dates are also very helpful. Color-coding can be very helpful. Assigning a color like for example red for dates and yellow for important details is also very helpful in note-taking, especially math. After writing your notes, study your notes at night before going to bed, roughly an hour before going to bed and early in the morning when you wake up. Studying and reviewing your notes everyday will help you prepare for midterms and final exams.

Flashcards are also very helpful if you need to study and memorize history dates and vocabulary words. You can also mix and match flash cards. Studying your flashcards an hour before you go to bed and early in the morning when you wake up is also very helpful.

Finally, this advice may seem insignificant, but it is still very helpful and important. Don't underestimate the importance of eating a healthy breakfast and getting enough sleep! Scientific studies have shown that for example eating blueberries and having matcha improves your brain performance. Your brain is a muscle, it needs nutrients in order to function properly.

Answer 2

Taking notes is not transcribing word-by-word what the speaker is saying. While taking notes, you are involved in at least 2 processes at the same time:

1- distilling what the speaker is saying, extracting the core ideas (there may be irrelevant comments, or things that are explained or said that you already know and do not need to take notes)

2- putting the distilled content in writing: since the notes are just for you, and your own use, you can use abbreviations signs, and whatever helps to jot down faster and more efficiently, while not sacrificing content - even using other languages if they have shorter versions for that word. Also, you can skip certain words, as long as you are not sacrificing content/meaning.

Whatever works for you, in your own 'taking notes language' means that you can go back and read your notes and understand them, even if someone else does not.

Happy to connect and give you examples. The above never fails.

Answer 3

The way I take notes is to write down what the topic is. Then I write down which assignment I'll have to turn in next. Then I write down things the teacher says, but not every word, just summarize so you can write faster and not miss what the teacher is still saying. If something gave me an idea for a paper, I add a checkmark. If I didn't understand something, I write a question mark. If I remember the teacher saying something at a different time that might work with the assignment, I write that down in a different colored pen. If I am reading something that I can use, I usually write the entire quote, the page number, and the letter Q on the side.

By the time I'm done taking notes, I know what I can do for my next assignment. Or I understand what's going on and what I have to follow up on before a test.

Answer 4

It is very important to be able to take good notes for quizzes, writing assignments and tests, as well as college prep exams like the SAT/ACT/SSAT/GRE tests. Have a yellow highlighter to highlight important information. The guiding questions or the 5 interrogatives include the following: Who? What? Where? When? Where? and How? These are the essential question that guide the reader to the thesis, the main idea, or the lead in a newspaper, magazine, or printed text. Try circling important word, reoccurring phrases, bold type in Headlines or photo credits or captions. Next eliminate excess words. Be brief, precise, and concise. Write in the margins. Outline what is key and the location is.

Answer 5

I have had the most success teaching students a Cornell-style note-taking system. Starting with a split page (lined note page folded lengthwise), take active notes on the left-hand side. Focus on main/big-picture ideas. Leave space between entries. Remember, take notes only in the left column. As soon after class as possible, go back to your notes and fill in the details of the main ideas in the right-hand column (don't worry, your mind will remember the details when prompted with the big picture). At the bottom of the page (3-4 lines) write a one-two sentence summary of the topics on that page. That's it.

Several things happen when using this strategy. First, you can keep up with the pace of a lecture by only focusing on the main ideas. Second, when reviewing notes, your brain works on recalling details and forming pathways to related knowledge. Finally, when writing the summary you're processing the information, and boiling it down to a broad statement. This requires understanding and assessment of important facts. The summary comes back into play when you go back to your notes for studying. Read the summary. If you are confident that you know that information, then you don't need to spend much time on it.

This is a quick and dirty explanation. Don't hesitate to contact me for more details.