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Adequate class notes are necessary to efficient study and learning. These top ten suggestions cover some of the best strategies students should use when taking notes. 1. Catch the important stuff. Notes help us remember the date of the first constitutional convention or how mitosis really works. Okay, so maybe this is important only in history or science class. All the more reason not to clutter our brains until the information is needed for a test or paper. Store valuable facts where they won’t get lost—in your notebook. 2. Avoid getting bogged down in a swamp of useless trivia. If your outlines are longer than the chapters themselves, stop describing every tree and just try to map the forest as a whole. 3. Stay organized. Make it a habit to start class or study sessions with an open notebook. Date and label the page before you start, and file it in a binder as soon as you’re done. For reading notes, include page numbers or web addresses so you can find material again when needed. You’ll not only learn more effectively, you’ll save time because the facts you want will be at your fingertips. “Organization is the key to academic success, and learning how to take adequate notes is at the top of the list when learning to be organized,” says Richard E. Bavaria, Ph.D., vice president of education for Sylvan Learning Center. “Good note takers are also readying themselves for college where note taking becomes even more important.” 4. Don’t assume that the loose in “loose-leaf” means you should make notes on a scrap of paper and then cram it into your backpack. 5. Experiment with various techniques. Bullets are great for some items, but other lessons are better illustrated with webs, outlines, timelines or diagrams. “The young note taker should probably experiment with different formats of taking notes to find one that suits them best,” Bavaria says. One great method is split page notes, also called the Cornell method. Fold the paper vertically to make two columns. On the left, record notes from lecture or reading, and on the right, write questions or comments in response to whatever is in the first column. One warning: split-page notes without the second half is like a banana split without the banana. “The Cornell method is a technique that forces the student to interact with the notes,” Bavaria says. “This is the basis for all learning.” 6. Don’t get stuck in a note-taking rut. If you find yourself overly worried that the little “i” in your outline absolutely needs to be followed by a little “ii,” it’s time to try something new. 7. Use notes for study and review. If you take notes on a class discussion of “Great Expectations” in English, reread them that evening. Fill in the right hand side of the page if you’ve used the Cornell method, or use a highlighter to denote key facts. Impress the teacher by walking into class the next day with a question pertaining to the material that was just covered. Better yet, impress yourself—this technique really works. 8. Review your notes often. Going over your notes soon after they’re written reinforces understanding and ensures they make sense. Don’t wait until the night before a test only to discover that you apparently wrote your notes in a strange foreign language. 9. Add the effective use of notes to your repertoire of study skills to improve your performance in any subject. 10. Don’t forget. Make a note of it! |
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