The first step in honing your new study skills is to take better notes. In this video, Thomas will tell you everything you need to know to come to class prepared and find a note-taking system that will help you retain and review like a champ. What's the best way to take lecture notes? In this video, I'll go over five of the best note-taking systems out there. Do you write down every single word your teacher says in class? Do you only take notes when your teacher writes something on the board? When it comes to good note-taking habits, there is a happy medium that can pay dividends with a higher GPA! Here’s how to take better notes in class and ace your next exam. It keeps you awake. Note taking
forces you to pay attention and helps you focus in class (or while reading a textbook). It helps you learn. Studies on learning have shown that actively engaging with the topic by listening and then summarizing what you hear helps you understand and remember the information later. It helps you keep a record. You were physically in math class last Tuesday but that doesn't necessarily mean you remember what happened (and what might appear on a quiz). Notes are a record of what you
learned in class—and what you need to review. It will help you study. Review your notes regularly to get the most out of them. You can use them to make up sample test questions or even turn them into digital flashcards.
It’s a skill that will pay off in college. Are you used to your high school teachers handing out outlines or e-mailing copies of their PowerPoint presentations? That's NOT going to be the case in college. Learn the art of note taking now to give yourself a leg up later.
//www.princetonreview.com/college-advice/taking-notes-in-class
- Study better
Apply these strategies to make your note making more efficient and your notes more useful:
- Always maintain academic integrity and note the source of information. Write down the page number if you are making a note from a specific part of a text.
- Be clear and concise so that your notes will be easy to read and understand later on.
- Leave extra space in your notes so you can add further information and clarification as you learn more.
- Make your notes visually pleasing and easy to skim through.
- Highlight important points, particularly core concepts, key theories, and assessed task instructions.
- Plan how you will store your notes for easy retrieval of information. For example, plan how you will organise your files and folders so that you can easily find the notes you need.
- Explore different ways of making notes for different purposes:
- Note-making applications such as OneNote and Evernote can be customised to fit a range of specific needs.
- Mind mapping can be an effective method of structuring notes and ideas.
- MS Word and Google docs will allow you to easily navigate large amounts of notes through headings, bookmarks and hyperlinks.
- Spreadsheets such as Excel or Google Sheets can be used as note making tools when you need to tag or organise information by categories or in chronological order.
- Review and improve your notes as you learn:
- Rewrite what you have written if it can be made clearer and easier to understand.
- Add more details if needed.
- Annotate or summarise the information captured in any diagrams or images.
Ask your lecturer or tutor, or your classmates to help you fill in any gaps.
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Note making as a revision strategy View
Taking it further
As a student you will be expected to engage with the literature. This may include reading a set textbook for a unit or reading an academic article for a literature review.
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Reading more effectively
These modules will provide you with strategies to apply in these situations.
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Managing literature overload module
PHD students may find the note making strategies suggested in this useful.
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