Take Better Notes Note taking has been a part of the educational experience for all of us the first teacher ever decided to lecture. Many programs, apps, and methods exist to help us learn to take better notes and when it comes down to it, preference and style is really a personal thing. So what can we learn about note taking that will help boost our ability?
Laptop vs. Pen & Paper If you want to take better notes, you need to make a conscious decision regarding the medium you will use. Switching back and forth between the two can be confusing and time consuming, not to mention disorganized. When using a laptop, research various applications and programs which may assist you in your note taking. Programs like Evernote provide easy, instant access to your information regardless of whether you are viewing it from a phone, tablet, or computer. You can also scan your handwritten notes in for digital storage if you so prefer. Competent note taking relies heavily on your ability to accurately and clearly record the information. Take time to learn to type faster and know the keyboard shortcuts for commonly used things like bold and underline. If you prefer to hand write your notes work on your penmanship. Hastily scribbled and hardly legible notes are quite simply a waste of time. Finally, whether you’re using a laptop or pen and paper, you want to make sure that you are keeping your notes well organized. Keep all of your files stored digitally by class and make sure each entry is dated to make finding the information easier. If you hand write your notes, have a binder for each class and again, store your notes in order by date.
Note Taking Tips Effective note taking requires some preparation. If you haven’t done the homework or the previous night’s reading assignment, understanding your professor becomes much harder. Familiarize yourself with the material and arrive a few minutes early to class so that you can review the material again before class begins. Also, remove or turn off distractions like your phone and the internet so that you can focus on what is being taught. Now we come to the hardest part, what to write down and how. This is where personal preference and learning style really come in to play. Do some research and play around with various methods for
documenting your notes. There are quite a few including mind mapping, charting, the Cornell method, and creating a rough outline. It is important for you to find one that works for you. Regardless of your note taking style here are some things you want to make sure you don’t miss. Obviously if your instructor says, ‘this will be on the test,’ write it down. If the professor repeats himself and more importantly if he slows his repetition down so that it can be taken word for word, you want to capture that information. On the flip side, if he speaks faster, louder, or with added emphasis, pay attention. When they write on the board or use a power point, snag that too, and if possible, get a copy of the power point. And lastly, take note of any material where a relationship between ideas is expressed by using words like ‘however,’ ‘most importantly,’ or ‘first, second, third.’ As you work to perfect your note taking style, it will become easier for you to focus and prepare clear notes that you can study later. Whether you’re pursuing a business administration degree in National City, or simply taking a single continuing education course, you will find this skill to be most valuable in helping you succeed. Photo Credit: Paul O’Rear, Fisher