Why note taking is important
Note taking is challenging and it’s probably not something that you have ever been taught.
You have been taught how to solve math, how to write essays, but note taking? Sure, you know how to write a note, you could write one now. But how do you take your notes to the next level?
By refining your note taking techniques, you can improve your knowledge retention and boost your performance on tests or assignments.
How to get started at better note taking
And now you know that you can supercharge your notes, where do you start? From mind maps to outlines to the Cornell method and so much in between, there are a lot of powerful note taking tips out there.
But let’s start with the why and how to help you see what kind of supercharged note taking strategy might work for you.
The brain forgets a lot of what it sees and hears. It has to be told something is important in order for it to be remembered.
Think about a birthday when you were a child, you may remember part of it but not every minute of the day, you told yourself which bits were important and created your own edited highlights.
In long lectures you will need to help your brain out, signal parts to remember, that’s where note taking comes in.
Personalize your notes
When you are making those notes though, have a code or a key. What will you use to mark something you have a question about? How will you signal to remind yourself which parts are really important? Where will you note that you have some knowledge of this already and what other class it connects to?
This could be a series of abbreviations that mean something to you or a series of colours you highlight or underline in. Personalisation of note taking is really important. The more you make it meaningful to you the more impact it will have on your recall.
Note taking is the process of telling your brain that you want to recall this information later. How you make your notes therefore tells your brain how important the information is that you want to remember.
The more you remember something over time the stronger your memory becomes.
Focus on highlights
During lectures, note taking can be made even harder if you try to make notes about everything.
Focus on the edited highlights, what is important to remember. The more active you are in the lecture, the easier the brain will find it to remember your highlights.
Keeping the brain active throughout the lecture will help it find your highlights, the parts you want to remember from class.
Doodling may seem the opposite of note taking but a a quick doodle break to get the brain active might help you refocus on what is important.
Review and refine your notes
There is a lot happening in a lecture, you are thinking about lots of things all at once, make basic notes that cover the important bits to remember.
Later on after the lecture you can review your notes and add more meaning. This returning to your notes will automatically supercharge the notes you made in the lecture as you are telling your brain this is important information and you want to remember it.
Build a routine
Schedule time when you will return to your notes, create a consistent routine. If class is for 2 hours on Tuesday, spending time adding more detail to your notes on Thursday will supercharge your notes.
Your brain will remember what you did on Tuesday, giving you a second opportunity to cover the important information again, building those memories for easier recall later.
Use the tools that work for you
Whether you use pen and paper or a device to capture your notes, be consistent. You want the brain to find challenge in remembering your notes, not having to remember where to find them also!
Devices can be distracting so make sure you have an app blocker or a focus timer to help you stay on task.
Key takeaways
- Signal importance: Note taking helps your brain prioritize information for retention.
- Make it personal: Use abbreviations, colors, and symbols meaningful to you.
- Edit and expand: Reviewing and refining your notes solidifies your understanding.
- Be consistent: Regularly schedule time to revisit your notes.
- Eliminate distractions: Choose tools and strategies that keep you focused.
Now you know more about the how and why we make notes, you can take a look at some note taking strategies and see if they are the ones that will supercharge your note taking.
