Smarter Note-Taking: Less Writing, More Learning

By Sarah Gossman, Instructor

Do you ever feel that you have to jot down everything your teacher says in a lecture? Does it feel challenging to try and follow along in class and take notes at the same time? Note-taking can sometimes feel intimidating or challenging, so let’s review some key note taking strategies you can incorporate before, during, and after class!

The Benefits of Note-Taking:

Note-taking should not feel like more work is added on to your plate! In fact, developing strong note-taking skills can save you time, energy, and confusion in the long run. Strong note taking skills can improve your active listening skills, improve your overall comprehension of the material, and promote positive information retention (University of North Carolina Chapel Hill). Note-taking is a skill that you build over time. It takes practice, patience, and consistency to improve the process over time. Here are some strategies that you can begin to incorporate:

Before Class:

• Take some time before class begins to review previous notes (Austin Community College District). You can also review homework assignments, past PowerPoint slides, or your syllabus to understand what specifically will be covered in class, and build that background knowledge so your brain is primed to engage in active listening.
  • A good strategy to prepare is to write on a blank document or Post-It note any questions that are still lingering from previous work. This way, you can address any questions before moving on to new material.
• Have your materials ready! Make sure that you have the appropriate binder, folder, or notebook ready for class. If you prefer to take notes digitally, ID that ahead of time. You can even prepare your materials the night before using an organizational checklist (Learning Framework: Effective Strategies for College Success).
• Have an idea of a note taking system that works best for you prior to class (if not given an outline or a guided note-taking sheet from your teacher). Examples include: outlines, Cornell Notes, mind mapping, etc.
• Label your notes with the date and the lecture title. This keeps your notes organized and easy to access in the future!

During Class:

• Focus on the main points your teacher is making. Avoid copying down everything. Listen to verbal clues your teacher gives to differentiate main ideas vs. supporting details:
  • “The 4 main causes were…”
  • “The impact of this was…”
  • “An important theme to consider would be….”
  • Anything written on the board or repeated multiple times throughout the lecture
• Use an outline to take class or lecture notes! The outline method allows you to separate information by main idea, and then provide supporting details. For example, the main idea might be “Causes of World War 2.” You would then write notes supporting the main idea from your class lecture.
  • Cornell Notes are also a great note taking strategy during and after class time. It allows you to consider larger themes while also paying attention to supporting details.
• Leave a space in your notes to write down questions you have during the lecture or highlight certain concepts that you need to further review. This makes it easier to identify what topics to ask about in future class lectures or review outside of class.
  • Taking notes in the margins is a great no
• Be concise and brief! Use bullet points and short phrases vs. rewriting complete sentences. Incorporating the use of abbreviations is also a useful strategy to keep your notes concise. Be sure that you understand your abbreviations and consolidated information to prevent confusion when reviewing your notes post lecture!
• Be consistent with the format you use for your notes. Don’t change formats halfway through the lecture. Consistency is key!
• Leave spaces between main ideas to fill in additional information as needed.

After Class:

• Review your notes within 24 hours of taking them and before your next class. This helps with the retention of information. This review does not need to be long! Spending 5-10 minutes reviewing your notes will help the information stay fresh in your mind.
• As you review your notes, you may want to clean them up a bit. For example, you might go back into those abbreviations and use the extra space to fill in any parts that you might have missed, or to clarify things you wrote quickly in shorthand. Organization of class materials is super helpful in developing executive function skills! The clearer our notes are, the easier it is for us to review and sort through information.
• Check your notes with other class materials provided by your teacher or refer to a textbook. This is to make sure the information you wrote is consistent with other class materials. If questions arise, make note of them and exercise self-advocacy skills to clear up any confusion.
• Use mind mapping or a charting method to restructure or review notes!
  • Mind mapping can be helpful when you need to connect a combination of concepts together. This can especially be helpful for essay preparation to see what concepts you might want to explore for your next paper!
  • Cornell notes can be a helpful strategy for note taking during and after class. This structure of note taking consists of two columns and a summary section. Column 1 is for big ideas and column 2 is for details. This can help with active studying, writing notes in your own words for a deeper understanding of the material, and prioritizing anything that needs additional review.
  • You may utilize a charting method to re-organize notes containing a lot of facts or numerical data you need to keep track of. Utilizing a spreadsheet can be helpful to keep information organized!
• Keep your notes in a safe place! Keeping our physical spaces and materials organized is a great skill for productive note taking and review! Make sure your class materials are organized and stored in a spot you can easily access. Examples include:
  • A Google folder
  • A binder, notebook or folder in your backpack

Remember, developing your note taking skills takes time! Strong note-taking isn’t about writing more. It’s about capturing what matters and making it usable. Start small, stay consistent, and build from there. Over time, your notes will become a tool that helps you think more clearly, learn more efficiently, and feel more in control of your work.

Sources:

https://sites.austincc.edu/student-skills-workshops/taking-effective-notes/notetaking-strategies/

https://opennccc.nccommunitycolleges.edu/courseware/lesson/187/student-old/

https://learningcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/effective-note-taking-in-class/