Ways of Writing 'GOOD' Notes:
There are many ways to write notes but many of those ways aren't helpful when studying or even learning new topics. You note reflect your mind's filing system. If your notes are messy and all over the place then you will have problems truly understanding and learning the topic at hand. Though you might think that note taking is an intuitive skill, note taking is a very difficult skill to master that takes lots of practice to learn how to take notes "correctly."
Your notes serve two main jobs: Recall (going back to remember something) and Organization (making space in your head just for this piece of information and how to find it again when you need it). The most difficult part in note taking is the organization part but it is well worth it because it changes note taking from an passive learning activity to an active learning activity. In the end, note taking isn't only an essential skill but it will also lead to a successful life. So let's look at a few different styles of note taking.
Your notes serve two main jobs: Recall (going back to remember something) and Organization (making space in your head just for this piece of information and how to find it again when you need it). The most difficult part in note taking is the organization part but it is well worth it because it changes note taking from an passive learning activity to an active learning activity. In the end, note taking isn't only an essential skill but it will also lead to a successful life. So let's look at a few different styles of note taking.
Simple Cornell NotesI LOVE Cornell styled notes. Very simple yet effective enough to turn note taking into active learning.
Chemistry I will be using this system of note taking. |
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Strengths:
- Simple
- Identifying Important Info
- Summery is useful to synthesis information learn into a quick sentence or two
- This makes you ask yourself, what is "important/the take away point(s)" of this information
- Easy dividers into only 4 areas (4th being the Title and date)
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Advance NotesHowever, more advanced note takers might want to watch this to the left.
Note taking is best when you take into account your own learning style. Cornell notes are a good stepping stone but your note taking skills need to evolve (improve) over time to how YOU learn |