The importance of effective note-taking
Whether you’re at secondary school, university or entering the professional world, effective note-taking is an essential skill. It allows people to manage and condense the information presented during lessons, lectures or meetings in a way that can be easily-retained for future use.
For students, this is particularly beneficial as effective notes can help provide clarity and structure when writing essays and they allow us to absorb new information that can be drawn upon in exams or when completing homeworks and coursework. In fact, research[1] even suggests that effective note-taking is associated with increased academic performance so there’s benefit in sharpening your note-taking skills, both for learning and as a skill to take forward with you in later life.
Everyone has opinions and advice but among universities, tutors, teachers and education experts alike there are consistent rules and tips to follow for effective note-taking.
1. Do the prep work
First and foremost, make sure you’ve done any work required prior to a lesson, lecture or tutoring session. Whether it’s a piece of homework or additional reading, doing the prep will set you up for success.
If there wasn’t an assignment prior to a lesson then it’s useful to re-read any notes you made last time to refresh your memory and reflect on whether there’s any areas that need clarity so you’re equipped for the lesson or tutoring session.
2. Decide on which note-taking format is most effective for you
There are a number of effective note-taking methods (some of which are outlined in the resources section at the bottom of this post) but one of the most common and popular formats is ‘the linear method’. Put simply, it uses techniques like numbering, bullets, highlighted headers, capitalisation or columns to manage the information given and organise notes.
Everyone will have a format that works best for them. For example, some people really benefit from formats like a mind map to help visualise and digest complex topics or show how thoughts and themes feed into one another. But it’s important to work with whichever feels right and most effective for your learning, rather than that of the person sitting next to you.
3. Be an active listener
When in lessons, people often take notes that repeat what the tutor or teacher said verbatim but don’t really absorb any of the information being passed on. Being an active listener will help students to comprehend what’s being taught and capture condensed but effective notes.
4. Focus on new information
While it can be tempting and somewhat logical to jot down everything you hear, it’s not practical. If you’re writing everything that’s said, it hinders your ability to be an active listener but also makes it doubly hard to then refer back to notes for revision, homework or essay-writing as there’s too much information to digest.
You’ll certainly have some base knowledge of the topic already so, when in a lesson, just focus on writing new information rather than collating notes that reflect what you already know or what’s obvious.
5. Take notes by hand
We live in an era where a device is never far away and often it feels much more effective and convenient to take notes on a laptop but research[2] shows that hand-written notes actually allow people to retain information better.
There are a few hypotheses as to why, one of which is that writing notes by hand is slower, forcing you to really think about what’s being taught and be selective about the information you make note of. While note-taking on a laptop is quicker, people are more inclined to passively listen and repeat every word in their notes, meaning less of the information is absorbed.
Having a device handy also provides opportunities for distraction. Regardless of our age, we’ve all fallen victim to mindlessly scrolling through social media, reading online articles or shopping during an important lesson!
6. Use abbreviations, acronyms and text language
When you’re trying to capture effective notes by hand it can be challenging to keep up with the information being given to you. Using abbreviations, acronyms, symbols and text language can help to quickly write notes that are still easy to digest later on. Here’s some useful examples:
- “Probs” for problems
- “B4” for before
- “w/o” for without
- “R&J” for Romeo and Juliet
- “KC1” for King Charles I
7. Don’t be afraid to ask questions
People are often too embarrassed to ask if something’s unclear but asking questions will allow you to get clear and accurate notes that you can refer back to down the line. It may also open up a broader conversation with teachers, tutors or peers that gives you additional detail so you can further your own learning and understanding.
8. Go back to your notes afterwards
There’s no need to swat up as if you were going into an exam but spending 15 minutes reviewing your notes later in the week can help you retain the information more effectively. It will also help identify any knowledge gaps you may have so you can go to your next lesson or tutoring session armed with questions and ready to learn.
9. Practice makes perfect
While this may sound an unusual recommendation, effective note-taking doesn’t just happen overnight, it really is a skill. If you find yourself struggling to keep up in lessons or coming away with notes that aren’t quite thorough enough, then practising can help find a style that works and is manageable for you.
- Textbook approach – Try taking notes from an existing textbook, pulling out key information that feels relevant and digestible without repeating what’s on the page word-for-word.
- Try with a tutor – If you have a tutor, or are looking to engage the services of one, your sessions can be a great place to practice your note-taking skills. You’ll more than likely be in a 1-1 environment with a tutor, which is less pressure, so it’s easier to pull focus and collate strong notes.
- Test it with a live stream – Listen to a relevant podcast or TED Talk and try taking notes from that without pausing the episode. This will help you get in the swing of writing effective notes in real time and, if you pick a relevant topic to listen to, it can even help further your own learning.
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Useful Resources:
Different Styles of Note-Taking
Sources:
[1]Armbruster, 2009; Fischer & Harris, 1973; Kiewra, 1985; Kobayashi, 2006; Peverly, Brobst, Graham, & Shaw, 2003; Peverly et al., 2007).
[2] Pam A Mueller, Daniel M Oppenheimer, 2014: “The Pen Is Mightier Than the Keyboard: Advantages of Longhand Over Laptop Note Taking”