How to... Make Better Notes

How to make

better notes

Consider not taking notes at all! If you have enough information in your workbooks and handouts don’t feel you have to write everything down, concentrate on listening and learning – just jot down main ideas, names, keywords or dates. Stay focused in class by: Ticking off on any notes provided by the teacher Creating diagrams or mind maps Adding notes to the margins or sticky notes This is great. You may benefit from using the Cornell note-taking system as it has features that help you to review and revise your notes. They are your notes, only you need to understand them! As long as they are clear and useful, don’t waste energy worrying about this. Do not be put off by the extremely neat note-takers in class! This will just create notes you don’t understand. Be as brief as possible. Avoid sentences. Use abbreviations. Try a different note-making style that has a structure like a list or a mind map. Ask yourself why you are doing this: If it is to make your notes neater it is probably a waste of time. If it is to revise, actively engage with your notes by writing them in a different way such as a mind map or on flash cards. Aim to take the notes you need straight away. If you are given handouts or workbooks add brief notes to them. This is usually because you are trying to write down too much or write too little. Listen carefully for the main ideas, theorists, dates or examples – write these down. Try a different note-making style which will help by giving you a structure to work to such as list, pattern or double column..

I file them and never look at them again

I always re-read them later

I worry that they are not neat enough

I try to write everything down

I copy them out

I don’t understand them