How to take effective class notes
Hello everyone, how are you doing? Hope you're having an amazing day! I'm back with my first original content, yay! I'll be giving you some tips on how to take effective class notes and sharing my own experience. Enough with the small talk, let's jump right into it! Don't forget to like and reblog this post if it's helpful, ok?
1 - Organize your desk
I'm sure everyone has little time to take notes during a lecture, 'cause most teachers don't really use the white board to write the informations down in order to explain the content, so it's really helpful to get rid of everything that won't be used. As for me, I keep only my pencil case and some binder papers on my desk so that I can easily shuffle around and find my supplies without losing that much time.
• Tip: If you're not comfortable with your handwriting speed, write everything with a black pen and highlight the main points and key words at the end of the class. You can also add some calligraphy headers and other decorations once you get home.
2 - Choose a method
All students have different learning methods and get use to a specific way of taking notes differently, so one of the things you should care about when taking class notes is choosing the right method.
Some of the most popular and - in my humble opinion - easy to understand is the Cornell Method. I don't use it for all subjects, but rather with the ones that demand a lot of concentration and have mixed information. Another really good ways of summarizing class information are the regular dot/arrow method - it consists in writing the main point in a bullet point, trying to keep it one or two lines long and add further explanations about this point in small arrows - and by using the key columns method, which is basically writing key words such as who, where, why etc in columns and complete each one of them with the information provided by the teacher.
• Should I make a post about my study methods? Let me know!
3 - Review them at home
Once you get home, one of the best things you can do is sit down and take a look at your notes. This will not only help in memorizing, but also keep all the information fresh in your head. Doing it along with your textbook is even better, 'cause you'll be able to correct the notes while adding more points, graphics, designs etc
4 - Eliminate your doubts
While reviewing, some doubts might pop out. It's important to fully understand a subject in order to get good grades and do well in general, so take a look on your textbook and try to explain that specific part to yourself. There are a lot of resources on the internet that can be helpful, but if you still can't understand by yourself, don't hesitate and ask your teacher!
•This is a special tip for those extremely shy: If you're too scared of asking in front of the whole class, wait for the end of the lecture and talk to the professor in private. You might even show he/she your notes so that it's easier to explain the exact point where the doubt lies.
5 - Store them correctly
This is probably one of the most obvious tips, but it's never too late to emphasize the importance of note leaving your notes hanging around. Keep them in a organized, reachable place while studying and find a way of storing them once you're done with this subject.
I like to use a folder to keep my notes safe and get rid of any excess papers on my binder - it also helps to prevent the pages from ripping.
So, you've made it 'till the end. Congratulations! See you guys soon ~ Stay safe and study hard!
