#types of notes

[chloestudiess]

• g o o d m o r n i n g •

01.23.2020

currently exporting an electronic lecture with me (disregard the mistitle - everybody makes mistakes) where i recorded my lecture notes from today and how i take them on my ipad!!! i’m so excited.

it will nOT be as long as the descriptor says it will be - still editing. no voice over quite yet but there will be calming music in the background and lots of fun. i’ll keep you updated if i am actually successful in completing the to dos on the screen but for now, hello from work!

[interstellarbookofflowers]

a masterpost solely dedicated to notes part 2: actual types of notes

Heyooo everyone!

I am back with part 2 of this masterpost series yaaayy so let’s gooo notes are waitiiiing

Check out part 1!

There are so many types of notes and methods how to take them and I’m not gonna lie, covering all of them would be impossible, especially when most of these types are not known cause human everyone is different and has different needs and do stuff differently yaaay I love differences wait how did i get here *looks around in confusion* Anyway, I’ll make a deal with you here ‘kay? I’ll sum up the types that are mostly used in terms of  how you do it and for which subjects and I might add some personal experience with the type and if you have your own kinda method or like something that you do, please do send me asks and messages and reply to this post and tell me more about what you do! I think it would be really interesting to compile all of your methods in a big post afterwards! So please please??

Anyway let’s start~~

MIND-MAPPING

This is a method which is used mostly by visual learners. Basically you write your main idea/topic in the center and then make kinda branches from it to expand it and add other subtopics and ideas, of course with using as much color as possible. Mind-mapping is an awesome technique for connecting ideas - you can do this to get a better understanding of the links between the topics you have. I’m not a big fan of mind-mapping, since it unfortunately looks like a mess to me, but I do use it and that’s when I write essays. I put the topic in the middle and think of ideas/arguments that I can use in the essay. It’s cool cause it doesn’t get as messy as if I was writing actual notes and also, I can see how many ideas I got and what I want to cover in my essay. Anyway you can use mind-maps in biology, chemistry, but also like almost anything else :D

FLASHCARDS

Flashcards are the key to mastering vocabulary. Like legit. You put the word on one side, turn the card and put the definition and examples on the other side. Easy as it is. Actually, you can use it to summarize topics, too, which is awesome and you can quiz yourself by reading the term and then explaining it and things like that. I don’t use flashcards that often, but they really helped me a long time ago, when I took a law class and it was full of weird words :D so this method is useful in any subject which uses terms - biology, law, languages (I was learning kanji with flashcards), physics, history… anything really

WORD-DEFINITON

This is a notebook version of the flashcards system and it’s done like this: you take a smaller notebook and on the left page, you write your term and on the right page, you explain it. Easy. Or you can also take a bigger notebook and split the page into two columns and do the same thing – in the left one you write your term and in the right one you explain it.

OUTLINE METHOD

This one is the easiest thing you can do. You take a piece of paper (or a notebook) and a pen, write a heading, make a bullet point and just write. That’s it guys that’s everything. Actually not really, because you can make subheadings! And extra types of bullet points and lists and everything! And not only is this the easiest method, it’s also the most effective one. You can use it in any subject and it’s just really fast to write your notes. I actually use some kind of an outline method with additional things like adding a column for more stuff and textbook notes etc. and tbh after trying the cornell method I can say that I prefer this one better and I’m going to tell you more about why when I talk about the cornell method.

CORNELL METHOD

Here it is, the famous cornell notetaking method! What you do is that you basically split your page into three sections - a column on the left for questions, topics and subheadings, a section at the bottom of the page for the summary and a section in the middle (basically what is left of the page) for your actual notes. And here it gets creative. 

You can write your notes either in a format of question-answer, so you put the question in the left column and the answer in the notes section. That means you write in sentences and if you remember what I said in part 1 of this masterpost series, please do this only when revising at home.

You can also write your notes in bullet points, which means you can actually use this at school. Then you write your topics/vocab in the left column.

And now let’s focus on the summary section. This is basically the reason I stopped using the cornell method. The summary section is cool when your topic perfectly fits in one page. But when your topic is on ten pages and you kinda have to summarize every single one, it gets first of all annoying (at least for me) and secondly, I just get confused about how should I summarize it? Should I sum up every single page or can I just mix it? But wait can I write about a completely different thing on this page?

Basically, I got confused and omitted the summary section and kept the column on the left for like additional notes from my teachers. But then I took away the column, too, and that was simply because the outline was enough for all of my subjects (almost, except for czech, i was just lazy hahaha rip me) and most of my professors don’t say additional stuff so... that’s how I ended exactly where I began :D

That’s everything for this part! Make sure to reply/send messages and asks with how you take notes, I’m really looking forward to those and I’ll be making a post from these!

PART 1: GENERAL STUFF YOU SHOULD KNOW

PART 3: PAPER VS. LAPTOP? MATCH START!

Other masterposts by meee~~

Study tips masterpost

How to bullet journal masterpost

Study methods

How to kickstart your new semester

[chloestudiess]

TAKING NOTES ONLINE - TIPS, TRICKS & DISCREPANCIES

UTILIZE A CLOUD-BASED, GLOBALLY ACCESSIBLE SYSTEM

This is the largest, most imperative tip I can provide. Recently, my mac crashed and the only way to fix it without dropping a grand was to wipe it entirely. If I hadn’t been using google drive for the majority of my notes over the past 4 years in IB, I would have been royally screwed. So pick an online program that works for you, learn it, and love it. Google is a personal favorite of mine.

ENSURE THE SYSTEM YOU PICK CAN DO EVERYTHING YOU NEED

Many students, especially college students, cannot survive on a word processor alone in this day and age. Whatever system you pick to do your notes on, ensure it has a powerpoint and excel equivalent, along with whatever else you may need to get along.

PLAY WITH IT

Don’t walk into class your first day using your new computer or tablet having never played with the word processing system you intend to use. Familiarize yourself with the system you are working with. See it’s glitches, it’s flaws, and master it. This will make class the day of painless

PRINT THE NOTES YOU MAKE

If you’re doing your notes online, the best way to review them is to PRINT PRINT PRINT. Once you have finished typing them, this will allow you to highlight and review effectively while utilizing your available resources to make changes and addition. This is a hands-on form of material review before the occurrence of an assessment.

ENSURE IT IS ACCESSIBLE OVER ALL DEVICES

The most functional aspect of cloud-based systems such as icloud and google is their functionality across devices. Before you select a program to use, ensure that your chosen one does have this functionality. This will allow for an expedited, more pacified form of note taking.

COLLABORATE!

In lecture-based courses, it is often hard to catch the entirety of what the teacher is saying. A great aspect of cloud-based systems is their functionality for group notes. Invite a couple of your friends to work with you on a group document for that day’s lecture. If there was a critical point that you missed in your haste, chances are one of your groupie’s got your back.

SAVE OFFLINE

Saving offline ensures that if you’re studying on a plane, in an area with no service, or if you simply run out of data, your back is c o v e r e d. This is an incredibly useful function for college students traveling from home to school.

AVOID SPEECH TO TEXT

In the moment, it may seem like an ingenious plan to simply turn on the speech to text function of whatever word processor you select, and allow it to pick up the lecture word for word. THIS IS NOT THE CASE. Audio processing programs like these are often flawed. There is nothing worse than having no notes on the day’s lecture due to personal negligence

DON’T ENTIRELY ABANDON WRITTEN NOTES

Written notes are an age old platform which are versatile in encouraging memory, allowing use of fun color, and developing handwriting skills. Though notes on the computer are fun, simplified, and helpful in sharing information, they cannot be the only art form you are familiar with. After all, a certain teacher may not allow use of electronics in the classroom and then you are in a predicament. This should be remembered in situations such as online note taking.  

[studyrights]

Types of Notes: Exploring Different Methods for Effective Note-Taking

In our fast-paced and information-rich world, the ability to capture and retain knowledge is more crucial than ever. Note-taking has long been recognized as a powerful tool for retaining information, organizing thoughts, and boosting productivity. From scribbling ideas in the margins of a textbook to leveraging cutting-edge digital applications, note-taking methods have evolved to suit our modern needs.

In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the world of note-taking and explore the various types of notes that can revolutionize your learning and organizational abilities. Whether you're a student, a professional, or an individual seeking to enhance your memory, this article will provide valuable insights into different note-taking methods, their benefits, and best practices.

By the end of this article, you will have a deep understanding of handwritten notes, digital notes, audio notes, visual notes, and the concept of hybrid notes. You will gain practical tips and strategies for implementing these methods effectively, enabling you to take control of your learning journey and achieve greater success in various aspects of your life.

So, whether you're embarking on a new academic endeavor, aiming to improve your professional skills, or simply seeking a way to better organize your thoughts and ideas, join us as we embark on this exploration of the diverse world of note-taking methods. Let's uncover the power of notes and unlock your full potential!

Handwritten Notes

Handwritten notes have long been a popular choice among learners and professionals alike. The act of physically writing down information helps reinforce memory retention and engagement. Moreover, handwritten notes allow for personalization and creativity, enabling you to customize your notes with diagrams, symbols, and highlighting techniques.

To maximize the effectiveness of handwritten notes, consider the following tips:

Use abbreviations and shorthand: Develop your own system of abbreviations to speed up the note-taking process and capture information more efficiently. Organize your notes with headings and bullet points: Structuring your notes using clear headings and bullet points facilitates easy review and comprehension. Review and rewrite: Transcribing your handwritten notes into a digital format or rewriting them after a study session can help reinforce the information in your mind.

Digital Notes

With the advent of technology, digital note-taking has gained popularity due to its convenience and accessibility. Various applications and software offer features like cloud synchronization, searchable text, and multimedia integration, making it easier to organize and retrieve information quickly.

Consider the following best practices when utilizing digital notes:

Choose the right digital note-taking application: Explore different applications such as Evernote, OneNote, or Google Keep, and find the one that aligns with your needs and preferences. Utilize tags and categories: Assigning relevant tags and categorizing your notes helps streamline the organization process and enables swift retrieval. Backup your notes: To prevent any potential data loss, regularly back up your digital notes to a cloud storage service or an external device.

Audio Notes

In certain situations, traditional note-taking methods may not suffice, such as during lectures or interviews where information is delivered rapidly. Audio notes come to the rescue in such scenarios, allowing you to capture spoken content accurately.

Here are some tips for effective audio note-taking:

Use a reliable recording device or application: Ensure you have a high-quality recording device or a dedicated application on your smartphone to capture clear audio. Take supplementary notes: While recording, jot down brief keywords or key phrases that will serve as cues when you review the audio later. Label and organize your audio files: Maintain a clear and consistent naming convention for your audio files to facilitate easy retrieval and categorization.

Visual Notes

For individuals who have a preference for visual learning or possess a strong visual memory, incorporating visual notes can be incredibly beneficial. Visual notes involve the use of diagrams, mind maps, flowcharts, and other visual representations to capture and organize information.

Consider the following techniques for creating effective visual notes:

Use colors and symbols: Assign different colors and symbols to represent various concepts or ideas, making it easier to associate and remember the information.

Mind mapping: Create mind maps to visually connect different ideas, helping you understand the relationships between different topics. Incorporate visuals and illustrations: Integrate relevant images, drawings, or icons to enhance the visual appeal and aid in recalling information.

Hybrid Notes

As the name suggests, hybrid notes combine multiple note-taking methods to leverage their individual advantages. This approach allows you to tailor your note-taking process based on the context and your personal preferences.

Consider the following tips for creating effective hybrid notes:

Determine the appropriate combination: Identify which note-taking methods work best for specific situations, such as using handwritten notes during lectures and digital notes for research projects. Integrate and cross-reference: When using hybrid notes, ensure that your different notes are interconnected and cross-referenced for seamless information retrieval. Regularly review and consolidate: Take time to review and consolidate your hybrid notes to maintain organization and ensure you don't miss any valuable insights.

Conclusion

In conclusion, effective note-taking is a skill that can significantly impact your productivity, learning, and organization. Throughout this article, we have explored various types of notes and the benefits they offer. From handwritten notes that engage your memory to digital notes that provide convenience and accessibility, each method has its own strengths.

We have also discussed audio notes, which are invaluable for capturing spoken content, and visual notes, which cater to visual learners and aid in comprehension. Additionally, hybrid notes, combining different methods, allow for personalized and context-specific note-taking.

To make the most of your note-taking experience, remember to implement best practices. Whether it's using abbreviations and shorthand in your handwritten notes, utilizing tags and categories in digital notes, or supplementing audio recordings with keywords, each technique serves to enhance your note-taking process.

Regular review and consolidation of your notes are vital for reinforcing knowledge and maintaining organization. By incorporating these strategies into your note-taking routine, you can optimize your learning, boost your productivity, and make information retrieval a breeze.

[studyingwithsasha-blog]

Here is a page of the two most common note taking ways I use: Cornell Notes and Outlining. For those who struggle with wanting to take neat notes but don’t know how to, this is a great starter for you! Hope it helps.

xoxo

Sasha