5 note-taking methods all students should know

Students might struggle with is choosing a note-taking method that's best for them. Notes are a great tool to help:

• understanding
• memorisation
• more effective studying in the long-run

I have struggled in the past to find a note-taking system that was the best fit for me. It all depends on your subject and the most effective way that you absorb information. We often end up wasting time transcribing lectures and textbooks word for word. This leaves us with an inefficient revision session.

But worry not, for I have compiled a list of proven note-taking methods, and you can decide which is the best fit for you! 

All these methods take into account two essential steps to enhance learning:

• Taking notes whilst listening to the lecture to improve understanding and retention
• Reviewing notes in the future and committing facts to memory through rehearsal techniques

No matter how neat and organised your notes are, always make sure to revise regularly to retain the information!

Cornell notes

The Cornell note-taking method is probably the most effective in taking lecture notes. It's a time-tested system promoting active recall. It’s popular for students studying factually overloaded information. It involves the division of your paper into 3 distinct sections:

1. Notes column

This is the space where your main lecture notes go

2. Cue column

Reduce this column to a series of:

• main ideas
• questions
• connecting points
• diagrams

These cues show you the most important information and help frame your thinking.

3. Summary 

After the lecture, make a one to two sentence summary of the biggest ideas covered. This space serves as an initial review of the lecture, helping to consolidate all the information presented above. Thus solidifying your understanding while the topic is still fresh in your mind.

Flow notes/mind maps

This method is especially helpful when your lecturers talk too fast, or if you are a visual learner.

It allows you to take notes in the form of mind maps. This visually represents relationships between individual concepts and facts. This also makes it easier to transcribe notes during revision sessions.

To create a mind map, the main concept is written in the middle of the page. From there, it branches out to expand out the details. 

You can use an app called Coggle that allows you to create mind maps on your laptop if you prefer E-notes to paper. The computer-friendly version of this hierarchal note-taking system is called the Outline Method.

E-Notes

This is an eco-friendly method of taking notes. It's also great for keeping them organised. You can do this by using software and apps like OneNote, Notion, Evernote or Google Sheets.

It's very convenient for students who reformat and add on to their notes without having to waste paper. Its also saves money on stationary. 

Notion, in particular, has a toggle feature for hiding or showing content upon clicking. This makes it easier to separate the big picture and small details by summarising subheadings of lecture notes. This allows students to dive into specific topics of interest into detail without losing the big picture.

You can also use the Cornell Method with e-notes. You can test yourself on the content before opening the subheadings to reveal the answer. It also has many default templates that you can use to:

• keep track of progress for your assignments and dissertation
• plan your revision schedules

Morse Code Method

The Morse Code method is useful for subjects that need extra reading and research.

To record all the relevant information without breaking reading momentum, this method uses:

• a dot on the margin next to the writing to highlight main ideas
• a line to denote the explanations of that main idea

It eliminates the risk that comes with highlighting text; students tend to mistake recognition with recall. This method is also helpful for taking notes from library resources. This is because students aren't able to use highlighters on library property. The Morse Code method can be used easily with a pencil and erased after the study session. 

Question/Evidence/Conclusion Method

Instead of passively reading and highlighting information, the Q/E/C method allows students to engage in cognitive effort. This strengthens the interrelations between the topics, conclusions and the facts.

It reduces your notes to a series of questions paired with conclusions to improve recall. The more brainpower needed to recall a fact or definition, the better your knowledge is on the topic. It's an effective strategy to get lots of information in your brain quicker, while staying organised. This may prove more useful during exam season.

In the end, taking notes is still a daunting task as it requires lots of time and effort. But, this hard work is the key to success.

Making sure you use the right note-taking method for you will boost your productivity. Putting in a bit of effort every day instead of cramming before exams will be much more efficient.

Happy revision!