Whether you’re attending a traditional in-person or online degree program, you’ll likely have many classes involving lectures from professors and discussions among classmates. Taking notes during these lectures and discussions is an important part of the learning process.
Research has shown that note-taking improves students’ learning in several ways, such as:
- Listening more carefully during lectures
- Helping students remember important concepts emphasized in class
- Providing insight into information that will be on tests and exams
- Allowing students to organize concepts in their own terms, improving comprehension
- Helping students identify questions or gaps in their knowledge for further explanation
- Giving students material to reference when studying
- Increasing a sense of organization, preparedness, and confidence
There is no right or wrong way to take notes, but some helpful tips can make note-taking easier and more useful for studying. Feel free to try different methods and develop the most effective note-taking style for you.
1. Write notes out in longhand
Since the digital revolution, typing has become a more common means of taking down information than writing it out longhand. In many cases, that’s not an issue, but when it comes to learning, doing things the old-fashioned way might be better. Evidence suggests handwriting notes leads to better retention, as writing longhand engages different parts of the brain than typing.
Even if you’re enrolled in an online program, where you’ll have the opportunity to rewind and rewatch lessons if you miss something, taking notes is valuable and will allow you to revisit key information without watching a whole lesson again.
If you don’t feel confident in keeping up with your professor by handwriting notes, using a computer to type your notes is better than not taking notes at all. However, you can help yourself stay focused by closing any unneeded tabs and applications and turning off notifications during class.
2. Be prepared for class
Once you’ve determined your note-taking method, ensure you show up for class with everything you need to take notes. If you’re writing notes longhand, prepare a dedicated notebook and folder or binder for each class. This will help you keep your notes, handouts, and homework organized. Also, remember to bring pens, pencils, and highlighters.
For those taking notes on a computer, there are a number of note-taking apps that can help you keep your information organized.
Students attending in-person classes can ask their instructors for permission to record lectures and discussions. This can be helpful in case you miss a key piece of information, or want to clarify statements after class has ended. Virtual students can check if their instructors record their classes and make them accessible later.
3. Learn how to be a good listener
To take effective notes, you need excellent listening skills and good judgment. In-person students can cut down on distractions by sitting near the front of the room, making it easier for them to see and hear the professor and lowering the chances they’ll be distracted by their phones or classmates. For students in online settings, find a quiet place, like an office or bedroom, free of distractions like TVs, phones, or other people.
Taking good notes does not mean writing down every single thing your instructor says. Trying to transcribe the lecture likely means you won’t process any information you’re receiving. It is your job to discern what is important enough to write in your notes, a skill that can take some practice. Generally speaking, it’s a good idea to take notes when:
- The instructor specifically says that a piece of information will be on a test or relevant to a project
- The instructor writes a piece of information on the whiteboard or chalkboard or includes it in a slideshow
- Another student asks a question, or the instructor asks students questions about a particular topic
- The instructor stresses a key concept
- The instructor introduces an unfamiliar term or idea
- You are unsure about a piece of information that’s being presented
4. Find the note-taking method that works best for you
It is important that you develop a note-taking method that suits your learning style and works best for you. Again, there may be some trial and error here, until you find the best note-taking method for you. Here are some effective note-taking methods:
- Cornell method: This note-taking method was developed at Cornell University. It helps you organize your notes into three sections — general notes, summaries, and cues or questions — making it easier to reflect and study after class.
- Outline method: This method is most useful for lectures and discussions that follow a logical structure covering one or two main ideas at a time. It allows you to start with a key concept, and add details and definitions relevant to that concept as sub-headings.
- Mapping method: If your instructor’s lectures don’t always follow a logical, organized framework, then the mapping method might better fit your note-taking. This allows you to jot down ideas and definitions in a non-structured way as they come up, and then connect and organize them later.
You can also combine methods or develop your own. Other helpful note-taking tips include using different-colored pens and highlighters to make certain words or ideas stand out, using abbreviations and symbols to make writing faster and paraphrasing the material to ensure you understand core concepts.
5. Compare notes with other students
Comparing notes with other students is an effective yet underutilized strategy. Many students only ask to see other students’ notes when they’ve missed a class. By comparing notes with others regularly, you gain perspective and see what other students in the class found to be salient information.
Collaborating and discussing topics covered in class not only helps you to better understand content for an upcoming test, but it also gives you valuable insight into how other students have learned to succeed in classes taught by even the most demanding professors. Get to know some of the best note-takers and schedule a time after class each week to compare notes. This is also an opportunity for you to test your command of the material by attempting to explain it to others.
6. Review, edit, and organize your notes
After class, it is a good idea to review your notes and make any edits necessary. Oftentimes, notes become messy and disorganized because you are trying to keep up with the professor during the lecture. It is worth the additional time to rewrite your notes in a more organized way. Also, research any terms or concepts you didn’t completely understand during the lecture.
Additionally, to protect the content you’ve spent hours creating, you’ll need to keep your notes in an organized, safe place. Clearly label the binder or folder you are using for each class. If you are taking notes on your laptop, save them in the cloud, or create a backup file on a zip drive in case your computer crashes the night before a test. Regardless of whether you take handwritten or electronic notes, you should date your notes and reference any chapters in your textbook that your notes correspond to for easy lookup later.
7. Take notes while studying and reading
Lectures and discussions aren’t the only times when you should be taking notes. It’s also important to take notes when doing your reading assignments and homework. Taking notes when reading will help you actively engage with the material, identify questions to ask in class and remember key concepts to bring up during discussions. If you are using a textbook you own, or working with a PDF of a document, you can take notes and highlight information right in the reading material itself, making it easier to locate your notes when it comes time to study.