Shh! I will tell you a super-duper big secret! Don’t tell anyone else but do you know that there is a magic tool in the world that increases the effectiveness of learning by 7 times? The ones who use this “magic tool” are superior to ordinary students. Those without this “magic tool” remember and understand the material worse. Remarkably, even the most talented and accomplished students are outperformed by those who use this tool. This amazing magic tool is notes! But, I’m afraid it’s not as simple as you might think. To ensure that your notes are advantageous and easy to navigate, it’s crucial to take accurate notes. Although this skill is typically not taught in schools or universities, it can be learned independently. In this blog post, I’ll discuss the errors I’ve personally made in the past when taking notes and how I’ve learned to take them accurately. By reading about my mistakes, you can avoid making the same ones and improve your note-taking skills.
MISTAKE #1 ATTEMPTING TO WRITE DOWN MATERIAL EXACTLY
When you simply copy the material into your notebook, you work like a printer. The information passes through your head without stopping. You might think that you have taken good notes by copying the text, but in reality, you have taken lackluster notes. Instead of simply copying, it is important to comprehend the concept. Paraphrase it in a way that makes sense to you. Keep in mind that these notes belong to you and are not going to be graded. You are the only one who needs to be able to comprehend them. Take some time to develop your own shorthand code and use it comfortably. Thinking over the material, you process it at a deep level, you shape it, polish it, and keep it in a convenient form for yourself. At least that’s what your brain does when you think about the benefits of an idea and its meaning. This is the way to learn with maximum efficiency, thinking and writing in your own style. This is the “magic power” of notes.
MISTAKE #2 USING MY PHONE INSTEAD OF PAPER
I personally retain more information when I take notes by hand. I think this is likely because I spend more time writing with a pen than typing on a laptop/phone, meaning I focus more on what is actually being discussed. I also get easily distracted by notifications and check social media when I use my phone for note-taking. One more fun fact (or maybe not that fun, but interesting for sure!). In 2014, the University of Boston studied 10 thousand students of two categories: users of a pen with a notebook and laptop users. In all tests, without exception, the students who take notes by hand won. Scientists attribute the effectiveness of the “manual” method to the fact that brush movements stimulate the cerebral cortex more strongly than keystrokes. Fascinating, isn’t it?
MISTAKE #3 FEELING DEMOTIVATED BEFORE CLASS
My mom always says that when we’re in a good mood and have a positive attitude, we’re way more likely to learn. She taught me to remove “I can’t” from my vocabulary and use “It doesn’t work, but I am still trying” instead.
My advice to you: show up every day with a more or less positive attitude, made an effort to pay attention to the lecture, and take “pretty notes”. I’ve always hated math. (don’t show this blog to my math teacher, please) Therefore, I always chose the ugliest notebooks for this course and wrote in terrible handwriting. Then I didn’t even want to reread them. One day I decided to change it (as well as my mom suggesting I make better notes). I bought a new pretty notebook for math and started to make more visually appealing notes. My changes worked and I ended up with an A in the class! Moral of the story?
1. Attitude is everything.
2. Moms are always right
Utilizing color coding for study notes is a great approach not only for organizing them efficiently but also for enhancing your ability to recall and visualize the information. Color has the potential to activate the imaginative region of the brain. Taking “pretty notes” is very effective for me. However, it is important to note that the effectiveness may vary for different individuals. This may not seem as useful to you as it does to me. In terms of whether “pretty notes” are worth the time and energy, it ultimately depends on your preference and study habits. If you see that taking “pretty notes” helps you to better retain information and study effectively, then it may be worth the time and energy. But if you don’t find it beneficial, you may choose to use a different method. It is important to find a study method that works best for you!
MISTAKE #4 USING ONLY WORDS
Visual methods increase the effectiveness of training. Arrows, frames, diagrams, tables, graphs, drawings, and other visual aids are excellent helpers in understanding connections and memorizing key concepts. Use them when making notes.
You can embed them in the text or put them in the margins to attract attention. For example, if the professor dictated an unfamiliar concept and did not give a definition, you can put a bright icon next to it to deal with the new term later.
Kind reminder: there’s no one-size-fits-all technique for anything, and note-taking is not an exception. Although the above methods are top-notch for me, they may not work for you. Just try to find what works best for you. Test out various methods and once you’ve identified your preferred style, stick to it. Everything will work out just fine, I am sure of it! (rule #3: attitude is everything)
Buona fortuna!
