If you want to get the most out of your lectures
it is important to take good notes.
It will always pay off to take notes during class,
even if your teacher shares the slides with you or use the black board.
Research proves that taking notes increases your learning as you process
the subject matter more thoroughly when you write notes.
You can say that notes relieve your memory so you can spend more energy on understanding.
When you take notes, you activate your prior subject knowledge and
process the topic while writing,
which enhances both learning and understanding.
Simultaneously, you structured your knowledge while writing and can therefore use the notes
later on in exam preparation or written assignments.
There are several note taking methods and it is important to choose one that is right for you.
Some note down most of what the teacher says, and others
simply note down keywords.
A good strategy is often to go for quality rather than quantity.
Don’t just write everything but
consider what might be important for you to know in your specific profession.
This keeps you active and enables you to process what you learn more efficiently.
If you just passively write down everything without any selection, this will diminish your learning outcome.
In order to be an active note taker, multitasking is an important skill.
You need to note while listening to the teachers.
This can be difficult at first, but with a little practice you will get the hang of it.
It is therefore important to prepare for class.
The more you know about the topic in advance, the better your notes and ability
to multitask will be.
When you write notes make sure to use your own words.
This way you make knowledge your own and you will better remember and relate to
the subject matter.
It is of course important to note key subject terms accurate.
Use abbreviations to save time and get a better overview.
Finally, it’s up to you if you prefer writing by hand or using a computer.
If you use a computer be careful not just to write down everything
the teacher says.
When you write on a computer you might tend to do so,
as most people write faster on a computer than by hand.
Computers can also be distracting and cause you to procrastinate
because of social media, games and the like.
Remember, practice makes perfect, but most importantly: choose the note taking technique
that suits you.