Note-Taking: Everything You Need to Know

Note-taking is one of those skills that’s not necessarily taught in school, but it’s somehow just assumed to be understood. Yes, in theory, you just pay attention and write down the important things…but how do you know what’s important? Why is it such a big deal to just use someone else’s notes? Don’t you only need to take notes during live sessions (aka the things that will disappear once they’re over)?


If you think you’re excused from taking notes simply because all of your course materials are available 24/7, you’re missing out on an imperative study tool.


*As an Amazon Associate, I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

Why is note-taking SO important?

Many people assume notes are just a there to have something to study from…so if all of your materials are written down already in a textbook or something, it’s just a useless extra step. Why would you need things written out again when your textbook already explains everything?


There are two other useful side-effects of solid note-taking, though, and you’ll completely miss out on them if you skip this step in the process…

Writing information down is essential practice for your brain. When it comes to learning most skills, the more you practice something, the better you’ll get at it. You don’t become an excellent hockey player simply by reading about HOW to play hockey all day, you have to DO it, too.


Learning information is no different. You have to USE the information in order to learn it. By writing things down in your own sentences, you are practicing those concepts in your own vocabulary, and reiterating the material on another level than just re-reading those same words. Even if you don’t re-write the sentence structure, the physical act of writing things down will help with retention and memorization.

The other essential side-effect of proper note-taking will be those beautiful, concise bare bones of the course without any extra fluff that you no longer need. You may have needed that fluff to understand the concepts in the first place, but now that you’ve understood everything, those essentials will be enough to remind you of the rest.

If you’re not confident in your own note-taking abilities and you’re worried you might be missing essential aspects of the course, borrowing someone else’s can certainly be appealing. If this is you, it is still best for you to take your own notes in the first place. Why? Only you will know what cues you will need to remember what was spoken about. This is not saying someone else’s notes can’t be useful on some level. Take your own notes first, and use bits from the others to help flesh out what you already have. Sometimes, two heads ARE better than one.



When it comes to the golden rules of the note-taking process, it all boils down to three R’s:

  • Reduce

  • Re-arrange

  • Review



1) Reduce


When you’re taking notes, it is essentially a reduction of the course material. At first, your goal should be to create a single document that covers everything you need to know chronologically from the beginning to end of each unit. This task will certainly seem more essential if your course material involves more than one source (for example, lectures AND a textbook), but it is a solid first step even if everything comes from the same place.


In this phase, full sentences should be the last thing on your radar. Only take down the information that is essential for you to understand what you’re writing. If you’re taking notes by hand, some shorthand may be useful, but don’t go overboard if this isn’t your thing. The most important thing is that you understand what you write. Some of the most common abbreviations are:


w/ = with

w/o = without

b/c = because

e.g. = for example


For more abbreviation ideas, check out this website.

If you are typing this set of notes, make sure your autocorrect doesn’t decide to be too helpful and change any words on you!!! This is pretty easy to miss when the words are all new.

As you’re working through the material, try to add things like headings and categories wherever you can to keep these notes as organized as possible. These notes will not be your final “exam study” notes, though, so don’t fuss about making them look pretty and super easy to study off of. Clarity and accuracy is WAY more important than aesthetics in this round.

While you’re taking things down, be sure to feature any specific vocabulary words and important people/concepts. Highlight them, bold them, caps them; whatever you want. These will become excellent flashcard fodder later on in your review process, and they’ll be easy to compile if you’ve already visibly highlighted them in some way.

Also make special note of anything that seems to be supremely important. How can you tell? Watch out for buzz phrases such as “the key take-away”, “you must realize”, “the only reason”, and notice if certain concepts/words are repeated over and over again.


No matter how tempting it is, do not copy and paste text from your course material to make these notes. The second you select copy, you are telling your brain “ignore this, it’s too much for you to learn”. Even if you’re not re-phrasing something, the time it takes you to re-type sections word-for-word will be time well-spent. You may also find that it’s better to hand-write(/print) this initial session of notes rather than type it. When you’re a fast typer, it also breezes past some of that much-needed practicing. If you’re a kinetic learner, you’ll find this tip will make a huge difference!!


Once you have the initial “this is everything I need to know” document, this is where the real reduction process starts.


Now, go through those notes with a highlighter and start trimming any excess. You may not be able to trim much (especially at first), but the more you go through them, the fewer pointers you’ll need.




2) Re-Arrange


At some point in your review process, you’ll find it much easier to graduate to more aesthetic-looking notes. I call this the re-arrange phase. While it may just seem like a vanity process, there is definitely an academic benefit to making your notes look nicer.


Arrange your notes with proper headings and subheadings, and then use bullet points for the information underneath. This could mean re-organizing some points and putting them in a more logical place for you…it could also mean doubling points because they may be applicable in more than one category. Once you’ve made sure your notes cover your entire course, they generally don’t need to stick to their initial chronological format, and you can move them around to wherever they make sense for you.


Make sure there’s lots of white space on your page. This one will be key for any visual learners out there, but it will certainly help everyone. Don’t have all of your words jammed up against other words. Make use of big titles and smaller information. Keep clear space between paragraphs, and don’t be afraid of using page breaks to help group things that should be mentally grouped together.

Your notes should be laid out in a way that you’ll be able to easily skim through to find any information you need…you shouldn’t have to read through a couple pages of dense writing to find any answers.

Besides just using different sized fonts and bold/underlining things, don’t be afraid of using colour to help break up your notes. Colour-coding certain sections will help visually categorize certain things, and will ultimately help with retention and memorization. If you’re feeling particularly bujo and want to make your coloured notes all artistic, don’t forget to start with The Best Coloured Pens for Note Taking!



3) Review

So, now that you’ve created your beautiful, tidy, colourful, perfect notes, NOW WHAT???

Why, review, of course!!


The wonderful part of this system is that by getting this far, you’ve already started the review process. You’ve written out the notes, comprehended them, condensed them, and re-arranged them for clarity. You should have a pretty good idea of where you need to spend extra time and where you already have a pretty solid grasp of the concepts.


If you’re mostly reviewing on your own, this is the time where flashcards will become your very best friend. You put the main topic on the front, and then the key features/concepts on the back. Test yourself from both sides of the card, and shuffle them often (your brain is smart - it might memorize the order before it memorizes the words). The process of fitting the key concepts concisely on the back of a card is fantastic review as well, so creating the cards themselves is another review touchpoint.


For any sections that are too long to fit on the back of a card, group things together in lists. Notice how many “points” you have about something, and cycle through the lists as many times as it takes for them to stick. Make up little mnemonics to help you remember these lists. If that word is jibberish and you have no idea what I’m talking about, check out this little introduction to mnemonics. While your teacher might already give you something, sometimes it’s more fun (and more memorable) to make up your own!



The Most Important Take-Away


The last thing I’m going to say is there is no one “best” way to take notes. A lot is going to depend on the contents of the course an on your own individual learning style. Sometimes diagrams will be your friend, and other times, lists will be. Sometimes the computer will be the best way to organize things, and other times the formatting would take so long that it’s faster and more effective to do everything by hand.


No matter what you do, make sure you’re taking notes for YOU. They need to contain what YOU need to pass YOUR course. This might look very different for you than it does for anyone else.


Just remember: making complete notes is about more than just having a simple resource to study from. The process of making those notes is an imperative aspect of your review, and it will mean you will have to spend less time studying in the end! Who doesn’t want that??


Note-Taking is the best way to make studying and memorization easier!

SO. Are you ready for the notes for this article? Here are the key take-aways:


Why is Note-Taking Important?

  • create clear, concise study notes to review from

  • creating them helps you practice the material

  • your notes will be more beneficial to you than someone else’s will be


How To Take Notes:

Reduce

  • write out “everything you need to know” in point form

  • go through those notes and condense them to what you really need

  • highlight/bold important words

  • write things out yourself instead of copying and pasting


Re-Arrange

  • further reduce and re-arrange notes for clarity

  • create headings, subheadings and bullet point information

  • use white space on your page and colour-code sections for clarity


Review

  • study from your notes instead of your course material

  • create flashcards and mnemonics/lists to help memorize



Want More Study Tips?

If you’re still looking for tips to get you through homeschooling, check out the A+ Academics at Home book linked below. I was once a new home learner myself, and I TOTALLY get the struggles that come along with it. It was one of the best learning experiences of my life, though, and it completely changed the way I view education. I want to help you on this journey to discover the excitement that comes with learning something on your own!

A+ Academics at Home - Finding Success Through Distance Learning



If you want to keep reading, here are some other articles you might find interesting:

Who is Nadya Corscadden?

Nadya holds an MA in Musical Theatre and is no stranger to the home learning scene. Having spent a good chunk of her younger years in distance education (and opting for some correspondence electives at university), she has accumulated many tricks to help maintain focus and inspiration. She has a passion for independent learning and wants to help anyone and everyone find their stride in this atmosphere whether it’s homeschooling or simply studying for that next big test!

She is also a triple threat singer, dancer and actress….and can’t wait until stages are alive again!

Home LearningNadya Corscadden