Note-taking tips for students - Part 1

Note-taking tips for students

Experts widely believe that when it comes to study, there is no ‘one size fits all’ formula for success, so students should focus on what works for them. Understanding your learning style will stop you banging your head against the wall in frustration. Figuring out what works for you can switch that light bulb on over your head and make learning an easier and fun process. This two-part slide set will cover some key areas you should be paying attention to in order to get the most from your study time.

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1. Understand your learning style

As most experienced educators know, all students have unique personalities, abilities and areas of weakness. This makes it even more important for both students and teachers to identify the personal learning style that works best for them. For instance, there is the : Accelerated learner, who reads and absorbs material easily. Hands-on learner, who learns at a slower pace and prefers more hands-on delivery of lessons. Overachiever, who can remember lots of information but lacks confidence in a test environment Unmotivated learner, who has not yet found a way of engaging with learning but wants to do well.

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2. Ask why are you taking notes

Questioning the purpose of taking notes will help you process information better.For instance, if you are trying to understand a concept, then writing hundreds of words of notes could prove counterproductive. Instead, think about the topic and how you could make notes that would facilitate that understanding (would a Mind Map, Notes or Quiz be most effective in improving your understanding? See the resources opposite for an idea of how you can tackle the same subject in a variety of ways).In other words, try to understand what you are documenting - and why - in each individual circumstance. This can inform what you record and how, rather than falling into mindless ‘strategies’ and techniques'.

• Christopher Columbus
• Christopher Columbus Notes
• Chapter 1 ~ Creating America- World in 1500

3. Record only what's valuable

The more you engage in the note-making process, the more you'll understand the valuable nuggets of information you should record. There is no way that your wrist will be able to cope with every word your teacher or lecturer says, but there are note-taking techniques you can try. For example, record short but important bites of information. This acts as ‘an anchor’ to drive deeper thinking and scope to dive into an area. Also, try using key words along with your own words to familiarize yourself with the topic. Along with not writing every word, the key point is NOT to try to learn your notes word for word also. You need to understand the material or you will simply overwhelm yourself when it comes to taking exams and tests and you struggle to retrieve what you've learned.

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4. Use technology to your advantage

Creating visual study aids using technology can easily be applied to your note-making routine. Tools such as GoConqr Notes give you the freedom to express yourself and incorporate media such as graphics, videos and presentations to give you a richer learning experience. Use digital notes with lists and color so that you can quickly sort headings and concepts for easier recall. The blank canvas the Notes tool provides will help you do this by shaping them to suit your individual needs.

• ART DURING THE ENLIGHTENMENT - created from Mind Map
• Class and Gender causes of crime essay
• Plato's Forms