Taking notes

Taking notes when learning is a very basic technique. There is a consensus that some notes should be taken be taken, yet it is not fully clear what notes should be taken and why.

Notetaking for reviewing the content

Occasionally we need to take note as the only/the best way to remember the content for later use. Typically this later use involves an exam that deals only with material that was discussed in the class. While this is great for school and undergraduate students, it is inefficient in later studies. In fact, most of the course material appears in the books or on the internet and is easily accessible. It may make more sense to use the note-taking effort for construction of better mental markers, absorbing the non-verbal messages of the presenter etc.

Notetaking as means of focusing attention

When we take notes, especially when we scribble [make abstract drawings] in the class, it improves our attention. This research may seam counter-intuitive, but when you talk and scribble you activate both hemispheres in your brain. People are occasionally offended by other people making drawings when they talk, but in fact this is flattering.

Computerized notetaking

Evernote, Anki, Roojoom or any other program can be used to record the lessons: the visual, the audio, the main ideas. The basic use of this method is accuracy in the details. When we make spaced repetitions, or try to reference some of the material, we can use these recordings. Also we ensure that the content is not polluted via our own perception. We could ask someone else to give it a look and here their opinion.

Notetaking as roadmap

Sometimes during the lecture it is hard to separate the lecture material from our own thoughts and intentions. Writing them in different pages of the notebooks creates the required mental separation and enables better multitasking.

Notetaking as distraction

Unfortunately sometimes notetaking may be plain wrong. If we are obsessed with writing down everything important we may find ourselves chasing “What did he just say?” or “Wait, I need to write this down!”. In this case notetaking is plain wrong. You would do much better using your mental markers and remembering everything instead.

As always I suggest to develop your own personal style. Keep it simple and concise, so that you are not distracted by notetaking. Feel free to draw stuff and fool around. Try to use special areas for your own ideas you get during the section. And mostly, try to enjoy the non-verbal message of the presenter.