Good notetaking is a skill that can significantly impact your academic success. Whether you
are sitting in a lecture class, participating in a classroom discussion or studying from a
textbook, taking clear and organized notes is essential. It is a critical aspect of learning and an
essential skill for students.
Notetaking keeps your mind and body active and involved enabling you to avoid feelings of
drowsiness or distraction. It engages your mind actively, making you listen carefully and
decide what points to include. As you take notes, you’ll decide on and highlight the key ideas
you hear. Such organized notes make it easier for you to link classroom learning to textbook
reading. It creates a condensed record for study. A set of concise, well-organized notes from
each lesson gives you what you need to study, and review after class.
Good note making is more than just recording what you read, hear or see. It is about engaging
with information in a way that generates a deeper understanding, allows you to make
connections between things and enhances your thinking.
While taking down notes, you actively engage with the material, enhancing your
understanding of the subject. It also helps you identify the most critical information and
prioritize learning. When you review your notes later, they serve as helpful references and can
help you to remember what was taught more easily.
Effective notetaking requires a combination of attention, focus and organization. Here are
some tips for taking down notes:
Pay attention and be an active listener and engage with the material by asking questions and
summarizing information. Simplify and condense information by only focusing on the main
ideas and key concepts. Use abbreviations and symbols to save time, however, ensure they are
easy to understand and remember. Organize your notes using headings, sub-headings, bullet
points etc. to make it easier to read and review. Personalize your note-taking style that works
best for you.
In conclusion, taking effective notes is a valuable tool for enhancing your learning and
retaining information. It can help you stay organized and focused and provide valuable
reference for later.
So, take the time to find a note-taking style that works best for you and start using it. You’ll be
amazed at the difference it can make in your learning and retention.
By Geredet Johnson