We consume loads of information in our learning process; however, knowledge retention is a constant challenge. There are various methods to help memorise content and retain the academic material. One such method is note-taking. Notes can be taken during lectures or can be made while studying from a textbook as well. It is a simple yet effective way of jotting down information. It is quick and personalised, so every learner has specific notes for each topic according to their needs.
The benefits of note-taking are several.
- It is an active process. Your mind and body are involved in the process, preventing distractions and drowsiness.
- You are focused, and your attention to detail dramatically increases.
- It boosts your memory and makes it easier to remember the content. It has been seen that people remember the notes they have made quite distinctly as compared to the material being presented in any other fashion.
- It teaches prioritisation. The entire concept of note-taking is based on making short and clean notes with only essential information noted down. It is crucial to segregate content and judge the information which would be needed.
- It improves organisational skills as well. Organising the information presented to you is an excellent method of learning efficiently.
Note-taking has evolved as well, from paper notes to e-portfolios. Several electronic devices have specialised applications for note-taking to make learning increasingly easier for students.
Note-taking can be personalised. You can use several coloured pens or sticky notes to make them easier to remember. However, specific time-tested methods have proven to be extremely useful as well. One such method is the Cornell Note-Taking Method.
Devised in the 1950s by Walter Pauk, an education professor at Cornell University, The Cornell Method stresses the importance of organising and condensing the academic material.
This method entails the student to divide the paper into three distinct parts.
- Note Taking Area: This is the column where the notes from the lecture or textbook are written. It usually contains the lecture’s main ideas in short and neat notes. Long sentences are avoided and paraphrased. Use symbols, abbreviations, concise sentences, and keywords to capture most of the information.
- Cue Column: This is a narrower column right beside the note-taking column. It is used to read, review and reflect on the notes. After recording the main notes, shorter one-word keywords or important questions are jotted down in this area.
- Summary Area: This area is below both the columns and represents a kind of conclusion to the notes. The notes can be summarised in one or two sentences that capture the essence of what was learned.
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This method is very effective in fulfilling the 5R’s of note-taking.
- Record
Recording the important information and the main points during a lecture. Writing legibly and neatly is very important in this step while recording what is being taught in real-time.
2. Reduce
As soon as possible, segregation of the noted down points is the next essential step. Summarising the facts and recording them promotes retention and prioritisation of information. It also makes the notes more precise, and you can establish better continuity.
3. Recite
If you cover the main note-taking area and utilise the keywords in the Cue Column to methodically recall whatever you have jotted down, it would be an excellent test for your memory.
4. Reflect
A very important step is reflecting upon what you have learned. Instead of treating it as a systematic process, turn note-taking into a creative process to draw continuity in your notes and the subject in general.
5. Review
An essential step to retaining information is spending some time reading your notes. Spending as little as 10 minutes each day to go through your notes can boost your retention immensely.
Try this method of note-taking and see if it improves your memory!
Read about another method of efficient learning: Building a second brain.
-Anushka Das, content writer
