听Learning Guide:听Note-Taking Strategies

Learning how to take good, efficient notes will help you stay on top of schoolwork and do well on your exams.

4 Steps to Effective Note-Taking听

1. Prepare

   Start every lecture ready to learn! Read assigned content, review notes, and write down any questions or areas you don鈥檛 understand.听 This preparation is called 鈥渇rontloading鈥�. You are getting your brain ready to receive new information and connect new ideas to existing ones. This allows you to focus on learning concepts instead of getting stuck on vocabulary.

   Check out our Effective Reading Strategies听(笔顿贵).听

2. Use a System

   A note-taking system allows you to identify important information and organize it.听 It also helps you keep track of what you do or don鈥檛 understand.听 Furthermore, good notes can act as a study guide when it鈥檚 time to review.

   There are many note-taking systems you can choose from: outline method, mind mapping, Cornell system, etc.

   The Cornell Note-Taking System

   

   

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3. Participate

   Be an active listener. Pay attention to:

   • What your instructor is emphasizing.
   • How the content is organized.
   • Listen for verbal cues (鈥測ou need to know鈥�, 鈥渇irst of all鈥� or words that are repeated).
   • Watch for visual cues (words written on the board, highlighted, or in bright colours). Record these cues in your notes and ask questions in class, by email, or during office hours.

4. Review

   Reviewing your notes is key (see Learning and Memory).听 Wait 15-20 minutes after class has finished, then go back to your notes. Mark down any questions you have, add information you missed, write down examples, and connect the information to your other classes or life.

   Try the 3 Colour Method of Highlighting:

   

   Infographic Text for Screen Readers

   3 Colour Method of Highlighting: Use highlighters and coloured pens to keep you organized. For example, blue for definition words, green for names and dates, red for important information.