How to take notes effectively - 8 Productive tips with Device, Software, Methods you can use

Notes are a method used to simplify understanding, memorization and more productive future learning. But Taking good notes, whether from the classroom or your textbooks is a mess. 

To take effective notes you need to be smart with your method, adjusting based on different variables such as the topic you are learning, your educator and on a few other elements.

Taking notes by listening to your lectures improves comprehension and retention of more information regardless of whether you review these notes. Again reviewing those notes helps your brain to go with a rehearsal for long term memory.

Write down Keywords: 

You can't write everything that your teachers saying most of the time. It's dependent on your handwriting speed if you are taking notes by hand, typing speed, listening power. When you are slow at taking notes than it's the most effective way of taking notes and you won't miss any important topics from your lectures.

Stop Transcribing: 

Transcription is the systemic representation of anything in written form. The source can either be saying or any existing text or from the book. You can never make effective notes by transcribing and you will be demotivated for making notes later. There are 2 solutions to this problem. Such as 1. Understanding the concept 2. Summarizing the whole concept.

Understand the Concept: 

Don't be over-excited to write down everything from your lectures. Take time to understand the concept first. Then you will get two benefits. Firstly, listening to the concept helps your brain to learn it faster. Secondly, you will get help by making a summary of the whole concept. It means during note-taking you are going through a chapter twice. If you review it later then it will be more beneficial. 

Make a Summary: 

This is a very efficient and profitable because it helps you to retain every bit of information you heard or read earlier. While doing that you will also get to know how much you understand the whole topic and what should you write next. It helps you to simplify any concept and enhances your writing skill.

Use Highlighters:

If you have quite speedy handwriting then this is going to help you a lot. Before the exam, it's unimportant to read everything. During the lecture, your educator may tell you about important questions for the written exam or an oral exam. So keeping that in your mind, you should highlight specific topics for effective note-taking. It will help you to allocate important lessons and in further revision too.

Use the Short Form of words: 

It's a nonobjective thing that somebody may like or not. But it saves time. Firstly you can inscribe the full word, later you can proceed with short forms. Again you can write short term of the word for a subject. For example, you will have anterior-posterior word several times in Anatomy (medical subject). So you can use the short form of these repeated words. In the beginning, you may have a problem to understand what you wrote in your notes in short-form earlier. To solve this issue, you can use sticky notes in which you can write every full form for the words you may not understand later.

Take Advantage of the Figure and Images: 

If you are taking notes digitally then you have multiple chances to include different images and figures through snapshots, Google or drawing on tablets etc. If you are taking notes by hand, you can draw figures by yourself. 

Taking notes by hand is more practical than taking notes on the computer. But digital note-taking is easier and organised with so many alternatives and options. 

Now we are going to discuss briefly devices and software you can use for digital note-taking.

Devices 

Mobile Phone is a note suitable for note-taking, only you can use it for recording and taking snapshots.

You can use a Laptop if you have a very good typing speed. Otherwise, it's not going to help that much.

Tablets are now very famous among students for note-taking. New tablets from different companies providing all the facilities for students for effective note-taking. You can go with any one of them according to monetary ability.

Software 

There are several apps on play store with different elements for effective and for making beautiful notes. Evernote, Notability, One Note, Notion, Sticky notes, Apple notes, Google docs and sheets are very much well-known in note-taking among students. You can use any of them according to your fondness.

Methods 

There we are going to discuss several note-taking methods concisely. Every method is useful and worthwhile but you have to select the proper method for yourself. Like if which method is more acceptable for you or easier to take etc. 

• The Cornell method: it follows a creative structure that enables active learning, recollect and you can differentiate questions and explanations etc in this method.
• The Outline method: You start with a main topic or idea and if there is a subtopic related to that idea you nest that with an indent. This allows a very clean and organised way of note-taking from the class.
• The Mapping/ Flow Chart Method: This is a visual manifestation of the topic of a lesson. It maximises functional and active participation and emphasises critical thinking.
• The Chart Method: Here you can take notes through any chart, table with labelled headings.
• The Sentence Method: You have to write a new sentence for each new thoughts or topic. It can be numbered as well. 

These are some beneficial and helpful note-taking methods. You can start with this method or you can create your techniques as well.

The conclusion

Note-taking keeps your body active, engages your mind and also helps you to avoid feelings of drowsiness and distracting elements. Lastly, without taking notes you can also do well. It's up to your brain capabilities and also a part of your study techniques. So whenever you're taking notes try to take it effectively.