The Best Note-Taking Methods For Each Class
This advice may be coming a bit late in the semester, but as you begin to sign up for summer classes, it’s a great time to brainstorm note-taking methods to help you in the future.
The first thing to know is how the professor will teach. If they are so, so kind (and it makes sense for their class), they will upload their slides in advance. Find a way to annotate the slides, either by printing them out, using a tablet of some sort, or typing next to them on your laptop. This will allow you to focus on what the teacher is actually saying rather than frantically trying to record the information on the board.
This is especially useful in classes like stats, as you can jot down examples or advice the teachers give you.
If a class isn’t set up like this, it may be useful to jot down what’s on the board quickly during class (teachers may recommend using your own words, but it can be scary), then add your own notes after class or during a conversation during office hours.
Doing the reading may seem exhaustingly boring (and can be unnecessary, let’s be honest), but in classes where this is crucial, divide the paper into two columns: write your book notes on one side and then clarify based on class on the other.
Also, remember, the bookshelf app we use for StartRight has a read-aloud feature, which can be great when your eyes begin to glaze over.
It’s a classic saying that paper notes help you learn better than typed ones, but it’s really true. It can be dull, but even drawing as a distraction is much better than playing a game, shopping, or doing other homework. Plus, with a laptop, you’re distracting everyone behind you as they watch you struggle through the crossword.
For some classes, a bulleted style of titles and subtitles is perfect, but we all have had a professor whose ideas just jump, with little to no structure in their slides. Mind maps are a great way to adapt to this chaotic style, and you can go back to organize them later.
Note-taking apps like Obsidian, OneNote, Goodnotes, or Notion each have different pros and cons. The free-from, handwriting-compatible nature of OneNote and GoodNotes makes them very adaptable to different types of note-taking while still providing the option to write your notes by hand or type them.
Obsidian and NOtion allow complex organizations that tie your thoughts together in a very pretty way.
Using colored pens and highlighters to give your notes that Pinterest aesthetic can be great, as you’re more likely to go back and look at them later, but don’t get too caught up in it. Prioritize content over style always.
Highlight with intention, prioritize words and ease of reading over fluff. The stoplight method is great for reading notes. Red highlight for claims you disagree with, yellow for things you have questions on, and green for statements you may want to use for your argument in any paper.
All of these apps keep your classes together on a drive so you can pull them up on your phone later.
