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I want to tell you this: having the ability to transcribe every single word of the professor is really admirable and it sure brings you a considerable swag of notes to sell for big bucks to non-attending students. But are you sure it’s the best way for you?
To begin with, if you wrote a little less you would have less dense notes to study. In addition, to make the most of the time of the lesson you should re-elaborate the teacher’s thoughts in your own words. This mental effort already contributes to your final study!
Try to always keep your attention so you don’t miss any pieces on the street. Also keep in mind that if the teacher also has good speaking skills, he will be the first to highlight the most important concepts during his lesson, which is why you must not get distracted!
Remember to always write down everything that is written on the blackboard or on the slides and do not go too far to write down information that you think you can very well find in the textbook.
Use Ninja Tricks
Basically, I advise you not to focus too much on beautiful handwriting when taking notes (you can always copy them!). By having to be responsive and ready to instantly record crucial lesson information, you certainly can’t get lost in a well-written letter.
Do anything that will make reading your notes immediate and effective, remembering that you will then need to be able to reread and study them! So be careful not to write anything you won’t be able to decipher!
Use these tricks.
The Abbreviations
You will like this part because I am finally going to recommend something that all teachers at school always criticize for all kids. Are you ready? Drumroll…. USE ABBREVIATIONS!
You are always there to write messages by cutting all the vowels, even though we were still at the times when long text messages cost more, and now you finally have the reason to use them for a valid purpose.
If you really want me to tell you everything, the tachograph, a fast writing technique implemented through the use of appropriate tachograph signs (i.e. abbreviations and conventional signs), has always been practiced since the times of the ancient Greeks and Romans who wanted to be able to write at the same speed as you spoke.
So, come to think of it, it’s not at all strange to implement this method of taking notes!
So:
- make extensive use of abbreviations (so I know you know plenty of them: x ‘, resp, def, vel, max, etc.),
- uses symbols,
- write short sentences even without conjunctions,
- indulge yourself, from arrows to bulleted lists,
- it also uses different colors and fonts to highlight the most important concepts.
Mind Maps
Also, remember that one method you can try to take notes (once you have learned it well) is that of Mind Maps. Below I give you some brief info to understand how to use it, and if you like it you can learn more about its functioning by reading the dedicated article “Mind Maps for Studying at Super Speed!”.
Take an A4 notebook, with a hardcover and spiral, I recommend it with squares or with blank pages because you will have to use it horizontally,
open it horizontally so that you have one sheet above and one sheet below so that you can simultaneously take notes on both,
above you will draw in pencil the map related to the lesson, with the keywords, the evocative drawings, and the other elements of the mind maps,
below you will write the discursive part of the lesson, such as the definitions, and the longer things that you will later link to the map.
Review Your Notes
An absolutely necessary thing to do is to review your notes within approximately 24 hours of taking them. Don’t have the time to do it? Let an online essay writer handle your urgent tasks while you study the more important material.
Think that our brain deletes more than 50% of new information within 24 hours if it is not consolidated (= revised). Here, the principle is exactly the same with the notes: reviewing them the same day you took them helps to consolidate the information in your mind. So studying will be easier!
This moment you take to review them can be used to improve them a little if needed. You can copy them in plain text, perhaps by integrating information from textbooks.
This work is an important part of your study, don’t underestimate it! Always remember that by writing you are already studying, because writing helps to consolidate information.
Well, don’t delay, become a clipboard black belt by practicing these ninja moves!
