Note making is a fundamental skill that students’ need to master in order to be successful at University. There are various ways of making notes which include linear note making, concept mapping, matrices and clustering. The style that you choose to use when you take notes in dependent on your preferred style. I have listed some strategies and advice that you can use for your own studies regarding note taking.
Some useful tips.
- Experiment with a range of note making techniques until you find a strategy that works for you.
- Use a style of note making that suits your own learning style. For example visual learners prefer colour coded mind maps in favour of linear note making.
- Use highlighters to mark important information. For example highlight key words and phrases. NOT entire paragraphs.
- Effective note making occurs when you convert the notes you have taken in a lecture and structure them in a form e.g. matrix that suits your learning style. This strategy helps to consolidate the information you have learnt.
- Use sticky notes for the resources you can read and refer to.
- Use a tape recorder for your lecture and make notes when you listen to the recording. Ensure you seek the permission of the lecturer before you do this.
- When viewing online journals use the find search option to determine if the source contains any relevant information for your assignment.
Useful links for note making.
http://www.monash.edu.au/lls/llonline/reading/taking-notes/index.xml
https://student.unsw.edu.au/note-taking-skills
http://www.newcastle.edu.au/service/library/tutorials/infoskills/writing/page11.html
~Aodhan