Learning and Teaching: Managing Your Studies: Notetaking

Notetaking and making

The terms note making and notetaking are often used interchangeably, however they do have slightly different functions which can be helpful to understand so you can decide which technique is best to apply.

This is often done during lectures as a sort of dictation. It requires you to listen and write information as you go. When reading, if you are simply noting the content of what is written, this can also be seen as a note taking process.

When notetaking, you are required to listen and write at the same time, which can be challenging. The speed of the lecturer will also impact your ability to take notes. This is why it is important to explore strategies to notetaking to find a style that works effectively for you.

Key features of notetaking:

Captures important information during lectures or reading textbooks.
Recording relevant information such as the lecturer’s main point, key ideas, theories and supporting examples.
Captures the essential information in a precise, logical format.

This is where you create your own understanding, put things into your own words, add in your own links and questions. You usually do this after you have taken notes from lectures or reading.

Key features of note making include:

Synthesising information, making links between ideas, applying theory and applying critical thinking.
Adding person thoughts and options, asking questions or reflections.
Connecting your existing knowledge on the topic to build a deeper understanding.
Identifying themes, relationships or patterns from the information.
Visual aids like pictures, diagrams, charts or mind maps to help cognitive processing and memory recall.

In summary, notetaking captures information in an organised, logical format whereas note making transforms the information to provide a deeper insight and retention of information.

Notetaking & making styles

Before	Divide up your page into three sections. A horizontal line about a third-quarter of the total page, at the bottom – red line. A vertical line about 2-3cm in from the left on an A4 page – blue line. This system works best if you use either a whole notebook in the same way for one topic or module. Or if you use a perforated notebook so you can tear out the pages and put them into a folder. Write the title of the lecture, the module it relates to and the date, or the referencing info if using a source at the top of the page before you begin.
During	Begin by taking notes in the largest of the 3 boxes: Keep your notes short and concise. Include the key pieces of information. Record overarching ideas/concepts. Use abbreviations to help you condense the information. Use bullet points to help you rather than full sentences, e.g. Sentence: In ancient Egypt it was commonplace that when a Pharaoh died, they would have often requested before death, to have their living servants, pets and concubines sealed up within the tomb with their sarcophagus. Bullet: Dead Pharaoh - sealed tomb with living servants, pets & concubines. Include questions for yourself as you go along – anything you don’t understand or want to explore further?
After	As soon as the lecture/reading etc. is concluded, read through your notes to check they make sense. Cross out anything not essential or incorrect. Add anything you can still remember but missed out. Highlight key points using colours/underlines/boxes. In the left hand margin: Condense key points into 1-4 word topics Write any further questions. Make links to other learning In the bottom box summarise the notes. Think: how would I explain this to someone else? – a bit like a giving a summary of a film you have watched.
Using your notes	Summaries will be able to refresh your memory at a quick glance. Key words in the margin will help you find topics for revision and essay planning. Easy to cover up information to test memory for revision. Can easily highlight links to other topics and learning.

Before	Write the title of the lecture, the module it relates to and the date, or the referencing info if using a source at the top of the page before you begin. This system works best if you use either a whole notebook in the same way for one topic or module. Or if you use a perforated notebook so you can tear out the pages and put them into a folder. It’s a good idea to plan to use two different colours and have a clear set of abbreviations to make your notes more useful.
During	Begin by taking notes from the top of the page. Head sections/sub-topics with key terms – blue lines Write condensed notes from top to bottom on the page – red lines Keep your notes spaced out as then you will be able to add in more later. Remember to: Keep your notes short and concise. Include the key pieces of information. Record overarching ideas/concepts. Use abbreviations to help you condense the information. Use bullet points to help you rather than full sentences, e.g. Sentence: In ancient Egypt it was commonplace that when a Pharaoh died, they would have often requested before death, to have their living servants, pets and concubines sealed up within the tomb with their sarcophagus. Bullet: Dead Pharaoh - sealed tomb with living servants, pets & concubines. Include questions for yourself as you go along – anything you don’t understand or want to explore further? – maybe use a different colour for these?
After	As soon as the lecture/reading etc. is concluded, read through your notes to check they make sense. Add anything you can still remember but missed out. Add in keyword subtopic headings if missed. Highlight key points using colours/underlines/boxes. Write any further questions. Cross out anything not essential or incorrect. Make links to other learning.
Using your notes	Clear chronological order to ideas – good for audio recording. Writing out points in linear format can help cement a logical progression. Easy to create and simple to follow.

Before	Divide up your page into four equal squares sections. A horizontal line half way down A vertical line half way across This system works best if you use either a whole notebook in the same way for one topic or module. Or if you use a perforated notebook so you can tear out the pages and put them into a folder. Write the title of the lecture, the module it relates to and the date, or the referencing info if using a source at the top of the page before you begin. Divide either your time into quarters e.g. 1 hour lecture = 4 x 15 minutes. Each box represents 15 minutes of the lecture. Mark how long each box will cover.
During	Keep a note of the time. Begin your notes in the first box, and move to the second when the it is time to do so. Keep your notes short and concise. Include the key pieces of information. Record overarching ideas/concepts. Use abbreviations to help you condense the information. Use bullet points to help you rather than full sentences, e.g. Sentence: In ancient Egypt it was commonplace that when a Pharaoh died, they would have often requested before death, to have their living servants, pets and concubines sealed up within the tomb with their sarcophagus. Bullet: Dead Pharaoh - sealed tomb with living servants, pets & concubines. Include questions for yourself as you go along – anything you don’t understand or want to explore further?
After	Assess whether you have enough in each box. Are there any gaps? Is there more in one box than another? Read through your notes to check they make sense. Cross out anything not essential or incorrect. Add anything you can still remember but missed out. Condense key points into 1-4 word topics Highlight key points using colours/underlines/boxes. Write any further questions. Make links to other learning
Using your notes	Chronological order to notes means they can be easily synced with audio recording. Easy to cover up information in each section to test memory for revision. If you find it hard to stay focused, this can help prompt you to reengage during lectures and reading.

Before	Orientate your page to landscape. This works best if you use blank paper. Place your topic at the centre of the page – blue circle Write the title of the lecture, the module it relates to and the date, or the referencing info if using a source at the bottom of the page before you begin. Try to use different colours and make this as visually stimulating and clear as possible. If you know in advance the sub topics which will be covered, then you can also add these in advance.
During	Begin by taking notes by using either: 1-4 words – red circles Drawing pictures/diagrams And as you develop your understanding link these together with lines Focus on the key pieces of information. Record overarching ideas/concepts. Use abbreviations to help you condense written information. Use pictures to condense further e.g. Sentence: In ancient Egypt it was commonplace that when a Pharaoh died, they would have often requested before death, to have their living servants, pets and concubines sealed up within the tomb with their sarcophagus. Include questions for yourself as you go along – anything you don’t understand or want to explore further?
After	As soon as the lecture/reading etc. is concluded, read through your notes to check they make sense. Add in any links or drawings – elaborate your visual map Add anything you can still remember but missed out. Cross out anything not essential or incorrect. Highlight key points using colours/underlines/boxes. Write any further questions. Make links to other learning Visual notes need to be developed and revisited after their first draft.
Using your notes	Allows you to make connections visually which helps with memory. Also generate ideas which can be useful for essay planning Non-linear so free to develop in any direction Allows you to condense ideas without using words

Managing Your Studies: Notetaking

Notetaking and making

Notetaking & making styles

Further Reading