2. EFFECTIVE NOTE TAKING
Whatever technique you use, effective note taking has three parts:
1. Read. Active reading – use the SQ3R technique, think about
what you have just read (read in chunks), test comprehension
(formulate a question that has the information you have read as
the answer), etc. You need to understand the material before
you take notes.
2. Record. Make notes – capture your understanding of the
material in your own words. Reformat and condense the
information – use a variety of techniques. Select the best
approach for the information, and the purpose of the notes.
3. Review – memorise, test yourself, apply what you learn, and link
it to what you already know.
3. NOTE TAKING METHODS
Remember that making notes is a learning activity.
Select the best method for the information and what you want to
use it for:
• Mind maps – good for overviews of topics or subjects. Good for
organising your thoughts on a subject.
• Bullet points – short notes that capture the main ideas of a
subject. Good for ease of reference – can support a mind map.
• Summaries – in your own words. Helpful to check your
understanding.
• Cornell study system
• Flow or spray notes – a good way of taking notes of processes, or
step by step procedures. Good at capturing decision making
processes – ‘if X, then Y’
4. MIND
MAPPING
• Getting started – write
down key words about
all the ideas and
information you know
about the topic. Don’t
try to impose any
structure at this point.
• A sun diagram is a
good way to start.
5. Once you have your ideas on paper then you
can start to create a mind map to organise
them. By hand, on paper, landscape.
Central idea – the main topic
Thick theme lines – the main concepts or
organising ideas
Thin theme lines – lead off the thick ones and
represent the ideas, concepts or information
within the main concepts.
Labels – keep text to a minimum. Labels are
there to stimulate your memory.
Make it fun and memorable – Use colour,
pictures and cartoons etc.
Good for overviews of topics, not so good for
detail. Link to a page of bullet notes for key
details?
6. CORNELL NOTE
TAKING• A study system. Divide the page as shown.
Once you understand the topic (active
reading), make brief, bullet point notes in your
own words in the main area (record).
• Then in the cue column at the left record the
key words and also questions to which the
information in the notes is the answer.
• What questions would a tutor ask to get that
information as a reply?
• Then, cover up the main area and jot down
on scrap paper your answers to those
questions (no peeking). Check your answers. At
the bottom write a summary of the key
features and main, high level ideas in the
notes. (Review)
7. FLOW CHART
NOTES
• This example sets out
the flows of nutrients in
the soil.
• Any process, or decision-
making tree (“if A, then
B”), can be represented in
a flow chart.
• If you can construct a
flow chart, then you
understand the process!
