Taking notes and paying attention during class can be... difficult to say the least. And studying is the worst. Luckily, there are a few methods and tips that you can follow to help maximize your note-taking while also paying attention in class. If you find that you have trouble studying, there are a few tips near the bottom of this page too.
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| This method is great for reviewing and organizing notes. The Cornell Method breaks up a sheet of paper into 3 sections: 2 columns, and 1 row at the bottom. 1 column is used for notes during class. A second, smaller column is used for jotting down questions, providing clarifying points/definitions, and/or resources, and picking out key points after class. The third section is a footer for providing a brief summary of the lesson, highlighting major points and details, done after the class. If you are interested in a downloadable template, click this link here. |
Mind Mapping Method
Also known as the "Mind Tree", it is one of the more creative methods. Start with the lecture title (or key topic) in the center of the page. Then, for each sub-topic or key detail, create another bubble and connect it to the main topic. For each point about the sub-topic, make another bubble and connect it to the sub-topic(s) that it is about. The Mind Mapping Method is useful for showing connections between topics and points. Keep each bubble down to 2-4 words at most. If you need to clarify points/bubbles or add details, you can do that later. Mind Maps are also often used to create quick outlines for writing essays. In the example on the right, we used Google Drawing though there are plenty of other dedicated applications, such as Google Jamboard, Microsoft Whiteboard, or Miro. |
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