A Better Way to Take Notes, by Benjamin Keep, PhD, JD on YouTube. 6 min 54 s.
- Video length
- 6 min 54 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 7
What you need
Steps
Before class, decide what you want from the notes. Aim to understand and connect ideas, not to record every word the teacher says.
Write down the main idea of each section in your own words. Keep it short and skip copying full sentences from slides.
Add links between new ideas and things you already know. Note how a concept relates to an earlier topic or a real example.
Mark questions and gaps as you go. Put a question mark next to anything unclear so you can ask or look it up later.
Group related points together instead of listing them in the order they were said. Use headings, arrows or brackets to show connections.
After class, review the notes within a day. Fill in gaps and rewrite any part you cannot explain in a sentence.
Test yourself from the notes by covering the answers and recalling the main points. Fix weak spots in the notes as you find them.
Tips and common mistakes
Do not try to write everything down, since that leaves no time to think about the ideas.
Leave space in the margin so you can add connections and questions later.
If you fall behind, note the topic and catch up after class rather than stopping to copy.
Questions
Do I need a special app for this?
No. Plain paper works fine, and any notes app with headings and bullet points is enough.
How is this different from normal note-taking?
Normal notes often copy information in order. Integrated notes focus on linking ideas and noting your own understanding.
How long should review take?
A short review of 10 to 15 minutes the same day is usually enough to fill gaps and check your understanding.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
