How to Take Notes Effectively | Jim Kwik, by Jim Kwik on YouTube. 11 min 42 s.
- Video length
- 11 min 42 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 7
What you need
Steps
Start with a blank page and write the lecture topic in the centre. This becomes the anchor for your mind map.
Put your pen to paper instead of typing. Handwriting forces you to pick out the most important points rather than copying everything.
Draw branches out from the centre topic for each main idea as the speaker moves through them. Keep each branch short, using a few key words.
Add smaller lines off each branch for supporting details, examples and definitions. Use arrows to link related ideas across branches.
Use simple drawings, symbols and colours to mark different themes. This engages the creative side of your brain and makes the page easier to recall.
Pause at natural breaks and ask what the main point was, why it matters, and how you could use it. Write short answers next to the matching branch.
Review your map after the lecture and fill any gaps while the material is still fresh. Add a short summary line at the bottom of the page.
Tips and common mistakes
Don't try to write every word. Capture key words and leave space so you can add detail later.
Keep one map per lecture or topic so you can find information quickly when revising.
Practise on a short talk or article first before using the method in a fast lecture.
Questions
Should I type or write my notes?
Handwriting is better for this method because it slows you down and makes you choose the important points. Typing tends to encourage copying word for word.
Do I need special software for mind maps?
No. A blank sheet of paper and a pen are enough. You can draw branches by hand and add colour with a highlighter.
What if the lecturer talks too fast?
Write only the main branches during the talk and leave space. Fill in the supporting details right after the lecture while you still remember them.
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.
