Effective Note Taking Tips (BEFORE, DURING, AFTER LECTURES), by heymin on YouTube. 6 min 27 s.
- Video length
- 6 min 27 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 10
What you need
Steps
Read the assigned pages or skim the slides before class. Write down any terms, formulas or headings you do not recognise so you can listen for them.
Start each lecture on a fresh page. Add the date, course name and lecture topic at the top so you can find the notes later.
Rule a narrow column down the left side of the page and leave it empty. You will use it later for key terms and questions.
Bring two pens, one dark and one colour, plus a highlighter. Use the colour only for definitions and examples so it stays meaningful.
During the lecture, write in your own words and shorten words. Use arrows, dashes and abbreviations instead of full sentences.
Do not copy the slides word for word. Note what the lecturer repeats, slows down for, or says is important.
Mark anything you did not follow with a question mark in the left column. Ask about it at the end of class or in office hours.
Within 24 hours, read the notes and fill gaps from the slides or textbook. Write a short summary of the main points in the left column.
Turn each heading into a question and answer it out loud without looking. This shows you what you still need to review.
If the method is not working after a few weeks, change one thing at a time, such as the page layout or how much you write, and test it again.
Tips and common mistakes
Keep one notebook or one folder per course so your notes do not get split across places.
Write the next review date at the top of the page so you remember to revisit it.
If you fall behind during a lecture, stop writing and listen, then fill the gap afterwards.
Questions
Should I type or handwrite my notes?
Either works. Handwriting slows you down enough to paraphrase, while typing is faster for long lectures. Pick one and keep the same layout every time.
How long should my notes be?
Short enough to review in a few minutes. Aim for key points, definitions and examples rather than a full transcript of the lecture.
What if I miss a lecture?
Get the slides and a classmate's notes, then rewrite them in your own words using the same page layout so they fit with the rest of your notes.
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.
