What is note making?
I always thought there was a right and a wrong way to take notes. That my approach wasn't as good as my classmates.
I've learnt to invest time in understanding why I need to take notes in the first place. I have different reasons for taking notes in a lecture compared to a textbook reading or academic journal. I reshape my notes to develop a better understanding of course information.
Fundamentals of making notes
The aim of making notes is to find a way that works for you. Keep in mind the below:
- Take the time to experiment with different methods.
- Adapt and refine your process for note making as you learn.
- Continue to reflect and explore what works best for you.
Note
Purposeful note making helps keep you focused, enabling you to be effective and efficient.
The Why, What and How of making notes
You use critical thinking throughout all your Uni work. When making notes, this critical thinking involves identifying your purpose (Why, What and How). Before you explore the different ways to make notes (written, visual, audio or blended), click on the flip cards to consider your purpose:
Moving beyond note taking to note making
The goal is to make meaning of the information you're learning about. You need to develop your own understanding and apply it to your assessments.
To move into active note making consider:
- Revisiting notes you’ve taken and identifying what's general knowledge in an area and what's useful for an assessment
- Actively engaging with your notes by rewriting, reorganising and reworking them
- Combining multiple sources of information to develop a broader understanding of the literature and evidence.
Tip
To quickly find and use your notes you need to be organised. Check out this short instructional video (2:56) on Organising your digital study resources.
Key considerations
Note making works well when you think of it as a key learning process. Ask yourself the following questions to check if your process is working.
Effective note making covers all these elements. If you still need improvement, continue exploring this guide.