Note-taking: 3 Methods for Academic Success

The education system in the U.S. is based on a system of learning concepts and then recalling them on a test. A vast majority of people complain that this represents one of the main reasons why the U.S. isn’t the top country in education worldwide.

Note-taking is something your teachers have gone over many times. It is like a dull drum beating. You most likely stopped listening when the teacher started talking about note-taking. However, notes are key to learning different topics.

I understand that notes can be boring, but when you are required to remember information, they become an essential part of academics. Utilizing efficient note-taking methods is the best way to remember all this information – a.k.a whatever will appear on the final exam in June.

STOP!

Don’t scroll yet. This is the last thing you wanted to see. All you remember are those irritating lines that you’d have to draw down the page, but give it a chance.

I felt the same way about Cornell notes – up until my teachers didn’t require them to be done. There are a lot more to Cornell notes than typically taught in school.

Cornell notes provide you with a study tool without much extra work by using cue questions – simple prompts by which you can study from. Through the notes section, you can write answers to these cue questions.

There are three main sections of Cornell notes: the question/cue column (red), notes section (teal), and summary (bright green).

Using the Fiveable™ Cornell Notes template, you will have an easy guide. If Cornell Notes seem boring to you, try adding pictures to make them more interactive.

You might have heard of this method before, but I may be calling it something different. This style of note-taking is more graphic than the Cornell Note Taking Method.

The biggest advantage of using this method of note-taking is that it allows you to connect ideas together.

For example, you might connect a mind map about the Mongols to a mind map of Chinese dynasties by talking about the Silk Road.

However, mind maps aren’t the best note-taking system if you take long detailed notes. Only so many words can fit in a circle. Instead, this system is better for more general note-taking and reviewing topics.

To make a mind map, you write down a topic in the center of a paper, and circle it. Then, write down other facts about that topic, circle those, and draw lines connecting it back to the main idea. Below is an example of a mind map. The printout only has one main mind map, but feel free to add on as you need.

This represents a very common form of note-taking, but I gave it a name. In math, this is always my “go to” method. However, in just about any science class, it can come in handy as well.

An advantage of this system of note-taking is that it is very visual. Hence the name, you are basing your notes on diagrams and examples. You might even use this note-taking method to add flare to your notes.

The only disadvantage I recall is the fact that it might not be the most versatile method of note-taking. It might be difficult to utilize in a history or English class.

In this form of note-taking, there are a couple of different options.The first option has a focus on mathematics and science. This option involves writing down examples of problems and having them being solved. Not only does this embody my life in math classes, but also it aligns with most math teachers’ teaching methods. Since this system is example-led, you might also choose to take notes on the examples.The second option embodies the most versatile way to use this method.

When taking notes this way, you draw a diagram of a certain topic or idea, and add notes to it. This technique can be used in both STEM and art classes, such as drawing and music courses.

Ultimately, example-led note taking equals taking notes from examples.

Below lies an example of a template for this note-taking methods. The examples go in the left column, while the extra notes and detailed information go in the right column.

By using these note-taking methods, you have the potential to learn more information on a greater scale. Keeping notes symbolizes the key to academic success. Firstly, the Cornell Method provides you with an adequate study tool for just about any subject. Yet, the Mind Map Method has the power to connect subjects. Last but not least, the Example/Diagram Led Note-Taking Method invites your mind into the paper. Simply stated, notes provide you with knowledge, and knowledge is power – the power to conquer the education system!

Check out our note-taking guide to view templates and examples of each note-taking strategy