Tips For Note Taking

Good notes should be accurate, clear and concise. They should show the organisation of the text, and this should show the relationship between the ideas  – Tremblay, Sylvie. (2021, January 12).

Below are 4 Simple Steps to Taking More Effective Notes.

#studytips #studybetter #howtotakenotes #examprep #welovestudents #sastudents

Consider Doing it the Old Fashioned Way

There’s no denying that taking notes on your laptop is, well, just so much easier than writing them out by hand. And typing your notes up in class has some benefits: you can toggle the lecture slides (if available) and your own notes on the same screen to more easily follow along, and you can type fast enough to take word-for-word notes on what your teacher says.

But if you want to make exam prep easier, consider putting pen to paper instead. As Scientific American explains, typing up your notes can put your brain on autopilot: You might be writing what the teacher says, but you’re not integrating the information the way you would when you physically write the info down. Not surprisingly, the research shows that students that take notes using pen and paper tend to process and retain class info better than those who typed it out. So grab your binder – it’ll mean easier studying later!

Use Visuals to Identify Important Information

The biggest perk of taking great notes is that you’ll have a much easier time studying for the exam. So as you’re taking your notes, use visuals to highlight the most crucial info – in other words, the stuff you’ll probably see on the exam.

So what should you highlight? Pick up a pack of 3 different colors, and highlight these three key concepts:

Repeated information. Heard the same thing three times in one lecture? It’s sure to show up on your exam. Instead if writing it out three times, use your pink highlighter to go back and highlight your original note when the instructor repeats it. In-class examples. These are classic exam fodder. And highlighting any examples your prof provides in yellow means they’re sure to stand out – so you can remember to study them later.

Lists of concepts: Draw a box around lists with your green highlighter, so you can be sure to zero in on those when you’re preparing for the exam.

Teachers also love asking about the relationships between two concepts. So if your prof highlights a connection in class, simply drawing an arrow between the two concepts in your notes can help you remember.

And, finally, use your highlighter to draw a star beside any concepts you’re not quite sure you understood in class. That way, you’ll know to go back to it and make sure you actually get it when you’re reviewing your notes later.

Keep Your Notes Organized

This one seems obvious – but be honest, how many times have you forgotten simple details, like writing the date on your notes? Simply adding the date and lecture title helps you keep your class binder organized, so you’re not asking “wait, where did I write that?” when you’re trying to study for your exam.

And if you write your notes on loose-leaf paper, try adding page numbers to the top of each page so you can keep each page in order when you put them in their binder. Most lessons build on the one before, so keeping your notes in the correct order will make for easier studying.

Consider Doing it Twice

OK, this tip might be the least fun. But we promise, it’s the most effective. If you have trouble deciphering your notes after class (no judgement – we know you’re writing fast!) consider keeping two sets of notes: the “rough” set you actually take in class, and a polished set you put together as part of your homework.

Doubling up on your notes has two main benefits. For one, it forces you to actually make sure you understood each concept you took notes on – so you don’t star a concept and forget about it until the night before your test.

More importantly, it’s another chance to review the concepts covered in class. The research shows that you’ll lose about 60 percent of the info you learned within 24 hours – that is, unless you review it. Taking two sets of notes helps your brain move your class notes from “temporary” storage into longer-term memory. So it will feel fresh come exam time – and you’ll be prepared for the test with a quick review rather than an all-nighter.

♥ Learn to Decode Cues from the Teacher

To get the best insight into what’ll be on the test, look to the person who designs it: your teacher or professor. Some might may make it easy by giving you a study guide for the exam. But even if your instructor didn’t, you can still take cues from their lessons to figure out what’ll show up.

♥ Repeated information

Heard about calculating the number of electrons in orbitals about a billion times this semester? That’s a surefire sign it’ll be on the test. Similarly, if a concept or formula shows up in multiple lessons throughout the course, it’s almost sure to be part of an exam question.

♥ Track Down Past Exams

Unless you’re taking a brand new course, chances are there are a few old exams floating around. So take a peek if you can get access to one. The questions may not be the same (in fact, they probably won’t be) but you’ll get a sense of the type of questions the instructor asks – and tailor your studying to those.

Whether you’re considering going to college or university, or you just want to expand your knowledge with a course – studying has many benefits. Whether it’s gaining the essential skills needed to be happier in your career, or even finally figuring out what job is actually right for you.

You’ll figure out where your passions lie

Figuring out what you want to do with your life isn’t always easy. Not only do you have to decide what you enjoy doing, you also have to realise what you’re already good at.

Luckily though, you don’t have to dive head-first into a new industry without any knowledge of what it involves – you can actually learn about it first.

Whether you take a part-time course or go back into education full-time, learning more about the area you’re interested in will help you realise whether it’s really the right path for you.

After all, you might just like the idea of something, rather than the reality.

You’ll expand your interests

OK, we’re going to go ahead and say it; studying can be fun.

Pick an area you’re really interested in, and you could find that expanding your knowledge is far more interesting than expected.

It’s also great way to fulfil any ambitions you might not have had time for in the past.

Always wanted to learn how to code? Now’s your chance. Had a sewing machine for years but never learnt how to use it? Textiles course here you come. Need to learn how to beat the hardest level on candy crush…OK, some things just can’t be taught.

Education has no age limit: 90 year old woman goes back to primary school 

L. RUSU – Published JANUARY 23, 2015)

It’s never too late to do something you really want to – and this is a great example. A 90 year old woman from Kenya decided to go to primary school. She is believed to be the oldest pupil in the world.

Sitting at the front of the class (because seeing can be a bit difficult when you’re 90), Priscilla Sitienei listens closely while she takes notes in English on her notebook. After serving as a midwife for 65 years, she is now a colleague to some children she helped give birth to.

Affectionately known as “Gogo”, which means grandmother in the local Kalenjin language, she wanted to learn how to read and write in English – something she never got a chance to do as a child.

“I’d like to be able to read the Bible; I also want to inspire children to get an education. Too many older children are not in school. They even have children themselves.”

Gogo also wanted to motivate children to go to school – if she can do it, so can any kid.

“They tell me they are too old,” she says, “I tell them, ‘Well I am at school and so should you.’ I see children who are lost, children who are without fathers, just going round and round, hopeless. I want to inspire them to go to school.”

Sadly, the school turned her down initially, but they ultimately understood just how motivated and committed she is. Now, she is the pride of the school, and the entire learning environment has improved since she joined.

“Gogo has been a blessing to this school, she has been a motivator to all the pupils. She is loved by every pupil, they all want to learn and play with her”, said headmaster David Kinyanjui.

Gogo also shares some of her wisdom and knowledge of herbal medicine to kids – something which should definitely be passed on to future generations.

The current record for oldest primary school pupil in the Guinness Book of Records is held by another Kenyan, the late Kimani Maruge. He went to school at the age of 84 in 2004.

Gogo still continues her work as a midwife, and pregnant mothers still visit her and ask for her help when they give birth. So in a way, she still continues her job, and goes to school. It’s never too late to go back to school. Her message is also heartwarming:

“I want to say to the children of the world, especially girls, that education will be your wealth, don’t look back and run to your father,” she says. “With education you can be whatever you want, a doctor, lawyer or a pilot.”

(Source: BBC)

Full article available at:

Education has no age limit: 90 year old woman goes back to primary school

 

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