- How to Take Notes.
In this video, I'm gonna give you my 15 tips
on how to take better notes.
First of all, why should we want to take better notes?
In the 1970s, developmental psychologist, Michael Howe,
discovered that you were seven times more likely to remember
what you learned in a lecture, if you took notes.
Taking notes in class is valuable,
but there's another important thing to know.
The average student writes one third of a word per second.
The average teacher will say three words per second.
So you need to learn an efficient, fast,
effective way to take notes.
This is my 15 tips.
Number one, decide what's best for you,
computer or paper, handwritten notes.
A Princeton study in 2014, determined that a student
taking notes on a laptop averaged 310 words taken in notes.
The person who was writing it by hand
was only able to write down 173 words in the 15 minutes.
So it, on the surface, looks great.
Ah, write with a laptop, you'll be able
to write down more information.
Well, actually what happened was,
is the people who wrote it out by hand
actually ended up remembering more
than the people who just typed it into their laptop.
Now think about that for a minute. Why could that be?
Well, the first thing is,
when we are typing in what the teacher said,
sometimes we're just typing it in word for word.
We're not using our working memory.
We're not thinking about it. We're not engaging our brain.
We're just typing out what they say, word for word.
The person, however, who is writing the notes
in their journal, they're actually having to think about it
as they're writing it.
They're actually having to determine, is this good?
Is this not good? Do I put this in?
Do I not put this in?
They're writing the important stuff.
They're thinking about it as they're writing it out by hand.
Therefore, the person who writes it out by hand
is probably at a little bit of an advantage.
However, if you are dead set on typing it on your computer,
then just tell yourself, hey,
I just need to focus in on the important stuff here.
I need to not just try to take notes
and type everything they say,
but really pay attention to the main points.
I would also suggest that you turn off Facebook
and all social media if you're on the computer.
You will be less focused if you have the temptation
of social media right there on your laptop.
Point number two, and I think this is such a great one.
The day before the lecture, whatever the topic is,
if you have a textbook relating to that topic,
skim through that chapter that the teacher
is going to teach on.
Take notes on the main points. Write the main words.
Write out the things to look for.
The day before the lecture,
do a little bit of preparation work,
and, when you take notes, your notes will be more effective.
Point number three, use erasable pen
so you don't have to cross stuff out.
If you don't mind having a bunch of things crossed out,
fair enough, but use erasable pens if you want
to be able to erase and keep your notes looking neat.
Point number four, use the outline method.
The outline method is, when there is a main statement,
you make that in bold, and then the supporting points
you put in bullet points underneath.
And then, if there is an example
that supports one of those bullet points,
use an arrow, an arrow pointing,
to support the main point with an example.
Tip number five, use colored pens.
Sometimes colors engage our memories.
If you use a different color for each topic,
or maybe one color for conclusions,
one color for questions,
then that's gonna engage your memory.
And, when you are thinking about your notes,
you will remember those colors that stood out
and you might remember your notes better.
Tip number six,
you're writing one third of a word per second,
your teacher's talking at three words per second.
Use abbreviations as much as possible,
But abbreviations that you will understand later
when you go back and look at your notes.
(pages rustling)
Wait a minute. What did I write here?
What did this mean? This makes no sense.
I don't know what that abbreviation means.
Tip number seven, leave space for drawing diagrams later.
So, if you're taking your notes along
and then there's something, a diagram that you think
that you could draw that would help your understanding,
leave space there and then keep taking your notes,
and then later go back and draw a diagram.
Sometimes diagrams will help you
understand the concept better,
but you gotta leave space while you're taking the notes.
Tip number eight, review it the next day.
Sounds simple. Sounds so obvious.
Review it the next day.
It's gonna cement it more into your memory when you do,
but do an active review, not a passive review.
Don't just reread your notes.
Look away, see how much of your notes you can remember,
and then go back and look at 'em.
Don't just read your notes again.
You might be tricking your mind
into thinking that you know more of what you know.
Number nine, don't just review it the next day.
Redraw any diagrams the next day. Redraw it.
Maybe even rewrite out as much of your notes
as you can remember the next day.
Point number 10, before you start taking the notes,
indent about 20% in, and draw a line down the page
and leave that indented area
for when you are done taking notes
to go back in and write out the main points,
or write cues or memory tricks that's gonna help you
remember what you took in your notes.
But you have to indent, so you can go back later
and take notes and write your notes in the margin.
Notes on your notes. You're taking notes on your notes.
Tip number 11, after you're done taking your notes,
write out a summary of your notes.
This week, I read a book by Isaac Watts,
called "The Improvement of the Mind."
Do you know what I did after I read the chapter?
I wrote out a summary of the chapter, in my own words.
It will strengthen it in your memory
if you write out a summary of your notes
after you have taken your notes.
Tip number 12, use the mind map method.
A guy named Tony Buzan,
who started the World Memory Championships,
he was a big fan and maybe one of the beginning teachers
of the mind map method.
The mind map method is this.
You start in the center of the page and you draw a circle,
and you write the main topic in that circle.
And then each of the subpoints are little branches
that you draw off the main point.
And then, on those branches, you have more points
that go off those branches that support those ideas.
This drawing out of a mind map
gives you a visual representation of your notes.
Tip number 13.
This is somewhat of not an always a possible way,
but, if it is possible, it's a great way.
Get a copy of the slides from your lecture.
A lot of teachers will give you the slides
from their lecture.
Get the copy of the slides, print 'em off,
and then just take notes on the slides.
And then, when you go back and review,
you have a real chronological visual representation
of the lecture and your notes there.
If possible, it's a great thing to do.
Tip number 14, write out conclusions, not facts.
For example, if you're listening to a lecture
on World War II, if you wrote out the facts,
"Pearl Harbor occurred on December 7th, 1941,"
if you just write out the facts, this many people
were killed, it was done by the Japanese,
if you just write out the facts,
you might not be as effective as writing out,
"The Japanese attacked the United States
"on December 7th because".
In other words, you are writing up
that you were taking notes on the conclusion,
not just the facts.
Tip number 15, whatever the topic is,
write out questions maybe before the lecture
and then, whenever your teacher answers them,
you can write out the answers.
That is a great way to remember more
of what you take notes on.
I hope you enjoyed this video here
on how to take better notes.
We have lots of study skills videos,
lots of study tips videos.
I'm a two time USA memory champion.
I used to hold the record for the fastest
to memorize a deck of cards in the United States.
If you liked this video, give me a thumbs up.
Comment below with some of your note taking tips.
And also, I have a memory course called Black Belt Memory.
Down in the description, I have a link to it.
It's gonna really improve your memory.
It's gonna help you remember your notes,
remember what you read, give speeches without notes,
improve your grades.
It is a great tool for any student.
Check it out in the description below, blackbeltmemory.com.
Give me a thumbs up. Leave me a comment.
I love to go with a heart and thumbs up
and all that on comments.
I'll see you on the next video.