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Click on the bubble or question below to discover tips from other ²»Á¼Ñо¿Ëù students about taking notes and understanding your readings!

How can I level up my notes?

I always like to write my notes down by hand because I feel like I retain the information more easily than by typing them on a computer. It takes additional time, but as I write my notes by hand, I take the time to reformulate things in my own words. I also have the chance to add additional information to help give me context if I do not understand anything.

Arts — Undergrad

I like to add photos and drawings to my online notes, including memes if I can find them. It’s especially helpful if I can add a photo that I’ve taken myself. Tying new knowledge back to old memories makes forgetting a concept almost impossible! Pasting in memes that I’ve found on Google Images is also a lighthearted way to add some humour to these difficult days.

Science — Undergrad

I keep revision sheets for all of my courses where I put important formulas and need to know information in bullet point form as well as things I struggle with. In order to stay up to date with these revision sheets, I update them at the end of each week so that I do not fall behind on revision when exam period arrives.

Engineering — Undergrad

I take down notes from the slides before I attend lectures so I can focus on absorbing the material rather than stressing about writing everything down. It makes reviewing the slides later a lot quicker and I remember more information.

Science — Undergrad

I always have two notebooks for notetaking: I leave one at home (at home notebook = AHN), and I bring the other to classes (in class notebook = ICN). I take notes in my ICN during classes; the handwriting can be very untidy and sprawl across the pages because I have to write down important points and follow the professors at the same time. When I go back home, I rewrite whatever's in my ICN into my AHN very clearly, and sometimes add in more information I get from the internet. This way, I review the course materials regularly and I can keep it for further midterm or final exam review. I have used this strategy through my Undergrad studies and benefited a lot from it.

Science — Doctoral

Prepare for the lecture before going to class. You will learn much more and it will be much easier to follow if you are familiar with the material. Reading the slides ahead of time is usually sufficient.

Science — Undergrad

Do things offline and not by computer or on a screen as much as possible. For example: taking notes by hand, printing readings and writing comments in the margins or underlining directly on the page, discussing ideas with classmates by talking on the phone instead of online, etc. This makes it easier to focus and think about each thing one is doing, and (maybe paradoxically) ends up being a more efficient use of time overall.

Anonymous

Take notes during lectures, even if the notes are posted beforehand. To stay motivated while taking notes, pretend you're preparing notes for a friend who wasn't able to make it to the lecture. This will force you to stay focused during the lecture and take detailed notes.

Anonymous

What are some ways to dig deeper into my readings?

I take notes while doing readings and write down pertinent questions, then I review the notes before class so the materials are fresh in my mind.

Law — Undergrad

When I have articles to read for seminars, I try to make sure I have time to read each one twice so that I remember the most important points. For the first time through, I read closely and take notes on the authors' individual points. Then, closer to the time of the seminar, I read more broadly and focus on the main points of the article. I add some of my thoughts on these main points to my more detailed notes after I've had time to digest the content. Reading the article multiple times (even if the second time is a more cursory read) helps me think more critically about the author's ideas and have more interesting points for discussion in seminars.

Arts — Doctoral

When I read, I don't read articles online or from my computer. If I do, I get distracted by looking things up or going on social media. Instead, I print all my reading material, put away my phone and computer, and study old fashioned just with a pencil in hand to take notes and a highlighter to highlight important sections. I have found this strategy extremely helpful for me as I have a very small attention span and get distracted quite easily. I can read much more and understand better when my electronics are out of sight.

Education — Doctoral

Do things offline and not by computer or on a screen as much as possible. For example: taking notes by hand, printing readings and writing comments in the margins or underlining directly on the page, discussing ideas with classmates by talking on the phone instead of online, etc. This makes it easier to focus and think about each thing one is doing, and (maybe paradoxically) ends up being a more efficient use of time overall.

Anonymous