
Have you ever had such a familiar experience?
▶︎ During a class: I often feel that I have understood the knowledge points, but I will forget them after class and can not remember them.
▶︎ During an exam review: I think that my notes have been recorded comprehensively, but after reviewing for several days, the test results are still not satisfied.
The reason for this situation is that our brains can’t handle too much fragmented and complex information. We need to be organized.
If you can find a structure and put all the pieces of information into it regularly, you can significantly reduce the burden on the brain and make it easier to understand. And this is what Ivy League students are using called ‘structured thinking.’
The importance of structured thinking
Let’s do a test. The figure below has nine numbers. Can you remember them in three seconds?

Give it a try. Do you feel that it is too difficult?
Then what if I change the order?

Do you think it is super easy? The two sets of numbers are the same, but the structure of the second set is more regular. Why is it difficult to remember the first group, but we can easily remember the second group? Because it is more in line with the habits of our brains.
When the human brain processes information, there are two rules:
Firstly, our brain can’t remember too much at once, because too much information will make it feel overloaded; Secondly, our brain likes regular information.
It is the same for taking notes. If there is no structured thinking, the notes just put together a lot of information. The more comprehensive you record, the more messy the information is. But if you use structured thinking to take notes, not only will each knowledge point become an independent part, but the relationship between each piece can also be easy to see.
How to take notes in a structured way
Structured thinking means thinking from whole to parts, and it is a layered way of thinking. Applying this way of thinking to take notes requires the use of “top-down” thinking to record.
The specific operation method is:
- Collect all relevant material
- Identify relationships and classify
- Summarize the main points and refine the viewpoint
- Add ideas and improve ideas
- Throughout the process, if you can use the tree structure to record, it will make this a lot easier.
When recording notes, you can record as follows:
- Knowledge category
- Title: Description topic.
- Label: Indicate a series of keywords to facilitate future retrieval.
- Retelling: Retelling the content directly.
- Analysis section: Write your understanding.
- Example questions
Maybe this process will take some time. Still, in the process of arrangement, you can continue to enhance the ability to summarize and record your thoughts and analysis to deepen your understanding of knowledge. If you prefer to do note-taking things on a laptop or a mobile phone, there is a tree-structure software that can help you — Transno.
Choose Transno like Ivy League students
Transno is a minimalist outline note software. Through structured information organization, it helps you sort out ideas, organizes key points, manages tasks, and create ideas.
Minimalist Outline
Transno chooses a more structured outline form to ensure that every input has its level.

Mind map
All you need to do about mind map is only one click: it’s easy to realize divergent thinking and visual expression.

Multi-end Synchronization
All content is automatically cloud synchronization. Don’t need to download, open the web version to use Transno directly. At the same time, Transno has fully covered the mobile end, supports localization using, and you can create and edit documents without a network.

Collaboration and Sharing
Say goodbye to sending and receiving files repeatedly. You can share documents with colleagues and friends by copying collaborative, inviting links. The web version has supported multi-person real-time collaborative editing, password access, and permission settings to fully meet the personalized, collaborative needs and release the team’s efficiency potential.

Import and Export
Transno supports import and export of mainstream document types, such as OPML and FreeMind documents, you can also export Transnote to Word, PDF, image, HTML, OPML, FreeMind, and other formats.

We hope all the users can structure information and build clear thinking by typing minimal items instead of on and on, so we develop and name it ‘Transno’ — it means ‘Transformative Note.’
We sincerely invite you to try our FREE beta version app and use the structured thinking in your study and life.
We always believe ‘how much do you take life seriously, how strong Transno will be.’
We are looking forward to your coming! Visit us at transno.com.