7 Steps to Effective Note-Taking and Smart Learning
Steps I followed to make productive notes and excel in medical school
Graduating from Medical school was not an easy journey. With more than 20 subjects to master, hours of listening to online and offline classes, and studying from several textbooks and a number of journals, what I have learned is that taking good notes can take the revision game up a notch.
Today I am going to share 7 steps from my experiences that will make your learning journey easier in school, college or any stage of learning you are in.
#1 Choose your tool: First, decide on where you like to take your notes. Are you tech-savvy or are you someone who prefers pen and paper? Choose what works best for you, you could consider using both like I did. Apps like Good-notes make note-taking easy and fun.
Though the note-taking process might seem a little boring and intimidating it’s all worth it as it makes you a better listener during the lecture classes.
#2 Prep for the class like a pro: It is always good to glance through the textbook and read a little in advance. Say, just like how we watch a trailer before a blockbuster movie.
A sneak peek through the topic before the class will help you understand the class better. Skimming through the content prior to the lecture has helped you stay ahead of the game.
#3 Format your notes: I think I should elaborate on this step. Of course, there is no right format for taking notes. It is totally fine to follow a pattern or style that helps you remember your subjects better.
While some prefer to just make an outline of the lecture by making notes of only the main points, some might opt to make good flow charts or even mind maps. However, a popular style of making notes is the Cornell method.
In this method, all that has to be done is divide the page into three sections, one section is to write the subheadings and questions, the second section is to write the answers or facts and the lower section of the page will be to write the summary.
The magic of the Cornell method is that it has been shown to be effective in memory retention. I always wrote my notes in this format and it proved to be invaluable during my revision sessions.
#4 Be the Sherlock of listening: Be an active listener and focus on the points that your Professor emphasizes during the class. They could be high-yield topics or even golden nuggets of wisdom that you should try to make a note of immediately.
#5 Use abbreviations: We all love abbreviations especially while using our phones. Don’t we? Make a list of abbreviations that you could use while taking notes. So, during the lectures, you need not be worried about missing out on points while your professor is teaching fast.
I had a list of abbreviations for each chapter, for instance, I would write Colorectal carcinoma as just CRC. Adding abbreviations and bullet points would make my notes neat and neat notes are always less intimidating therefore less stress when you revise.
#6 Post-lecture refinement: Do not forget to show your notes some TLC after the class;)
If you use the Cornell method, you could take some time out after the lecture to summarize the main points and write them down in the summary section.
You could also make your notes visually more appealing by drawing diagrams and highlighting important points, including charts or even colorful mind maps. Giving your notes a splash of color or an artistic fair will turn your notes into a masterpiece and make your revision a little less daunting.
#7 Key ingredient: Revise your notes regularly because the ultimate magic lies in consistent revision. You could join study groups and revise or even share the knowledge by teaching your friends from your notes. You could also transform your notes into flashcards and condense complex hard-to-remember topics into bite-sized pieces.
There you have it! The seven note-taking steps I have followed to make my Med school life easier. Undoubtedly this will help you enhance your learning journey as well.
The art of note-taking is not just going to be useful in school or college days but even beyond because our pursuit of knowledge should never end. Also, remember knowledge is not just about acquiring information but it’s all about how you train yourself to retain and apply that knowledge effectively.
