When you are a student (well, a serious one), note-taking is as important as attending a lecture. We all understand it's hard to get into the habit of taking notes but once you get a hang of it, it’s fulfilling and a productive exercise.
Taking notes will help you concentrate better in class, format your thoughts and questions, and easily understand the lecture. Taking notes during a lecture means that you are actively engaged in the learning process and you will never forget the concepts spoken in the lecture.
Here are some insights that will help you get started with Notes.
1. Get a Journal.
Finding the right book is very important for a pleasant note-managing experience. Look for paper quality, texture, and size. Buy an unruled, hardcover A5 notebook for your notes. There are some beautiful books available on DailyObjects and Amazon. You can also find one at your nearest stationery store. For those who have an iPad, I would recommend the Notability app or Good Notes for doing the same digitally.
2. You need some accessories!
Get some high-quality pens (roller-balls for regular note-taking) in different inks. Also, keep pencils and highlighters ready. A ruler will also be essential. For iPad users, Apple Pencil is the best of course but you can also try the cheaper Logitech Crayon or Case U Stylus for iPad.
3. Ensure good room.
To be productive, the space that you are sitting in plays a very important role. While you are learning, make sure that you are not in the bed or in the kitchen. Try to find a place where you can concentrate, keep the stuff organised, and which is ready for note-taking. Sit in a comfortable chair and arrange your devices in a way that it is easy for you to take notes while watching and listening to the lecture.
4. Come up with a system.
Keep maintaining a system of note-taking. Headline, paragraphs, bullet points, arrows, boxes - use them and keep consistency in their usage. For example, for a new note start with a headline, use a small paragraph to write what it is all about, use bullet points to mention all the points discussed, use arrows to mention examples, use boxed to mention external resources to check later. You can come up with your own note-taking system or use any existing system (an abundance of which is available on youtube). Always write a summary at the end of every note that says what did you understand from the lecture.
5. Use colors
Using colors in your notes will make it look appealing while you study it later but also it will make you mark important points. You can use a different color to write down the questions you have, highlight an important point or show a point that needs further clarification.
6. Maintain your journal
Use your journal not only for note-taking but for writing down your ideas, planning your design solutions, sketching your art, or just for scribbling down anything related to the content that you are specializing. This can be a very good resource for you in your career.
Here are some videos which will help you with the process of note-taking:
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