Learning seems like a simple task; listen to what the teacher says and then absorb, memorize, and apply the information. However, learning is far more complicated than it seems. Similar to any other activity, learning requires time, practice, and experimentation on how best to execute it. Throughout my years in school, I have learned many tricks on how to learn efficiently and thoroughly. However, the tip that had the largest impact on my learning was taking good notes. As demonstrated by the many blog posts I have made about how to take good notes, detailed notes are still useful in my current learning process. Taking notes allows me to review the information the teacher has taught, and act as a reference when I forget a detail. Also, the act of writing out the information aids my memorization process. With less time needed to memorize facts, I can spend more time on other subjects.
My notes are usually detailed but concise. They contain key-words such as names or events, definitions, analysis, and a few examples. I prefer to have my notes organized in an outline format, using different bullet styles to introduce different categories and sub-categories. Differing bullet styles allows for me to look for information easier when I review my notes. For more information on note-taking, see the following links: Part 1 and 2 of my note-taking videos: http://lycheecafe.weebly.com/blog/the-art-of-note-taking http://lycheecafe.weebly.com/blog/note-taking-skills-part-2 A list of tips on note-taking: http://www.greatschools.org/students/homework-help/323-take-great-notes.gs
3 Comments
Ricky
4/25/2015 11:53:47 am
Annie, this is an intriguing post. As a high school student, I am certainly familiar with the prototypical learning process: listen, memorize, test, rinse and repeat. While I don’t necessarily agree that this process is the most effective for students to truly master the curriculum, I do see the usefulness of taking good notes, and I have found your tips to be quite effective from experience. However, like all methods of learning, taking notes has its flaws. One problem I have experienced is that the act of writing often causes me to shift concentration away from the instructor, which in turn can cause me to miss crucial information. Another difficulty is simply the length of the notes: I often find myself conflicted on how much to write, and that perfect balance between “detailed” and “concise.” remains elusive. Finally, perhaps the largest issue I see with taking notes is its restricted application to class-related material; for instance, taking notes would not be very effective in the learning process for riding a bike, or playing a piano. What do you think about taking notes in the context of learning outside the classroom? Have you experienced these problems? If so, how do you deal with them?
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Preston
4/28/2015 12:11:23 am
Annie,
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Ms. D.
5/4/2015 11:51:57 pm
Hi Annie,
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Author: LycheeI'm someone who is interested in many different topics, so this blog will cover a diverse array of subjects. I hope you enjoy reading my blog, and feel free to comment! Archives
May 2015
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