Did you know that we talk six times as fast as we write (120 and 20 words per minute respectively). Notetaking is important because it facilitates learning by enhancing synthesis and scaffolding review of material, but if we try to write everything down, use the same notetaking approach in all subject matters or have unrealistic expectations about the process, we don’t maximize the value of taking notes or ensure we use them correctly.
Working with notetaking tools and technology
Good Notes is a versatile notetaking app available for iOS/Android and Mac that allows users to combine handwriting, typed text, images, and diagrams on customizable digital notebooks. It features easy document navigation, cloud backup, and sync across devices, and offers student-friendly tools like audio note recording, note search, and flashcard study sets. You can learn more about Good Notes at https://www.goodnotes.com/. You can also see a tutorial of Good Notes’ audio recording feature at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMN0baXbVdw.
Notability is a notetaking app available for iPhone/iPad and Mac that allows users to jot down thoughts, annotate textbooks, sync notes with audio, and sketch using a variety of multimedia tools and organizational features. You can learn more about Notability at https://notability.com/. You can review a tutorial on audio recording in Notability at https://support.gingerlabs.com/hc/en-us/articles/206060617-Recording-and-Playing-Audio.
OneNote is a versatile digital note-taking app available on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android platforms, allowing users to capture and organize notes, research, and plans seamlessly, including syncing audio recordings directly to their notes. It features robust organization, sharing, and search capabilities, making it easy to access your information across all devices. You can learn more about OneNote at https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/introducing-onenote-38be036d-5b5a-49ad-83be-292fe53ad7b3. You can watch a video tutorial on the audio recording feature in OneNote at https://tx.ag/OneNoteAudioRecording.
Effectively using notetaking accommodations
- Students can find audio recording lectures helpful if pacing, processing, or paying attention is difficult for them.
- Effective ways to use this accommodation:
- If you currently use a notetaking app, use built in recording tools so that your notes are synced to your recording
- Write down time stamps for times you lose focus or might’ve missed information so you go back to those specific times and don’t have to re-listen to the whole recording
- Re-listen to the recording and rephrase main points in your own words to help facilitate understanding
- Students may find copies of PowerPoints helpful if pacing and processing are difficult for them
- Effective ways to use this accommodation:
- Print out copies of the ppts, if possible before class, and write extra details on the ppts
- Write down what the professors says in class that is not on the slides
- Students may find pictures of the board helpful if pacing is difficult for them
- Effective ways to use this accommodation:
- If a professor does fill in the blank notes, take a picture of the completed notes to ensure you don’t have anything missing when you leave class
- Take pictures of example problems the professor is writing on the board
- Students can find notetaking technology helpful if the professor’s pacing is difficult for them
- Effective ways to use this accommodation:
- Find the notetaking app that works the best for you
- Become familiar with the technology you are using so you know what tools are available
Developing your notetaking approach
Research has found that students who use different notetaking strategies score better on tests as well as increase the quality of their notes. Unlike high school, college students do a lot of their learning outside of the classroom so it is important that students get quality notes and information in the lecture, so that they can use the information to study and learn on their own.
Some of the processes involved in taking notes could include attending and active listening, organization, critical thinking, prioritization, and comprehension. A student must be able to sit and attend to what the instructor is saying, while also determining what and what not to write down, understand the material, all in an environment that can be very overwhelming.
Many students are never taught how to take notes. Some of the barriers students may find when notetaking in class is deciding what is important to write down, pacing of the instructor, distractions in the class, and/or feeling overwhelmed with the amount of information and not able to process what the professor has said.
- Be prepared
- It’s important to do as much work to preview the topic of each lecture ahead of time so you can use that context to more effectively take notes. Review the syllabus, PowerPoint slides shared in advance, course readings, etc. so you know what will be covered, key terms and where you have questions ahead of time.
- Be clear about your goals
- What do you need from your notes to be successful? Is your goal to just listen to the lecture? Keep organized notes? Write down the big ideas? Have an effective system? Your goals might be different in different classes.
- Avoid complicated systems
- Don’t get so caught up in specific systems or how your notes are supposed to look that you miss out on key information. Find a system that works best for you and is efficient for getting thorough notes that will help you study. Some methods or systems could be the Cornell notes, outlines, mapping, T-notes, charting, color coding, etc.
- Develop shorthand
- Write or type in short sentences so that you are able to get all the information shared. If your class has acronyms, use the acronyms and if needed have a table in your notes that outline what each acronym stands for. Or create your own shorthand system to indicate what specific information may mean.
- Use technology carefully
- Technology can be a helpful tool in taking notes, but if you don’t use it effectively it can also provide many distractions away from notetaking. In class, to minimize other distractions, put your phone, laptop, or tablet on do not disturb or close out of other tabs to help fully focus on the lecture. If you are recording your lecture, you may need to sit up close so that the audio can be picked up and you can hear the lecture clearly. Also some apps that provide transcription may not transcribe accurately.
Working with a Success Coach
See: https://asc.tamu.edu/academic-coaching
As previously mentioned, some students are never taught how to take notes effectively. The Academic Success Center is a resource available to all students on campus to help with a variety of academic skills which includes notetaking. The Success Coach and/or Peer Coach can help provide strategies for taking notes and can even help personalize this to different class structures to ensure you have effective strategies and notes that will be helpful for studying and learning. For students who are struggling with notetaking, it is recommended they schedule a meeting with a Success Coach to find those individual strategies. The student may meet one time with a Success Coach or it might be advised to have follow up meetings. They also provide resources on their website that students can access without meeting with a Success Coach.
For students at TAMU – Galveston, Academic Coaching is provided through the Center for Academic Learning Support. See more information here: https://www.tamug.edu/coaching/index.html.
References
Boyle, J. R., & Rivera, T. Z. (2012). Note-Taking Techniques for Students With Disabilities: A Systematic Review of the Research. Learning Disability Quarterly, 35(3), 131-143. https://doi.org/10.1177/0731948711435794
Willingham, D. T. (2023). Outsmart Your Brain: Why Learning is Hard and How You can Make It Easy. Gallery Books.