Note-taking is an essential survival skill for students that want to thrive in academics however, which method yields high retention and memorization? This article will discuss the benefits of three different methods of note-taking: the Cornell method, outlining, and mapping.
Written by Diya Raj Nair
1) The Cornell Method
The Cornell Method divides the paper into three significant divisions with each contributing to a different scope of learning. The larger section shown in the diagram below, is where all the main ideas and supporting points must be written. This allows the student to paraphrase the content delivered and pull out the key points from the lecture. The left of the larger division consists of cue words, important terminologies, and key points from the notes taken during the lecture. This section is completed after the lecture, and it helps in the process of memorizing and recalling the main ideas of the lecture. The last few lines at the bottom of the page will be utilized to write a summary of the lecture and this section makes revision easier and efficient.
While preparing for an evaluation, a student must consult the summary and the cue words to efficiently review the content as it saves time and energy, which can be used to do practice/sample questions.
2) Outlining Method
The outlining method utilizes indentation to write down related points in the order of importance and relationship. This note-taking method enables students to organize their notes in a logical and highly structured manner. There is no need to edit the notes due to its cohesive structure; this can be beneficial in courses where you have to learn a lot of information within a short time frame. The strong framework of this method helps students understand the relationship between individual supporting points, and focus more on the lecture instead of worrying about perfecting the notes. Given all the advantages of this method, it is important to state that this method does not work well with courses that require students to learn using formulae and graphs (for instance, math and chemistry).
3) Mapping Method
The mapping method uses arrows to connect important points to the main idea(s) by visually illustrating the hierarchies and relationships. This note-taking method is great for students who are visual learners, or for those who use a paper-to-pen method. Bullets, colour coding, and symbols are some ideas that can be incorporated into this style of note-taking in order to enhance retention of the related points. The most important benefit of this note-taking method is that the student will be able to see an overview of all the key ideas associated with the central topic on one page. The usage of colour and symbols will instigate a mental trigger, which will help in memorizing the content and in review for an upcoming evaluation.
The above note-taking methods are few among a plethora of effective methods. Each style is catered to different types of learners and it is up to the student to strategically choose a method that satisfies their learning style and goals.
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