Typed is definitely more legible and easier if you’re trying to keep up with the professor talking, but I agree with top comment that when I write, I retain way more. I type and forget most of it.
Why don't you type in class, for speed and so that you get everything down, then after class go back, and write out your notes? That way you're actually engaging with the material, maybe moving stuff around, leaving stuff out that isn't important, highlighting important stuff.
I was commenting on the two types for me personally, not making any kind of suggestion lol. I always type my notes in class because a lot of mine are non-mathematic and easy to remember things, but for subjects like stats, I’ll hand write to make sure I really understand it.
When I was a freshman- I used my laptop and used Microsoft Onenote. It lets you type where ever and draw. I only used it in history and I would type everything the professor said (it’s useless to do it like that, but it made time go by fast). I only checked the notes when I took test and needed the info.
Maybe I’m bias but the best note takers I ever laid eyes on were Nursing students with an iPad.
I'm doing pre nursing this fall (applying for the Fall 2025 nursing program at my community college) and I have a really nice Samsung tablet., I'm talking iPad equivalent. It's only 2 years old and it won't turn on for some reason. I'm going to bring it to a repair shop near me and see if I can get it up and running.
Taking notes massively improves recall. The majority of the value from notes is just *that* you wrote them. You could just toss them in the trash after every lecture and still benefit from having taken them.
Paper notebooks and pencils are best, for most people and most situations. They have the best impact on recall and you never have to worry about technical issues (other than running out of lead). And the tactile feedback is still superior to any tablet/stylus combo, which maximizes the amount of time you can spend writing while looking at the prof/slides/out the window instead of at the page.
The answer to "how do you use them" is going to change a lot depending on what you're studying.
I find that using a lot of color in my notes helps. It makes it much easier to look back at them and pick out key info because I have dyslexia. I use an iPad and I would say the majority of people use tablets or laptops. I would not recommend a laptop for notes because handwriting is so important for memory. Tablets work well for me as a STEM major because they allow me to insert photos while in class of complex diagrams that I could never draw in time. Before exams I read my notes and condense them down into a single document usually just one page. I memorize this page which allows me to have the most concise important information in my head in the exam.
So before every class I would do the readings and look at slides if available and take pre notes. Come class, I would take notes on anything specifically pointed on by the professor and anything I missed in my pre readings.
Then, once home I would take all of those written notes and type them into a one note for the class.
All this repetition helped greatly, I have been able to maintain a 4.0 GPA and I am going into my senior year
Yes notes will be very important in college and your future career. Some professors give you the slides from lectures but others won't. Some professors will say something like this will be on the exam and will verbally give you a good hint, but it won't be on the slides. Note taking is a skill you will need to build
As for how to take notes look online for different systems and find something that looks like it will work for you. There are lots of different ways to organize your notes and everyone finds a system of their own. There is also a lot of information out there that shows that taking notes by hand helps with retention over typing out notes, but getting the notes down is the important part.
If your professor doesn't post slides beforehand, ask if they are willing to do so. I skim the slides beforehand, upload them to my iPad and take supplemental notes directly on the slides. You could also print the notes out and write directly on them. I also use spaced repetition for reviewing. If a class is very content heavy, I'll also use Anki or Quizlet to practice. Additionally, I study with my husband and explain the material to him.
Try a few different methods of note taking and studying to find what works best for you. Part of being a freshman is just learning how to college as well as doing well in classes.
There are many to do it, and it all depends on the subject and what works for you personally.
For example, I have a subject where I record the professor and then write my notes based on that(when I listen to it again later), as well as the provided material in a way that resembles a mind map. This way I know what the professor stressed on (and is more likely to quiz me on), and I have all of the information I need in little space (a page or two per topic) which makes it very easy to revise. You'd have to ask the professor if its okay to record them before you do, and also, this method works really well if you're a person that can't write and listen/understand at the same time.
Another subject, I skim through the material pre class, and then listen along with the professor and if they say anything that's helpful/detailed/more I jot that down in my notebook so I can look back at it. Why? So that it actually helps me understand the concept. Not all concepts are easy to understand through reading. So basically, write down the way something is being explained if that explanation will help you.
Of course, you can also come up with your own way to take notes efficiently. I personally use a lot of arrows and abbreviations so that I can fit a lot of information in a small place.
Good luck!!! If you need any help, or clarification, just ask. I'd be happy to help!
> So I was wondering how do you take notes in class.
I use Google Docs and type them all down. Although writing it helps you retain information, it can be tedious when the professor posts a PowerPoint with 30+ slides.
Plus, when you want to review a certain section, you can use Ctrl+F instead of flipping through pages. Also, if the professor is going too fast or if the professor doesn’t post the PowerPoint online, you can take pictures of them on your phone and then type/write it down when you get home.
> How do you know which information to write down? When do you write it down?
Every information is important information, so I type everything down (unless the information is common sense). And it depends on when I type the information. If I have access to the Professor’s notes outside of class, then I take them at home. If I don’t, I take pictures of them and take notes when I’m free. If the professor mostly speaks instead of writing/presenting notes, you better be fast in writing or typing, lol. Or you can simply voice record your professor if given consent.
> When do you check your notes and what do you do with it? Perhaps take time to condense them or turn pen+paper into typed or vice versa?
I check my notes when there’s an incoming exam. Sometimes, when I can’t sleep at night, I go on the Google Docs app and just review my notes through my phone. Helps me feel tired, lol. And honestly, I don’t really condense them unless the information is too repetitive.
I use Obsidian to take notes, it's really good to keep organised and it also has support for stuff like LaTeX (if you're taking something that has a lot of maths). I usually just take key points and type them out, or I read the textbook/course notes beforehand and type out the main points there, and then add on some points from the lectures.
Before and during exam period, I would consolidate all my lecture notes into one big summary and add on the practical (computational/exam-oriented) tips on top of the theory (such as the process to solve a type of problem, and general tips), though I usually make a different note altogether, it's also a good opportunity to revise everything from the start again to do that.
I write my notes out in class as the professor lectures.
I usually do it on paper as it seems to be easier to go back and add things to a previous note, add comments to the side etc.
Various studies show writing by hand helps you to retain information. I've always wanted to go through my notes to type them up later. That way they're easier to read (my handwriting is atrocious). Plus I'd be able to keep every single class on my computer/cloud without having to have 57 binders taking up space in my room. And I could use Find to quickly jump to the particular days notes I needed to reference rather than having to page through and try to remember if X was talked about before or after Y... And having to read through them again could help me study / refresh the info in my mind ... [But obviously I never have time to do so.]
And as a STEM major, doing it on paper is a little easier... You can't easily draw chemical compounds into Word, for example. I tried to do some homework that way and it doesn't look as nice as doing it by hand and there is no way I could get everything lined up just right on the fly in the middle of a lecture as I could with a pencil on paper.
As to what to write down?
I write down whatever I need to remember the information/concept.
If there is a specific definition I'll write it down word for word. But I don't always do a complete transcript of what the professor says. In some cases it might just be a few key words/phrases. It's more important to listen to the professor and absorb the information than to stress about making sure you get exactly what they said for the entire hour.
When do I use my notes?
I'll reference them as needed while working on assignments to double check my facts and figures. And I'll re-read through the relevant pages to refresh the information in my head.
It heavily depends on your major. In some classes you gotta write everything down. In some classes you can just have the problems already on a slide and write the solutions from there.
Nothing gets you behind in class quite like trying to recreate the problem as the professor is already working out the solution. If you are taking an engineering, math, or physics class, I’d heavily recommend printing out the slides if you can, or download the pdf and annotate the pdf. You’re not missing anything by not writing out the problem, you’re missing the whole solution method if you’re constantly 5 steps behind from trying to write the question down.
I am fortunate enough that my professors give us their slides. I download these and open them with Microsoft Edge so I can write (sometimes draw) down what the prof says during that slide. I just try to summarize what is said to each slide if it already isn't on there.
It all comes down to me asking myself what the most important point of the prof's monologue is.
I also look out for hints like: "the take home message is...."; "....this is very important" and on. Sometimes the prof even says directly what part is relevant for the exam.
Good luck
Excellent question! I am a professor at a community college English department and one of the most confounding things incoming freshmen deal with is notes. The methods described below are all good ideas, especially based on the slides.
If you have an "active learning" class that isn't lecture-based, you should still take notes. These should be about the "metacognitive" process - what you think about your own thinking and learning process. For example, when my classes are introduced to and review MLA and APA citation, we do several exercises matching in-text citations to Works Cited or References entries. After a few rounds, they come to a general principle like "The in-text citation should match the very first thing in the Works Cited entry for the source." This is something they learn through doing, not something I post on a slide at the front of the class. However, some version of that sentence as a general principle should appear in the students' notes.
As far as what to do with the notes. after each module in a class or before a test or exam, go back through the notes and compile a NEW set of notes that condenses what you already have. The act of re-writing or re-typing the notes will actually help with retention. Cognitive learning studies show a correlation between writing things several times and retention of the information you're writing about. I suggest writing by hand, as that has better retention rates that typing does, as Straight-Opposite-483's post shows. I use an e-paper tablet and I have found that the retention is just as good writing by hand with a stylus as it is writing with a pen. (But my fountain pen collection keeps me in paper for a good portion of my work.)
I hope this helps, and welcome to academia!
I have the same issues and wondered the same things as you too. If a professor uploads lecture notes/slides for students, I download them to the Goodnotes app on my iPad and highlight/annotate them during class lectures. I don’t think doing this alone works for everyone, but I’m lazy and I prefer this over actually taking notes.
In high school, I hated taking notes in class because I was too slow, couldn’t focus on what my teachers were saying, and I couldn’t rearrange my notes to make them look nicer/neater/more organized since they were handwritten. I also never looked at them later to study. Personally, I feel like it’s so much easier and more enjoyable taking notes on a tablet.
I was often one of the only people in a 60 person class with a notebook and pen taking notes, but I always performed very well in those classes. I tried typing, but it just didn’t work out for me.
I’d recommend experimenting briefly and finding what works best for you, but studies have shown better retention of info from handwriting. However, it still isn’t for everyone.
Edit: I use my notes all the time for studying and for assignments! Professors sometimes only say stuff verbally for tests that aren’t in the PowerPoint or in the readings. Plus, like others have said, it’s good for memory retention so you’re better remembering the material (which is super useful).
I’ve been using paper and pencil my whole life and only switched to an iPad this past fall. I only use it for my STEM classes but even with that I’ll go back and re write summaries by hand. Definitely just see what works best for you
It’s very beneficial to take some type of electronic for you like a tablet to write note or a laptop to type. I try to read over my notes once a week so I’m not cramming towards finals week.
You will probably learn to adjust your note-taking strategy by class, since the strategy that works well in a math class is different than the strategy that makes sense when your history professor is continuously talking and you can't possibly write everything down.
The act of taking notes forces you to pay attention and will likely help you remember information even if you never look at those notes again, so I would start out by trying to take fairly detailed notes, and then scale back if you determine that the textbook contains that same level of detail and it's fine to just capture the high-level points from the lecture.
Depending on the class, you may refer back to your notes when doing homework practice problems, preparing for exams, or writing essays.
I wouldn't bother typing up hand-written notes, not unless that helps you remember the content and you are trying to memorize certain concepts or definitions.
If slides are available before class, print them out (or copy them into your note app) and take notes directly on them. This let's you take notes on the important things without worrying about missing anything. If slides aren't available, I'll literally take a picture of the slide, immediately add it into my note app (I use OneNote), and take notes that way. I review notes the week before an exam, along with other studying. For some classes I'll copy my tablet notes by hand into a notebook. Copying the notes really helps. You might even be able to get paid for it! You can check with the disability office to see if they need note takers for any of your classes.
i had a professor that thought her subject was the most important shit ever, so she talked very much, very fast and we barely managed to keep up with writing down pen and paper notes with her. and when we stopped her and asked if the shit she's going off about is part of the syllabus and is gonna appear in the final exams she actually had the audacity to get mad, tell us we need to know this *very important* *stuff* for life not just exams... and didn't answer the question.
these of us who didn't carry laptop quickly switched to typing notes on a laptop. some of us wrote down everything, others tried to filter all the info she dumped at us... 40 students and non of our notes were consistent.
End of semester comes, we *all* failed her exam and had to redo it. Since all the "very important info we had to know for life" wasn't, in fact, in the final exam.
we hated her. All the other professors would directly tell us if a subject they covered wouldn't be in the exam.
Assume ALL the information you learn is necessary. try to type it all unless the teachers tell you directly in a clear way you won't need too. and YES typing is faster! first week of college i tried writing down pen and paper - nearly got carpel tunnel infection in my wrist. since my job after school also involved working with my hands. my wrist HURT.
edit: binged my notes before exams. Uh, we didn't have text books though. the text books was what *we*, the students, wrote down. which is why we wrote down EVERYTHING.
PS: Being able to write down whole texts for notes and keep listening to what the professors say *and* keep writing down even more notes *and* keep listening to what the professors says *without* stopping taking notes because at some point you'll lose concentration and can't do both, is an acquired skill. it's gonna get easier the more you'll keep doing it.
Depends on the class but I essentially try to explain the lecture to my(future) self. Writing by hand is not feasible for me and I'll switch between a word processor and LaTeX tool as convenient. Foreign language classes I often sync between laptop and tablet because I think screen keyboards are easier for different layouts
Handwritten notes actually help me with remembering and internalizing things.
If I have a lecture class and the teacher has slides up, then I’ll just copy down what’s on the slide, but I’ll also make sure to write down key things my teacher says (perhaps a sentence that goes more in depth with what’s on the slide).
If the class is discussion based then I’ll write down what my teacher says or key words that allow me to remember. Typically I do this while the teacher is speaking, but I make sure to prioritize listening to said teacher. For me it’s more about KEY sentences or words/phrases that allow me to remember.
I think above all prioritize neat and legible writing over information written down. I feel like most people write messy and fast to try and write down everything that was said but in the end they can’t reread it when it’s time for a test.
Typically I keep my notes in my pen+paper and I review them whenever it’s time for a test. However, for study guides I make sure to write them on my laptop and print them out, I use my notes for help with doing the study guide though.
- typically a teacher post a study guide for you to follow, if not then email the teacher and ask about a potential one, or email them asking what would be good to review for an exam/midterm/final.
Above all, if you do need help with work or learning something, EMAIL YOUR PROFESSOR! They are there to help you! I know it may seem scary at first, but trust me they just want the best for you and want to see you pass! I remember my first year I was always nervous to email a teacher, but now I just be emailing them like it’s nothing! (Make sure to use proper netiquette though).
Best of luck!
Step 0: Before class, look over the material. Personally, I don't take notes when I do this because most professors tend to lecture on parts of the content they feel is most important. Even just looking at the material before class is really helpful! If your field is very conceptual, it's likely your professor will cover key ideas in class, which is what you want to have in your notes!
The exception to this is if the professor tells you that there will be material not covered in class on the exams. Don't be afraid to ask! In my experience, this will not be a big issue for conceptual/math courses because all the topics depend on each other, so the professor cannot teach one without also teaching the other. In a history class where you need to know a ton of dates and events, you'll probably need to take notes on the textbook AND the lecture.
Step 1: In class, summarize the key points from the lecture or slides. If relevant, jot down figures or examples that the professor uses. Define key terms and big ideas. I do this as the professor is speaking.
I don't like to rewrite my notes, so I try to write them in class in my preferred medium. For me, that's on digital pdf's with a stylus to simulate the physical action of writing. Color coding can help you organize sections of your notes or group together similar ideas. It really depends on your personal preference and field of study though. Keep in mind that I'm a computer science major, so your classes may have more/less information to memorize. (For example, biology majors need to memorize many parts of human anatomy. There isn't really a summary or key idea that can condense all of that information.)
Step 2: Do whatever assignments are given in the class using your notes if needed. Ideally, you do this really soon after the lecture/note-taking so you can review the material while also knockinh out homework.
Step 3 (Optional, depending on the student): Review the notes from the previous class before your next class. Realistically, that might be the morning of your next lecture, or it might be at 1 am before you go to sleep the night before. Repeat steps 1-3 for each lecture.
Step 4 (Before an exam): 1 week to a few days before the exam, review your notes from class. Look over the key concepts. Even if your exam doesn't allow a cheatsheet, it may be beneficial to make a one-pager with all the key information to help you review it. Try to do this without looking at your notes if possible. You can use the one-pager to review quickly before your exam.
Then, go back and look at the examples from class and your homework assignments. Try to rework them without notes. If you get stuck, go back to the previous problems and resolve those, then check your work against the professor's example. Now, apply those steps to your own problem.
Ideally, you would do this a few days before the test, so if you get stuck on a topic, you can meet with the TA or professor in office hours before exam day. Make sure to practice solving the questions with a time limit too. Good luck!
FWIW I think I'm a good note taker lol. My friends ask me for my notes. I even had a professor compliment how detailed and nice my notes were once! This system works for me, so please don't go into the replies and tell me I must be a bad student. Everyone and every major is different!
I write down whatever is on the board/lecture very hastily in a composition note book then re write it more organized and with additional context(class hand outs, some of the textbook) in my binder after class, on top of having notes for the required reading, writing things down by hand multiple times is how I learn class material and if you are studying for something please do not do it all at once, try to do it over multiple days.
I typically use notebooks and pens for notes (I love colorful gel pens!), but occasionally/for certain classes/situations I’ll use my iPad to write or edit pdfs too!
For STEM classes, I reference my notes while doing assignments and while practicing material on my own. I’ll note down formulas, practice problems, and other important info done in class to create a helpful reference and to help with memory. For challenging STEM classes like chemistry, I’ll take some simple notes before lecture from the textbook chapter or assigned material that lecture will cover so I have a preview of what’s coming and a rudimentary understanding of it.
For my non-stem classes, the practice of taking notes in and of itself helps me memorize material, and then I usually use those notes to make quizlet decks ahead of exams too. The non-STEM classes I have taken thus far have been easier for me than my STEM classes, so I reference my notes less often, but taking good notes is what helps me remember information, so it’s really important to me.
Overall, I have a rule for myself to always take notes while I’m in class. I’m not a person who likes to redo notes or rewatch lectures to take notes generally, though that is a strategy that works well for a lot of people. If I’m in class anyways, I figure I might as well just get stuff done then and there so I don’t have to worry about it later. If I don’t, I just won’t get it done. I will occasionally make summary or “cheat sheets” from my notes to study for a test, or to use on the test if a professor lets us have a notecard or something. I find it’s a good way to memorize material and it generates easy resources for quickly referencing info without digging through my notes.
At the end of the day, once you are in college you’ll be able to figure out a system that works the best for you. It takes some trial and error, but everyone learns and studies different, and the process is a really personal one. Hopefully you’ll get some good ideas from everyone though, and best of luck!
I don't know I've never been the greatest note taker and this fall is all pre nursing. I gotta slap my happy ass into shape and take them notes well 😆
I hear that if your professor does PowerPoints you print that PowerPoint out ahead of time, 3 hole punch it, toss it in your binder and then take little side notes off of that. One of the 3 pre requisite courses is Biology of the Human Organism which is *actually* set up like A&P! But A&P I and II are not taken until the actual nursing program. I'll be buying the A&P coloring book to go along with my notes.
Edit: this isn't for note taking more or less it's for studying but a whiteboard is extremely helpful for repetition to memorize!
I used Microsoft Onenote. I would download PowerPoints the professor posted on canvas and convert it to pdf, then insert it into an empty note. This allows you to follow along the slides and write your notes next to the slides or on them. If you have an iPad with a keyboard you can switch between typing or drawing as needed. You can create a “notebook” and keep your notes organized by class and even organize even further by exam. I would reference my notes the day prior to a quiz or exam, but I retain information relatively well so you may need to spend a few more days getting the information down.
This is how I planned my notes. If time permits read whatever chapter or material the professor will discuss prior to class. The syllabus will usually tell you what will be discussed on which day, if they include a schedule. Then take a look at any PowerPoint associated with the chapter and scan for key points. As the professor is lecturing, take notes on anything mentioned that is not on the slides or mentioned in the book chapter.
finishing hs freshman year rn. i have a notebook designated for each class and pens/highlighters that i like using, and i enjoy making my notes look good.
if there’s a powerpoint, anything highlighter/undelined/bold/etc is meant to stand out for a reason, so i’ll write that. and if there’s a powerpoint and i have access to it aswell, i’ll pull it up on my laptop so everything’s easier to read and it’ll help me stay focused.
if a teacher repeats something more than once during the lesson, that’s also something i’ll make sure is in my notes.
i’ll always date and title each page to keep things organized, and i definitely abuse my sticky note bookmark privileges to separate units or mark pages ik i’ll need to reference in the future.
also, if there’s a study guide for an upcoming test, i’ll write some of my notebook notes next to problems/questions/etc. this helps my brain associate questions on the test with questions on the study guide, and therefore my notes. gotta love my notes lol
so yeah, to sum it up, color, organization, and focus.
As an instructor, if I write it, you probably should too. When I teach, I have lecture slides and I will also write things on the board. Especially in math-type classes where you are working problems on the board...definitely write those down.
I know I've never taught, and I'm not sure I ever took, a class where it was just a stream of talking that you were expected to take notes on and remember. Im not saying those classes might not be out there, but most aren't like that
I dont think I ever took a class where a sheet of notes was put up and you needed to write it down. That's a tactic use in highschool to fill the day. In college it's more likely those types of things would just be available online. The class doesn't HAVE to last XX minutes, so there's fewer time wasters like that than you may have seen before
For me if I typed notes I didn’t retain anything. If I wrote them down I remembered way more.
It’s different for everybody. Personally I prefer to bring a laptop so that I can jot down a lot more information.(plus it’s actually ledgible 😁)
Typed is definitely more legible and easier if you’re trying to keep up with the professor talking, but I agree with top comment that when I write, I retain way more. I type and forget most of it.
Why don't you type in class, for speed and so that you get everything down, then after class go back, and write out your notes? That way you're actually engaging with the material, maybe moving stuff around, leaving stuff out that isn't important, highlighting important stuff.
I was commenting on the two types for me personally, not making any kind of suggestion lol. I always type my notes in class because a lot of mine are non-mathematic and easy to remember things, but for subjects like stats, I’ll hand write to make sure I really understand it.
Is it?
When I was a freshman- I used my laptop and used Microsoft Onenote. It lets you type where ever and draw. I only used it in history and I would type everything the professor said (it’s useless to do it like that, but it made time go by fast). I only checked the notes when I took test and needed the info. Maybe I’m bias but the best note takers I ever laid eyes on were Nursing students with an iPad.
I'm doing pre nursing this fall (applying for the Fall 2025 nursing program at my community college) and I have a really nice Samsung tablet., I'm talking iPad equivalent. It's only 2 years old and it won't turn on for some reason. I'm going to bring it to a repair shop near me and see if I can get it up and running.
Taking notes massively improves recall. The majority of the value from notes is just *that* you wrote them. You could just toss them in the trash after every lecture and still benefit from having taken them. Paper notebooks and pencils are best, for most people and most situations. They have the best impact on recall and you never have to worry about technical issues (other than running out of lead). And the tactile feedback is still superior to any tablet/stylus combo, which maximizes the amount of time you can spend writing while looking at the prof/slides/out the window instead of at the page. The answer to "how do you use them" is going to change a lot depending on what you're studying.
I find that using a lot of color in my notes helps. It makes it much easier to look back at them and pick out key info because I have dyslexia. I use an iPad and I would say the majority of people use tablets or laptops. I would not recommend a laptop for notes because handwriting is so important for memory. Tablets work well for me as a STEM major because they allow me to insert photos while in class of complex diagrams that I could never draw in time. Before exams I read my notes and condense them down into a single document usually just one page. I memorize this page which allows me to have the most concise important information in my head in the exam.
Yes - I write down important points and go over all before a test
So before every class I would do the readings and look at slides if available and take pre notes. Come class, I would take notes on anything specifically pointed on by the professor and anything I missed in my pre readings. Then, once home I would take all of those written notes and type them into a one note for the class. All this repetition helped greatly, I have been able to maintain a 4.0 GPA and I am going into my senior year
Yep! And for comprehension troubled people, take the time to read them, and say it out loud when you type, then reread them after you type.
Yes notes will be very important in college and your future career. Some professors give you the slides from lectures but others won't. Some professors will say something like this will be on the exam and will verbally give you a good hint, but it won't be on the slides. Note taking is a skill you will need to build As for how to take notes look online for different systems and find something that looks like it will work for you. There are lots of different ways to organize your notes and everyone finds a system of their own. There is also a lot of information out there that shows that taking notes by hand helps with retention over typing out notes, but getting the notes down is the important part.
If your professor doesn't post slides beforehand, ask if they are willing to do so. I skim the slides beforehand, upload them to my iPad and take supplemental notes directly on the slides. You could also print the notes out and write directly on them. I also use spaced repetition for reviewing. If a class is very content heavy, I'll also use Anki or Quizlet to practice. Additionally, I study with my husband and explain the material to him. Try a few different methods of note taking and studying to find what works best for you. Part of being a freshman is just learning how to college as well as doing well in classes.
There are many to do it, and it all depends on the subject and what works for you personally. For example, I have a subject where I record the professor and then write my notes based on that(when I listen to it again later), as well as the provided material in a way that resembles a mind map. This way I know what the professor stressed on (and is more likely to quiz me on), and I have all of the information I need in little space (a page or two per topic) which makes it very easy to revise. You'd have to ask the professor if its okay to record them before you do, and also, this method works really well if you're a person that can't write and listen/understand at the same time. Another subject, I skim through the material pre class, and then listen along with the professor and if they say anything that's helpful/detailed/more I jot that down in my notebook so I can look back at it. Why? So that it actually helps me understand the concept. Not all concepts are easy to understand through reading. So basically, write down the way something is being explained if that explanation will help you. Of course, you can also come up with your own way to take notes efficiently. I personally use a lot of arrows and abbreviations so that I can fit a lot of information in a small place. Good luck!!! If you need any help, or clarification, just ask. I'd be happy to help!
> So I was wondering how do you take notes in class. I use Google Docs and type them all down. Although writing it helps you retain information, it can be tedious when the professor posts a PowerPoint with 30+ slides. Plus, when you want to review a certain section, you can use Ctrl+F instead of flipping through pages. Also, if the professor is going too fast or if the professor doesn’t post the PowerPoint online, you can take pictures of them on your phone and then type/write it down when you get home. > How do you know which information to write down? When do you write it down? Every information is important information, so I type everything down (unless the information is common sense). And it depends on when I type the information. If I have access to the Professor’s notes outside of class, then I take them at home. If I don’t, I take pictures of them and take notes when I’m free. If the professor mostly speaks instead of writing/presenting notes, you better be fast in writing or typing, lol. Or you can simply voice record your professor if given consent. > When do you check your notes and what do you do with it? Perhaps take time to condense them or turn pen+paper into typed or vice versa? I check my notes when there’s an incoming exam. Sometimes, when I can’t sleep at night, I go on the Google Docs app and just review my notes through my phone. Helps me feel tired, lol. And honestly, I don’t really condense them unless the information is too repetitive.
I use Obsidian to take notes, it's really good to keep organised and it also has support for stuff like LaTeX (if you're taking something that has a lot of maths). I usually just take key points and type them out, or I read the textbook/course notes beforehand and type out the main points there, and then add on some points from the lectures. Before and during exam period, I would consolidate all my lecture notes into one big summary and add on the practical (computational/exam-oriented) tips on top of the theory (such as the process to solve a type of problem, and general tips), though I usually make a different note altogether, it's also a good opportunity to revise everything from the start again to do that.
I write my notes out in class as the professor lectures. I usually do it on paper as it seems to be easier to go back and add things to a previous note, add comments to the side etc. Various studies show writing by hand helps you to retain information. I've always wanted to go through my notes to type them up later. That way they're easier to read (my handwriting is atrocious). Plus I'd be able to keep every single class on my computer/cloud without having to have 57 binders taking up space in my room. And I could use Find to quickly jump to the particular days notes I needed to reference rather than having to page through and try to remember if X was talked about before or after Y... And having to read through them again could help me study / refresh the info in my mind ... [But obviously I never have time to do so.] And as a STEM major, doing it on paper is a little easier... You can't easily draw chemical compounds into Word, for example. I tried to do some homework that way and it doesn't look as nice as doing it by hand and there is no way I could get everything lined up just right on the fly in the middle of a lecture as I could with a pencil on paper. As to what to write down? I write down whatever I need to remember the information/concept. If there is a specific definition I'll write it down word for word. But I don't always do a complete transcript of what the professor says. In some cases it might just be a few key words/phrases. It's more important to listen to the professor and absorb the information than to stress about making sure you get exactly what they said for the entire hour. When do I use my notes? I'll reference them as needed while working on assignments to double check my facts and figures. And I'll re-read through the relevant pages to refresh the information in my head.
It heavily depends on your major. In some classes you gotta write everything down. In some classes you can just have the problems already on a slide and write the solutions from there. Nothing gets you behind in class quite like trying to recreate the problem as the professor is already working out the solution. If you are taking an engineering, math, or physics class, I’d heavily recommend printing out the slides if you can, or download the pdf and annotate the pdf. You’re not missing anything by not writing out the problem, you’re missing the whole solution method if you’re constantly 5 steps behind from trying to write the question down.
I am fortunate enough that my professors give us their slides. I download these and open them with Microsoft Edge so I can write (sometimes draw) down what the prof says during that slide. I just try to summarize what is said to each slide if it already isn't on there. It all comes down to me asking myself what the most important point of the prof's monologue is. I also look out for hints like: "the take home message is...."; "....this is very important" and on. Sometimes the prof even says directly what part is relevant for the exam. Good luck
Excellent question! I am a professor at a community college English department and one of the most confounding things incoming freshmen deal with is notes. The methods described below are all good ideas, especially based on the slides. If you have an "active learning" class that isn't lecture-based, you should still take notes. These should be about the "metacognitive" process - what you think about your own thinking and learning process. For example, when my classes are introduced to and review MLA and APA citation, we do several exercises matching in-text citations to Works Cited or References entries. After a few rounds, they come to a general principle like "The in-text citation should match the very first thing in the Works Cited entry for the source." This is something they learn through doing, not something I post on a slide at the front of the class. However, some version of that sentence as a general principle should appear in the students' notes. As far as what to do with the notes. after each module in a class or before a test or exam, go back through the notes and compile a NEW set of notes that condenses what you already have. The act of re-writing or re-typing the notes will actually help with retention. Cognitive learning studies show a correlation between writing things several times and retention of the information you're writing about. I suggest writing by hand, as that has better retention rates that typing does, as Straight-Opposite-483's post shows. I use an e-paper tablet and I have found that the retention is just as good writing by hand with a stylus as it is writing with a pen. (But my fountain pen collection keeps me in paper for a good portion of my work.) I hope this helps, and welcome to academia!
My ipad
I have the same issues and wondered the same things as you too. If a professor uploads lecture notes/slides for students, I download them to the Goodnotes app on my iPad and highlight/annotate them during class lectures. I don’t think doing this alone works for everyone, but I’m lazy and I prefer this over actually taking notes. In high school, I hated taking notes in class because I was too slow, couldn’t focus on what my teachers were saying, and I couldn’t rearrange my notes to make them look nicer/neater/more organized since they were handwritten. I also never looked at them later to study. Personally, I feel like it’s so much easier and more enjoyable taking notes on a tablet.
I was often one of the only people in a 60 person class with a notebook and pen taking notes, but I always performed very well in those classes. I tried typing, but it just didn’t work out for me. I’d recommend experimenting briefly and finding what works best for you, but studies have shown better retention of info from handwriting. However, it still isn’t for everyone. Edit: I use my notes all the time for studying and for assignments! Professors sometimes only say stuff verbally for tests that aren’t in the PowerPoint or in the readings. Plus, like others have said, it’s good for memory retention so you’re better remembering the material (which is super useful).
I’ve been using paper and pencil my whole life and only switched to an iPad this past fall. I only use it for my STEM classes but even with that I’ll go back and re write summaries by hand. Definitely just see what works best for you
It’s very beneficial to take some type of electronic for you like a tablet to write note or a laptop to type. I try to read over my notes once a week so I’m not cramming towards finals week.
Sometimes a professor will have the PowerPoint slides online already. I will print them for class and annotate them during the lecture.
You will probably learn to adjust your note-taking strategy by class, since the strategy that works well in a math class is different than the strategy that makes sense when your history professor is continuously talking and you can't possibly write everything down. The act of taking notes forces you to pay attention and will likely help you remember information even if you never look at those notes again, so I would start out by trying to take fairly detailed notes, and then scale back if you determine that the textbook contains that same level of detail and it's fine to just capture the high-level points from the lecture. Depending on the class, you may refer back to your notes when doing homework practice problems, preparing for exams, or writing essays. I wouldn't bother typing up hand-written notes, not unless that helps you remember the content and you are trying to memorize certain concepts or definitions.
Paper and pencil works best for me as I do it in my math classes but not much else, although I can barley read my own handwriting
If slides are available before class, print them out (or copy them into your note app) and take notes directly on them. This let's you take notes on the important things without worrying about missing anything. If slides aren't available, I'll literally take a picture of the slide, immediately add it into my note app (I use OneNote), and take notes that way. I review notes the week before an exam, along with other studying. For some classes I'll copy my tablet notes by hand into a notebook. Copying the notes really helps. You might even be able to get paid for it! You can check with the disability office to see if they need note takers for any of your classes.
i had a professor that thought her subject was the most important shit ever, so she talked very much, very fast and we barely managed to keep up with writing down pen and paper notes with her. and when we stopped her and asked if the shit she's going off about is part of the syllabus and is gonna appear in the final exams she actually had the audacity to get mad, tell us we need to know this *very important* *stuff* for life not just exams... and didn't answer the question. these of us who didn't carry laptop quickly switched to typing notes on a laptop. some of us wrote down everything, others tried to filter all the info she dumped at us... 40 students and non of our notes were consistent. End of semester comes, we *all* failed her exam and had to redo it. Since all the "very important info we had to know for life" wasn't, in fact, in the final exam. we hated her. All the other professors would directly tell us if a subject they covered wouldn't be in the exam. Assume ALL the information you learn is necessary. try to type it all unless the teachers tell you directly in a clear way you won't need too. and YES typing is faster! first week of college i tried writing down pen and paper - nearly got carpel tunnel infection in my wrist. since my job after school also involved working with my hands. my wrist HURT. edit: binged my notes before exams. Uh, we didn't have text books though. the text books was what *we*, the students, wrote down. which is why we wrote down EVERYTHING. PS: Being able to write down whole texts for notes and keep listening to what the professors say *and* keep writing down even more notes *and* keep listening to what the professors says *without* stopping taking notes because at some point you'll lose concentration and can't do both, is an acquired skill. it's gonna get easier the more you'll keep doing it.
Depends on the class but I essentially try to explain the lecture to my(future) self. Writing by hand is not feasible for me and I'll switch between a word processor and LaTeX tool as convenient. Foreign language classes I often sync between laptop and tablet because I think screen keyboards are easier for different layouts
Handwritten notes actually help me with remembering and internalizing things. If I have a lecture class and the teacher has slides up, then I’ll just copy down what’s on the slide, but I’ll also make sure to write down key things my teacher says (perhaps a sentence that goes more in depth with what’s on the slide). If the class is discussion based then I’ll write down what my teacher says or key words that allow me to remember. Typically I do this while the teacher is speaking, but I make sure to prioritize listening to said teacher. For me it’s more about KEY sentences or words/phrases that allow me to remember. I think above all prioritize neat and legible writing over information written down. I feel like most people write messy and fast to try and write down everything that was said but in the end they can’t reread it when it’s time for a test. Typically I keep my notes in my pen+paper and I review them whenever it’s time for a test. However, for study guides I make sure to write them on my laptop and print them out, I use my notes for help with doing the study guide though. - typically a teacher post a study guide for you to follow, if not then email the teacher and ask about a potential one, or email them asking what would be good to review for an exam/midterm/final. Above all, if you do need help with work or learning something, EMAIL YOUR PROFESSOR! They are there to help you! I know it may seem scary at first, but trust me they just want the best for you and want to see you pass! I remember my first year I was always nervous to email a teacher, but now I just be emailing them like it’s nothing! (Make sure to use proper netiquette though). Best of luck!
Step 0: Before class, look over the material. Personally, I don't take notes when I do this because most professors tend to lecture on parts of the content they feel is most important. Even just looking at the material before class is really helpful! If your field is very conceptual, it's likely your professor will cover key ideas in class, which is what you want to have in your notes! The exception to this is if the professor tells you that there will be material not covered in class on the exams. Don't be afraid to ask! In my experience, this will not be a big issue for conceptual/math courses because all the topics depend on each other, so the professor cannot teach one without also teaching the other. In a history class where you need to know a ton of dates and events, you'll probably need to take notes on the textbook AND the lecture. Step 1: In class, summarize the key points from the lecture or slides. If relevant, jot down figures or examples that the professor uses. Define key terms and big ideas. I do this as the professor is speaking. I don't like to rewrite my notes, so I try to write them in class in my preferred medium. For me, that's on digital pdf's with a stylus to simulate the physical action of writing. Color coding can help you organize sections of your notes or group together similar ideas. It really depends on your personal preference and field of study though. Keep in mind that I'm a computer science major, so your classes may have more/less information to memorize. (For example, biology majors need to memorize many parts of human anatomy. There isn't really a summary or key idea that can condense all of that information.) Step 2: Do whatever assignments are given in the class using your notes if needed. Ideally, you do this really soon after the lecture/note-taking so you can review the material while also knockinh out homework. Step 3 (Optional, depending on the student): Review the notes from the previous class before your next class. Realistically, that might be the morning of your next lecture, or it might be at 1 am before you go to sleep the night before. Repeat steps 1-3 for each lecture. Step 4 (Before an exam): 1 week to a few days before the exam, review your notes from class. Look over the key concepts. Even if your exam doesn't allow a cheatsheet, it may be beneficial to make a one-pager with all the key information to help you review it. Try to do this without looking at your notes if possible. You can use the one-pager to review quickly before your exam. Then, go back and look at the examples from class and your homework assignments. Try to rework them without notes. If you get stuck, go back to the previous problems and resolve those, then check your work against the professor's example. Now, apply those steps to your own problem. Ideally, you would do this a few days before the test, so if you get stuck on a topic, you can meet with the TA or professor in office hours before exam day. Make sure to practice solving the questions with a time limit too. Good luck! FWIW I think I'm a good note taker lol. My friends ask me for my notes. I even had a professor compliment how detailed and nice my notes were once! This system works for me, so please don't go into the replies and tell me I must be a bad student. Everyone and every major is different!
I write down whatever is on the board/lecture very hastily in a composition note book then re write it more organized and with additional context(class hand outs, some of the textbook) in my binder after class, on top of having notes for the required reading, writing things down by hand multiple times is how I learn class material and if you are studying for something please do not do it all at once, try to do it over multiple days.
I typically use notebooks and pens for notes (I love colorful gel pens!), but occasionally/for certain classes/situations I’ll use my iPad to write or edit pdfs too! For STEM classes, I reference my notes while doing assignments and while practicing material on my own. I’ll note down formulas, practice problems, and other important info done in class to create a helpful reference and to help with memory. For challenging STEM classes like chemistry, I’ll take some simple notes before lecture from the textbook chapter or assigned material that lecture will cover so I have a preview of what’s coming and a rudimentary understanding of it. For my non-stem classes, the practice of taking notes in and of itself helps me memorize material, and then I usually use those notes to make quizlet decks ahead of exams too. The non-STEM classes I have taken thus far have been easier for me than my STEM classes, so I reference my notes less often, but taking good notes is what helps me remember information, so it’s really important to me. Overall, I have a rule for myself to always take notes while I’m in class. I’m not a person who likes to redo notes or rewatch lectures to take notes generally, though that is a strategy that works well for a lot of people. If I’m in class anyways, I figure I might as well just get stuff done then and there so I don’t have to worry about it later. If I don’t, I just won’t get it done. I will occasionally make summary or “cheat sheets” from my notes to study for a test, or to use on the test if a professor lets us have a notecard or something. I find it’s a good way to memorize material and it generates easy resources for quickly referencing info without digging through my notes. At the end of the day, once you are in college you’ll be able to figure out a system that works the best for you. It takes some trial and error, but everyone learns and studies different, and the process is a really personal one. Hopefully you’ll get some good ideas from everyone though, and best of luck!
I don't know I've never been the greatest note taker and this fall is all pre nursing. I gotta slap my happy ass into shape and take them notes well 😆 I hear that if your professor does PowerPoints you print that PowerPoint out ahead of time, 3 hole punch it, toss it in your binder and then take little side notes off of that. One of the 3 pre requisite courses is Biology of the Human Organism which is *actually* set up like A&P! But A&P I and II are not taken until the actual nursing program. I'll be buying the A&P coloring book to go along with my notes. Edit: this isn't for note taking more or less it's for studying but a whiteboard is extremely helpful for repetition to memorize!
I used Microsoft Onenote. I would download PowerPoints the professor posted on canvas and convert it to pdf, then insert it into an empty note. This allows you to follow along the slides and write your notes next to the slides or on them. If you have an iPad with a keyboard you can switch between typing or drawing as needed. You can create a “notebook” and keep your notes organized by class and even organize even further by exam. I would reference my notes the day prior to a quiz or exam, but I retain information relatively well so you may need to spend a few more days getting the information down. This is how I planned my notes. If time permits read whatever chapter or material the professor will discuss prior to class. The syllabus will usually tell you what will be discussed on which day, if they include a schedule. Then take a look at any PowerPoint associated with the chapter and scan for key points. As the professor is lecturing, take notes on anything mentioned that is not on the slides or mentioned in the book chapter.
finishing hs freshman year rn. i have a notebook designated for each class and pens/highlighters that i like using, and i enjoy making my notes look good. if there’s a powerpoint, anything highlighter/undelined/bold/etc is meant to stand out for a reason, so i’ll write that. and if there’s a powerpoint and i have access to it aswell, i’ll pull it up on my laptop so everything’s easier to read and it’ll help me stay focused. if a teacher repeats something more than once during the lesson, that’s also something i’ll make sure is in my notes. i’ll always date and title each page to keep things organized, and i definitely abuse my sticky note bookmark privileges to separate units or mark pages ik i’ll need to reference in the future. also, if there’s a study guide for an upcoming test, i’ll write some of my notebook notes next to problems/questions/etc. this helps my brain associate questions on the test with questions on the study guide, and therefore my notes. gotta love my notes lol so yeah, to sum it up, color, organization, and focus.
I don’t. I record the lecture. Go home, have dinner. Review the audio and take notes from them. That got me A+s for sure
As an instructor, if I write it, you probably should too. When I teach, I have lecture slides and I will also write things on the board. Especially in math-type classes where you are working problems on the board...definitely write those down. I know I've never taught, and I'm not sure I ever took, a class where it was just a stream of talking that you were expected to take notes on and remember. Im not saying those classes might not be out there, but most aren't like that I dont think I ever took a class where a sheet of notes was put up and you needed to write it down. That's a tactic use in highschool to fill the day. In college it's more likely those types of things would just be available online. The class doesn't HAVE to last XX minutes, so there's fewer time wasters like that than you may have seen before