Effective Note Taking
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Have you ever left church or a fascinating speech and said, "That was great!" Then someone asks you, "What was it about?" And your mind goes blank? The reason for that is that our memory mechanisms are imperfect. In fact, we only remember between 12% and 20% of what we hear. We retain only as much as 30% of the things that we see. If we combine hearing with seeing, that level jumps to 50%. Once we add discussion into the hearing and seeing equation, our retention jumps to 70%. We are still going to miss part of it, but we are doing a lot better off. These statistics are precisely why note taking is a skill that must be taken seriously.
By taking notes, you add sight to the hearing of the message being given. That still only leaves you with recalling half of what you were told. While you may feel like you have a terrific memory, you must accept the fact that it is probably not as reliable as you think. Various techniques of note taking can improve your ability to recall the information given to you and give you the advantage over most of America.
Here is one method that is particularly effective.
The Two Column Method:
- Draw a vertical line 2/3 of the way across the paper’s writing area. The left side, the 2/3 side, will be used to take notes. The right side will be a place for jotting triggers and summary statements about the notes while reviewing the notes.
- While taking notes, write quickly, jotting something down about everything being said. You will not know if something is significant or will have an important tie in until the event is complete. An anecdotal story or seemingly insignificant fact may be more relevant than you thought. Even items that will be non-essential can help you remember the continuity of the subject and retain a fuller picture of the subject.
- When a topic or trigger jumps out at you during the event, immediately highlight it or otherwise mark its significance, so you will easily recall that its relevance was something that you wanted to take special note of.
- When subtopics are discussed, use different colored pen to point out the distinction.
- When writing, leave lots of space to fill in notes, comments, and missing pieces.
- Choose a handwriting style that is fastest and legible to you alone. You are not trying to impress anyone with your neat and tidy handwriting, so as long as you are able to read it, take as many writing shortcuts as you can, so that you will be able to have time to write the maximum amount of notes.
- As soon as possible after the event or during a break, go over every note and jot additional notes about your memory of the topic as their relevance dictates.
- Soon after the event, go over all notes in a careful manner. On the right side of the page, in the 1/3 column, write Key words, facts, dates, or any other trigger words that you can recall. After you have finished, go back through the notes, looking at just the 1/3 column and based on those keywords and facts, try to repeat what you learned about that particular topic. As you do that, write down any personal comments you have about that particular point in the 1/3 column. As far as your memory center goes, this facilitates discussion fulfillment needed to get you to the 70% retention level.
- Act on what you learned as soon as possible. Use it or lose it, so they say.
Mind Mapping:
Another effective technique that engages your mind more completely is mind mapping. Mind mapping uses the aid of colors, imagery, and creativity to create a strong visual and mental picture of the topic you need to remember. This is a technique that is particularly effective, but it takes practice to get the maximum benefit. Many people report that this particular technique creates a more lasting effect on the memory and actually helps train your mind to demand a call to action.
- To mind map, you will need to have on hand several sheets of blank unlined paper, various colored pencils and pens, your brain, and, of course, an imagination. Even if you don’t think so, you already have adequate information. This is not a gallery piece, though when you are finished, it may just resemble one!
- Begin the landscape of your mind map in the center of the page.
- Draw a simple image or picture to represent your central idea.
- For each topic stream that you write, use a different color to connect that topic’s points.
- Each topic should be written in a branch-style away from the central idea. Make the branches curve in a flowing manner. Branches do not have to be planned out, just put them where they fit, just as the branches of a tree.
- Name each branch with a word or two, writing the word along the length of the branch.
- Wherever possible, draw some sort of image to represent various thoughts throughout the mind map.
The image you create with your mind map may be a work of art, but it will work to fully engage your whole mind in the process of receiving information, thus cementing the memory in your consciousness.
Note taking is a skill that every person should master at a young age and use throughout their life. Note taking is not only effective in the learning environment, but also while having conversations, gathering ideas, preparing for and conducting interviews, and during simple brainstorming sessions. Relying on your memory alone will cause some incredible thoughts to be lost forever. Take the time to develop effective note taking techniques that you can use throughout your life and your life will be more effective.
