1. Effective Note Taking

Beginning college this September was the first time was the first time I would ever have to take academic notes. I was apprehensive about note taking before college as I am very slow at writing and typing. In the first semester of college we had a communications lecture and tutorial which covered the different types of effective note taking which I found very helpful.

It showed me the different types of note taking and allowed me to use which one worked best for me.

All together there are around 5 different note taking strategies which many people find their own one that suits them.
These are: 

• Cornell Format. 
• Outline Format.
• T-Note Format 
• Sentence Format. 
• Mind Mapping.  

I also found some tips for note taking in a simplified way by using the acronym L.I.S.T.E.N which is explained in this short video. LISTEN stands for Lead, Ideas, Summarize, Talk, End, Notes and is explained further in the video clip.

This short video explains The Cornell method, The Outline method and T-Note styles of note taking in a simple understandable way and also discusses the 5 R's of how to use your notes to get the most from them which are: 

• Record
• Reduce
• Recite
• Reflect
• Review

I personally found the mind-mapping format best for me as it is based on visual learning using pictures, colours and symbols and I find it is easier to simplify notes using mind maps.