Taking Notes Effectively

Today’s post is more practical in application. This past week I was just visiting with a friend who homeschools her children about some resources for note taking. I thought it might be beneficial to share some resources here as well. After all, good note taking skills aren’t just important for students in school. It’s useful in our jobs during training, meetings, conferences, and in continuing education. It’s also useful in church or for taking notes during a podcast or video message.

Some of this might be very basic or seem redundant if you already have a habit of taking notes. Nevertheless, you never know when you might be able to tweak or improve your note taking style or even get a few new ideas! If you’re NOT a note taker, revisit this post about the importance of writing things down. Basically, when you take notes, you remember the material better, plus you have something to refer back to later on.

The process of taking notes

The process of taking notes involves three phases: before, during, and after. Before taking notes you must learn effective preparation and observation methods. During the process of taking or recording your notes (i.e. actually writing something down) there are several helpful methods to make the process more effective. Lastly, after taking notes, it’s very important to review them in order to transfer the information from your short-term memory to your long-term memory and to retain the information better.

Becoming a good note-taker is a process in itself. You have to find the method or combination of methods that work best for you, and it sometimes takes practice and some trial and error. Every individual is different, so what works for you may not work for a different person. Different learning styles also come into play when deciding the most effective way of taking notes.

Make it plain

When considering taking notes, I think it’s important to note what the Lord told Habakkuk when he was making complaints and requests to the Lord:

“And the Lord answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it.” Habakkuk 2:2 (ESV)

The Lord told Habakkuk to write down plainly the important things to be revealed (i.e. the vision and answers to his questions and complaints). He says to do this in order that “he may run who reads it”. Other versions say things like–so that the correct message can be carried to others, so it can be easily read, or so that one can read it quickly. Makes sense, right? The whole point of taking notes is to help you retain the information and have a reference to go back to and read over or study.

Our goal today will be to learn some effective and proven methods of taking notes in order to write down the correct and important information in order to retain it, record the notes in an easy and “plain” way and to make them useful for future use and review.

Order and organization—characteristics of God

To be a good note taker will require a bit of order, organization, and structure. I think it’s an encouragement to consider that God is a god of order, structure, organization, preparation and planning. He is very detail-oriented. We need to follow his example.

“O Lord, I will honor and praise your name, for you are my God. You do such wonderful things! You planned them long ago, and now you have accomplished them.” Isaiah 25:1 (NLT)

“But be sure that everything is done properly and in order.” 1 Corinthians 14:40 (NLT)

The Greek word used for “order” here is “tasso” meaning ‘to arrange in an orderly manner’. Exodus 38:21-31 shows an inventory of materials used in building the tabernacle. All of the materials were organized down to the last detail, including what they were made of, where they came from, how much they weighed, and where they would be used. Throughout Exodus, the Lord was also very detailed and gave precise instructions about how everything was to be built, made and arranged.

Just as God works in an organized and orderly fashion, order and organization are key skills necessary for taking good notes.

Before taking notes—preparation

Come prepared. Prior to taking notes, complete any supplemental readings or outside assignments. For example, students should read lessons and finish previous assignments ahead of time in order to fully comprehend the upcoming lesson. As a non-school example, when available I like to preview church notes before a sermon starts, or if I know which bible passages will be discussed, I like to read them ahead of time. At work, I read through any documents or emails that might be addressed and/or skim over anything that might be covered in a meeting or a training.

Have something that will keep your notes organized…a notebook, journal, 3-ring binder, etc. Make sure to label and date your notes for easy future reference, and purpose to write legibly. Additional preparations include:

• Sit where you can see and hear well and minimize your distractions (typically front & center).
• Try not to be judgmental about the speaker or about their teaching/speaking style.
• Postpone disagreements, any lengthy or numerous questions, and irrelevant conversations/stories/topics when possible.
• Notice your attention level and try to catch and stop yourself if you start daydreaming.

Knowing what to write down

Part of being effective at taking notes is knowing what to listen for and what to write down. It won’t do any good to try to write everything down. That defeats the point of just getting the main ideas or key concepts. Plus, you’ll get writer’s cramp. 🙂

Here are some things to listen for:

• Opening comments—main ideas are often summarized at the very beginning
• Repetition—repeated points are typically important
• If the speaker is speaking a particular sentence or phrase slowly—they often do this for emphasis or to give you time to write it down
• Listed or numbered points
• Transitional words or phrases (i.e. “There are 3 phases…”, “The first step is…”, “Next…”, “In conclusion…”, etc.)
• Key terms, definitions, scripture references, dates
• Any examples given by the speaker
• Questions raised by the speaker—these can be an indicator of a key concept or something the speaker wants you to think more about
• Conclusions made by the speaker

Other things to watch for:

• Pay attention to the speaker’s nonverbal communication and interest levels—you can often tell what is important just by watching them
• Look at the overhead screen or board—if it’s written down, it should be included in your notes

Writing your notes

There are several methods and helpful ways of taking notes to help you retain the information and make them easier to review and use later. Again, Don’t try to write EVERTHING down—just stick to the main points and key concepts, anything that sticks out to you or anything you specifically want to remember.

It’s also helpful to just use key words and phrases (as opposed to writing complete sentences) which can shorten your notes while still getting the main idea down. Additionally, you can use abbreviations to minimize your notes and write more quickly. Feel free to draw pictures or charts when helpful. This is good for visual and kinesthetic learners. Writing or highlighting notes in different colors can also be helpful for visual learners. It might be helpful to leave blank space in your notes to make them easier to read later and allow for additional information to be added later if necessary. When taking notes, mark any confusing points so that you can come back to it later for clarification (i.e. put a question mark beside a confusing point or something you’d like to look into more).

Common methods for taking notes

Outline

Use an outline to show connections between main ideas and supporting points. This is the most frequently used note taking method, and it doesn’t have to be formal. When taking notes I simply use asterisks, dots, or dashes as opposed to Roman numerals, numbers or letters. I put general information to the left and indent supporting points underneath them.

Mapping

Mapping is another note taking method (sometimes called mind maps or concept maps) which is a visual or graphic representation of material and notes. Ideas are linked to create a visual model of your points to show relationship between them. This method helps you to think from general ideas to more specific ideas.

Cornell Notes

Studies have shown that the Cornell Notes method added to the effectiveness of the process and helped individuals recall the information better. Cornell Notes consists of dividing your note page into 3 sections: one for taking notes, one for a cue column (for key points, questions and references), and one for a summary. To format your page, start by drawing a vertical line down the page usually about 2 inches or so in from the left side. The right column should be about 2-3 times as big as the left column. Then, leave several lines blank at the bottom of the page to add a summary later.

The right column is your note-taking column. This is the area where you will write while you are listening to the speaker. The left column (referred to as the “cue column”) is for key words and questions. Usually, you will not write in this column until later when the speaker is finished and you are done taking notes. Use this column to condense your notes by just putting a key word, question, or reference that corresponds to the notes on the right side.

After you have completed both columns, create a brief and general summary of the information on the page in the area you left blank at the bottom. The Cornell Method allows for helpful review also—you can cover the right side (notes) with a piece of paper and just look at the key words/questions column to test yourself over the information.

Here’s a video we use in my college classes about Cornell Notes:

Sketchnoting

Sketchnoting is exactly what it sounds like—making sketches to accompany your notes. This method of taking notes is great if you like to doodle or are more creative or artistic. Although you don’t have to be artistic to make use of this method. These notes use sketches to summarize or represent ideas. These kinds of notes also use different parts of the brain and help with memory recall.

Here’s a video we use in my college classes about sketchnoting:

Here’s an additional video on How to Take Great Notes that we use in my college classes:

Reviewing notes

The final part of effectively taking notes is reviewing them. If you review your notes within 24 hours it will aid in the transfer of the information from short-term to long-term memory. It doesn’t take long—just a quick 5-10 minute lookover is all you need. For example, when I take notes in church on Sunday, it’s helpful for me to quickly look back over those notes either later that afternoon or the next morning during my quiet time.

Your review is also a good time to correct any mistakes in your notes and make any necessary additions. You can also make any clarifications to the areas where you may have been confused. This is a good time to fill in the “cue column” or key words & questions column and make your summary if you’ve taken notes using the Cornell Method.

Additionally, you can always re-write or type your notes for an added way to retain the information or if your notes are a little sloppy. Doing this while it’s fresh on your mind will help if there are some words you can’t read. It’s sometimes helpful to compare notes with someone else to see if you missed any important points. Finally, doing frequent (weekly and monthly) reviews of your notes will also help you to retain the material and apply it in your daily life.

In conclusion…

Overall, the purpose of taking notes is to key in on the important information that you need to remember and to use as a future reference. You need to write things down to remember—even for those with a good memory. Scripture emphasizes the importance of writing things down to remember and reference later.

“After the victory, the LORD instructed Moses, “Write this down on a scroll as a permanent reminder, and read it aloud to Joshua: I will erase the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” Exodus 17:14 (NLT)

“This says the Lord, the God of Israel: Write all the words that I have spoken to you in a book.” Jeremiah 30:2 (AMP)

I’ve also heard it said that taking notes can also give the Holy Spirit something to work with. In John 14:26 it says that the Holy Spirit will “remind” us. Psalm 105:5 tells us to “remember” the wonders God has done, and Psalm 103:2 tells us to bless the Lord and “forget not” all his benefits.

If we are being told to “remember” and “forget not”, then apparently it is possible to forget. Taking notes will act as a reference to which the Holy Spirit may even trigger us to go back and look at. Your notes may even be a beneficial resource for you or others at some point in the future. Many of my own notes have turned into classes, lectures, and coaching tools. Some people have used their journals and notes as written testimonies that have been used to help countless people in their relationship with Christ. Furthermore, had it not been for many being inspired by God to write down accounts, we would not have the Bible! You never know what your notes may lead you or others to in the future!

Here are some previous posts on the benefits of taking notes:

The Importance of Writing Things Down

Keeping a Written Account Can Help You and Others

Why You Should Be Taking Notes Old School Style

Make a Habit of Taking Notes During Your Quiet Time

Take Some Practical Steps to Take Notes Effectively:

• First, purpose to take notes! It’s important to write things down.

• Secondly, stay organized and orderly. Remember it’s a quality of God too!

• Next, prepare ahead—Get a notebook, sit where you can see and hear well, and minimize any distractions.

• Then, know what to listen for—practice listening for main ideas and key points and look for conclusions, summarizing in your own words.

• Find a use a note taking method that works for you.

• Finally, take some time to review your notes, both immediately and periodically.

What tips do you have for taking notes? Tell us about it by leaving a comment below.

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If you know anyone that could benefit from this, please pay it forward!  Share this post via the sharing links below.  “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)