Every year, as the end of the semester approaches, students throw themselves into preparing for their final exams. We can all appreciate that the way a student studies will determine their success. (Are they studying in a distraction-free space? Are they using a time management system?) But how a student studies will only be successful if the student is reviewing the right material, and whether or not a student is studying the right material is dependent on how well they took notes throughout the semester.
Notetaking is a learned skill. Like other learned skills, notetaking does not fall simply into a “you-know-it-or-you-don’t” dichotomy; one’s notetaking abilities need to be constantly evaluated and refined.
However, notetaking alone isn’t enough to earn a student that prized A come finals. Notes need to be accessible, and the best way to make sure notes are readily available is through a solid method for organization. While ideally a student’s system of organization is in place from the first day of the school year, it is never too late for a student to reassess and refresh their organization game. Here are some notetaking and organization tips that even the most study-savvy students will benefit from.
Folders, Folders, Folders
Step one for academic organization is compartmentalization, and devising an effective system of compartmentalization does not have to be difficult. To house physical materials such as printed syllabi, consider color-coding folders by class. (Bonus points for pairing the folders with color-coded notebooks!) If a student chooses to forgo paper-and-pencil notetaking, be sure to break down computer folders not just by subject but also by unit.
Labels
Whether taking notes on the computer or by hand, effective titles can save a student precious time when studying for finals. While a student’s first instinct may be to label a document by date, titles should include key information about what was covered in the lecture. The act of writing a title itself is a great way for a student to summarize and reflect on the content of a class.
Language Matters
When a student is taking notes, the language they use for the notes themselves will ultimately determine how successful their exam preparation is. It may be tempting to copy down a teacher’s lecture word-for-word (especially if the student is typing on a computer). However, the action of rephrasing a lecture into the student’s own words is an integral part of committing the information to memory.
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If a student is only treating their notes as taking dictation, they run into the very real problem of not understanding what they just wrote down. Translating a teacher’s speech into a student’s own words offers the student the opportunity to reflect on the material. If a student is unable to phrase the notes in their own words, there probably are gaps in comprehension of the lecture. The sooner the student realizes this, the sooner they can pose a question to the teacher.
Review Prior to Finals
Unfortunately for many students, after they close their notebook or their laptop, their notes are “out of sight and out of mind” until the test rolls around. But letting notes gather proverbial dust is antithetical to studying. Students should perform a quick perusal of their notes within twenty-four hours of first writing them. A light read-through will not only help to retain the information; it is essential to catch any gaps or errors in the notes while the content is still top-of-mind. If parts of the notes don’t make sense within a day after the lecture, they certainly will not be helpful come test time. Reviewing the notes in a timely fashion is the only way to add needed information while the content is still fresh.
It is important to remember that an individual’s methods for notetaking and organization should not take a one-size-fits-all approach. What works well for one learner may not translate to another—and that is okay! Finding the best methods may involve some trial-and-error. Indeed, students should explore different systems throughout the year (for example, switching from digital to paper) and gauge the results. At the end of the day, the most important part about notetaking is actually taking notes! If a student starts there, they are already on the right path.