This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Eluda
Note-taking is the hero of studying. By using the right method, you can make the difference between doing good and excelling at a subject!
You must find the right balance between writing down everything, and not writing enough... And to help you achieve that, here is a list of tried and true techniques that actually work, and their pros and cons:
Method 1: The Outline Method
This is the most popular and most natural method to date.
It's organised into headings and bullet points and written straight down the page, vertically.
Pro: Very easy, and very intuitive.
Con: More useful as a study technique when you're quickly jotting down notes, than as a learning method for new information.
Method 2: The Mapping Method
If you like to draw, then this is the method for you!
It looks like a tree with branches or a cloud with arms, starting with one idea in the middle (the main topic), which branches out into major points, reaching out with even smaller branches (sub points).
Pro: Good for visual learners.
Con: Time-consuming.
Method 3: The Chart Method
This is good if you already have at least some knowledge on the topic.
It looks like a page divided into several columns, and starts with the main points listed at the top of each column, with sub points underneath.
Pro: Good for splitting topics into small, easy-to-learn categories!
Con: Doesn't work when the information is still new.
🌟️ The Golden Rules
Don’t stuff your notes away never to see the light of day again. No matter what technique you adopt, make sure to look at your notes immediately after and organise them. Studies show that those who don’t review will forget 40% of information learned after the first 24 hours, and 60% after 48 hours.
In short, here are my tips for writing better notes:
1. Repetition, repetition, repetition. 🤸♂️️
Cramming before an exam doesn’t work. What does work is regularly reviewing your material.
2. Draw images. 🖌️
Pictures are easier to remember than words, especially for visual learners.
3. Write short sentences. ☝️
Write short, succinct sentences. They are easier to remember!
4. Use your own words. 😁️
If you find technical jargon confusing, use your own words that you understand. After all, who are you writing these notes for anyways?
5. Write questions. ❓️
Write questions to yourself if there’s something you don’t understand. Don’t gloss over it and hope you’ll understand later.
6. Don’t try to write everything down. 🏃♂️️
Don’t try to write everything down. You’ll just get information overload.
Instead, you should be using one of the techniques mentioned above.
Tools To Write Down Notes
Vim 
Use the vim-notes plugin to make it easier to create and manage your notes in Vim!
Google Keep 
This is best suited for taking short notes, when you're in a rush!
VS Code 
My advice for you is to use pandoc to convert your markdown notes into a PDF (or HTML or DOCX) format, as that's a better format for consuming later.
Notion 
Obsidian 
What is your method of taking notes? And what tools do you use? Tell us in the comments below!
This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Eluda
Eluda | Sciencx (2022-03-24T20:25:35+00:00) The Note-Taking Guide I Wish I Had 7 Years Ago. Retrieved from https://www.scien.cx/2022/03/24/the-note-taking-guide-i-wish-i-had-7-years-ago/
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