In online study communities, note-taking has become quite a controversial study method. A lot of people like to take notes, but is this really an effective way to study? And, if it isn’t, how can we make note-taking more efficient?
- Notes are a way to compile information
- Note-taking can improve your understanding
- Notes are a passive recall method
- Note-taking takes time and effort
Notes are a way to compile information
If your class has a lot of textbooks, or worse, doesn’t have a textbook at all, then notes are a really good way to compile all the information. By making your own notes, that means that you’ll have a source with all the information organised in a way that works for you. As well as this, it’ll make revising easier, since you don’t have to search the entire textbook to find some information.
Note-taking can improve your understanding
I’ve found that notes are really helpful if you want to understand a concept better. Obviously, this won’t work if you just copy down the entire textbook. However, if you take notes while making the information more concise, then you’re forced to understand what the book is telling you, thereby improving your understanding!
Notes are a passive recall method
Unfortunately, there are also cons to taking notes. One reason why note-taking may not be the most effective way to study is because it’s a form of passive recall. This essentially means that you passively review information without putting much thought or effort into it. Passive recall methods are, sadly, less effective than active recall methods.
Note-taking takes time and effort
Another reason why notes aren’t the best way to study is because note-taking takes a lot of time and effort. Making notes for every topic and subtopic in the textbook, while sometimes helpful, can be a waste of time. This is because note-taking is a passive recall technique, therefore it has a lower yield. This means that you remember less information in a given amount of time.
