Taking Notes in the Classroom - Time Saving Techniques

Note taking is one of the most common and most useful study methods that an individual might use to study for a particular exam, interview, or other similar purpose. However, it is important for an individual to make sure that his or her notes are as complete and accurate as possible. Unfortunately, it is usually not possible for an individual to write down everything that a professor says word for word and it is likely that an individual will miss important information if the individual cannot take each note quickly. Since most lectures only last approximately an hour or two at most and most professors cover a large amount of material in that time, it is essential for an individual to be able to take notes quickly in order to get the most out of each lecture. This means that in order for an individual to take notes effectively, there are certain techniques that an individual should use in addition to abbreviating to take notes more quickly.

First, it is essential for an individual to identify only the key points of the lecture by trying to pick up on the professor's key words and signals. This is extremely important because the individual should only take notes on the key points that he or she identifies. The individual will usually not have enough time to write down everything verbatim, and even if he or she could, there is probably no reason to write everything down. The individual's goal is not to write a new textbook, but rather to create an in-depth outline of the material that is covered in class. This is important to realize because an individual that tries to copy down everything the professor says will usually fall behind and miss important details. Secondly, if the individual is falling behind, the individual may want to focus less on organization and more on getting the information down on paper. In fact, content should always be more important than organization as the individual can always go back and rewrite or reorganize the information after class is over. Finally, and probably most importantly, the individual should try to remain focused and listen to the professor for as long as possible. It can often be difficult for an individual to remain focused in a long lecture, but it is very easy for an individual to fall behind or miss important information if he or she is not paying attention.