5 Ways to Organize Notes for Your Online College Classes
Taking notes is part of the college experience, and clear, and easy-to-read notes are crucial to your subject mastery and success.
There isn’t a perfect way to take notes; it comes down to your preferences and how you learn! There are, however, a few tricks that you can try to make your notes work for you a little better.
Color Code
Different color pens and highlighters can make a huge difference when it comes to recollection and study. Take notes as you normally would, but go back and review after class (right away so it sticks!) and use colored highlighters to note what’s on an upcoming exam, specific terminology and words, definitions, examples, and so on. Don’t forget the added bonus of making your pages a lot more cheerful.
Annotate
Using annotations like underlining words, circling terms, using symbols to note follow up questions or bold points can make pulling out key details so much easier. Don’t forget, you can also start a new line to pull out key points as well.
Try the Cornell Method
The Cornell Method is a way to divide an ordinary piece of notebook paper in such a way that maximizes retention. You can read more about it on the Cornell website, and there are notebooks available that pre-print the page division. Give it a try! Many students find it effective and functional.
Try swapping to analog (or digital)
If you exclusively take notes on a computer or iPad, try getting out a notebook. If you are used to taking notes on paper and your technology allows, why not try typing your notes during your classes or modules? There are advantages to both, of course, particularly when it comes to organization. If you’re running into problems with note taking, try switching the medium.
Do what works best for you!
There is no wrong way to take notes if it’s working for you. If you need more help or academic support, check out what’s available online, and don’t be afraid to reach out to your advisor.
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