3 Methods for Taking Notes

If writing in a bullet point or discursive manner does not suit your learning mechanisms, you can use a much more dynamic and intuitive method that sacrifices some systematicity in favor of speed and intuitiveness. The specific characteristics of mind mapping are highly suitable for all types of students:

• those with good auditory memory who can easily reconstruct lectures based on a few concepts;
• those with strong visual memory who prefer to have a visually differentiated study image;
• those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who prefer to work with mental connections and stimuli.

Modern artificial intelligence (AI) tools also allow for the enhancement of mind mapping with previously unthinkable customization and multimedia features. But let's take it one step at a time.

One of the functions of mind maps is the ability to take notes, using visual memory and individual connections.

Mind Mapping: Between Practice and Technology

Taking notes with mind maps is particularly fast and allows you to make the most of the opportunities offered by customized organization of spaces and connections. To put mind mapping into practice, you will need to:

1. Write the main topic at the center of your worksheet;
2. Build the rest of the notes by connecting different topics first to the core and then to any further expansions;
3. Try to keep as much space as possible between sections, so as to have a simple management even of complex topics;
4. Possibly indicate connections between different sections through a different color, so as to remember the connection without making the result too confusing.

Although these steps may seem generic, it is important to remember that synthesis is a central skill to be effective at every step of mind mapping, as its absence can lead to scattered and incomprehensible notes.

The use of mind maps with pen and paper requires good space management and may require copying notes taken in class.

Mind Mapping with Algor Education

One of the main challenges of taking notes with mind maps is related to the graphic skills that this method requires in its traditional forms. However, as can be practically experienced through the features of Algor, this obstacle has been easily overcome thanks to recent developments in AI, which automate the creation of new nodes and arrows, leaving the student free to focus solely on the content.

The icing on the cake is the possibility (offered without limits by Algor Education) to modify, delete, and reorganize maps at any time - potentially taking advantage of customization of study materials through images, colors, layouts, and inclusive fonts for those with specific learning disabilities. After a short period of adaptation and familiarization with the platform's tools, we can guarantee that you will be able to enjoy all the major benefits of mind mapping applied to note-taking!

The Cornell Method, the most famous one

The Cornell Method takes its name from the American university located in New York State where this method of note-taking was devised in the 1950s. Its creator, Professor Pauk, sought to find an optimal solution for students that would combine maximizing classroom time and a functional organization of homework. The Cornell method is one of the most well-known and widely used in the world, continuing to be successful even more than 70 years after its creation.

The strategy we are talking about is actually extremely simple and for this reason, it is used by students with very different educational needs. The linearity of the Cornell method allows for adapting and utilizing class notes to follow individual paths of customization, enabling a truly functional learning experience.

To start implementing the Cornell method, you simply need to divide the note-taking sheet into three distinct sections, which will be used for different learning functions.

How to fill each of the sections:

1. The largest space will be filled with notes taken in class, using abbreviations and key concepts. It is important to follow the rule of not trying to transcribe word-for-word what the professor says.
2. The side space will be exclusively dedicated to bullet point lists that indicate the main concepts, creating a sort of index of what is contained on the page.
3. The bottom section serves primarily as a container for a summary of the lesson content. This part, which may seem marginal, is actually useful for both concept elaboration and final study.

The Cornell method is particularly strong because it provides a basic framework for any type of notes and also allows for collecting a series of summaries on topics already covered in class. This organizational method is often preferred by those in the final stages of education, as it facilitates studying the entire curriculum in preparation for oral exams.

Using a recorder to take notes at your own pace:

Using a recorder to capture the words of teachers is certainly one of the best tricks to allow students to have reliable and complete notes. This method, which must also be approved by the teachers themselves, has several advantages:

1. It allows for expanding annotations at your own pace, personalizing the learning path. This advantage can be particularly helpful for those who tend to get distracted or are slowed down by writing difficulties.
2. It offers the opportunity to review and better understand complex concepts or extensive discussions through the playback of the teacher's voice.
3. It aids in learning specific vocabulary and pronunciation (in the case of foreign languages), elements that are often lost in the learning process because they are difficult for students to access.

In general, using a recorder allows for taking notes in a combined manner with other schematizations and can serve as support for individual study processes. However, it is important to make a note during lessons of the points where you will need the most support from the recording, in order to optimize the time spent reviewing it at home.

Taking notes with the recorder: old and new school

In this case too, technology has been applied to education, opening doors that were not only closed before, but probably completely unimaginable. Making the necessary distinctions, we can choose different strategies:

• If you want to remain faithful to traditional tools, you can choose a method to take notes and, once you get home, "fill in the gaps" as necessary;
• If you want to take advantage of the possibilities offered by AI, you can instead use the new Algor features that allow you to transform recordings into text. Once you have obtained the transcription, you can choose whether to opt for a summary or a map, which can also be created thanks to our automatic features.

Personal area of Algor Education where you can take advantage of automatic transcriptions.