Doing well in academics is easy for some teenagers, and it can be a struggle for others. Students may be participating in sports, social clubs, family activities, and more. All of these factors combined with teens constantly learning new facets of themselves can make keeping clear and useful study notes a challenging task to achieve.
Below we have listed six ways teenagers can make the most out of their habits and time with notes. Changing these habits now can be instrumental in future successes, whether it be at work, at home, or in academia.
Write Down Key Facts or Ideas: Write down the key fact or idea of the course material, only. This allows you to focus on the main idea and organize the ideas presented in a manageable way. People do not absorb information in larger segments, but rather in smaller chunks. By sticking to the main idea and pertinent information, you are allowing your brain the space to absorb versus becoming overwhelmed.
Do Not Overwhelm Yourself: Do not try to write down every word the teacher uses in class. This concept aligns with sticking to the key facts. Putting too much focus on having correct notes or on writing everything down will distract you from what is being taught. You will hinder your studying because your notes will be disorganized. If you find yourself focusing too much on note-taking, put down their pen. Try taking a deep breath, and let yourself listen for the main ideas.
Ask: Do not be afraid to ask the teacher to repeat any part of the course content. If you are busy taking down those key facts or taking a small pause, know it is OK to also ask for a fact to be re-stated. A lot of students may fear looking speechless in front of their classmates, but there are times that multiple students are wondering the same thing. You can also request to speak with the teacher after the block of instruction is complete.
Compare: Comparing notes can be done with the course materials. As you are reviewing information outlined in your textbooks, you are able to compare it to your notes. As necessary, add in extra notes. You can also compare your notes to what a classmate has. One student may have written down a key fact that another did not (did not write down, did not hear, etc.), vice versa. Comparing student notes alerts of errors you are able to correct.
Recopy Notes: When taking notes, writing can become disorganized or unclear. Talking happens at a rate faster than writing or typing, so you can’t always keep up with the information. When you recopy your notes, you give yourself the opportunity to re-learn the material.
Organize Notes: Organization is instrumental in a lot of life’s tasks, especially note-taking. It is recommended that you organize your notes by subject (e.g., history, literature, etc.). You can break that down further by the specific topic, such as having a history folder with different markers for each major sub-topic. Using flashcards, sticky notes, or color-coding notes can make notes stand out to the student’s eye, thus easier to find. Whether taking notes by hand or computer, organization is key. Lightmap is here to make organization simple.
At Lightmap, our app is designed to help students with these note-taking tips and more! We want all students to be successful and have the best resources possible. Come see how we can help you today.