Mastering Note-Taking:
5 Techniques for Effective Learning

Many students are able to take notes, but how many are able to retain the information when it comes to exams?

Research has shown that effective note-taking is vital to help memorise information in the long-term. When used correctly, note-taking helps stimulate cognitive functioning and allows you to manage content through the process of active learning. As you progress in your studies,

you’ll find that there is much more emphasis on quality than quantity of notes. Studies have shown that highly successful students actually spend less time studying than peers, and this comes all down to how effectively they revise.

This blog will expose you to 5 different studying techniques that have been known to be successful when it comes to memorising and reviewing content. Hopefully by implementing some of these into your own revision, you’ll be able to see productivity boost and progression in your studies.

Listed below are some of the scientifically proven methods to help you to master information retention, in order to push you towards getting the grades you want.

The main concept of Blurting is active recall. This method has been shown to be useful to memorise bulks of content. Here’s how it works:

1. On a piece of paper, write down everything you recall about a specific topic of your choice without looking at any material (this can be in the form of e.g a spider diagram, or a simple bulleted list).

2. After doing so, notice any gaps by using class material e.g textbooks/ exercise books.

3. Using a different coloured pen, fill in these gaps by adding this onto your sheet of paper.

4. Further research gaps to help consolidate your learning.

5. Review your sheet of paper.

By continuously carrying out this method of active recall, you’re storing information in the long-term. This will help you to recall information when it comes to exams. Like with the majority of things, the more you carry out this method, the more you’ll be able to get out of it.

  1. BLURTING

2. FEYNMAN TECHNIQUE

The Feynman technique enhances your learning primarily through the concept of teaching. This method can be applied to almost anything, and not only helps you to refine your knowledge but helps place tricky concepts into simple words. To give a brief overview:

1. Choose a topic of your choice and study or review the content.

2. Teach what you have learnt to either yourself or someone else from memory. (To make it more effective, ensure you’re writing the information down in the form of diagrams etc).

3. Ensure you’re relaying the information in a concise manner. (If you’re struggling with this, try teaching the concept to someone without knowledge on the topic or someone younger who would usually find it difficult to understand in order to help you avoid use of jargon).

4. If at any point in your explanation you are stuck, return to material to review.

5. Take a note of any gaps and consolidate learning by doing further independent learning.

6. Attempt teaching to yourself or another individual again. Many times students can learn something but struggle when asked to speak on the topic or applying what has been learnt into an exam question. This method helps avoid this by dismissing passive learning and rather focusing on your ability to not only retain, but communicate your knowledge.

3. POMODORO TECHNIQUE

This well-known time management method has been proven to be useful in helping you to keep focused to avoid procrastination. It allows for balance by dividing up your study with regular breaks, spreading your productivity throughout your day. This is what it involves:

1. Choose a task to complete, e.g completing homework for a subject.

2. Set a timer to 25 minutes, and give yourself this time to do as much as you can.

3. Once the time is up, take a 5 minute break (avoid checking your phone here, use this break wisely by taking a quick walk, stretching, grabbing water, having a toilet break etc).

4. Repeat this cycle another few times before implementing longer breaks, e.g 15 minutes long.

5. Feel free to adjust timings accordingly to suit your needs. For example, if you like working longer periods of time, you may find it better having more time to complete a task e.g 50 minutes, followed by a 10 min break. This is entirely up to you!

4. LEITNER SYSTEM

This method of revision uses spaced repetition using flashcards. Here’s how to get started:

1. Write out questions on flashcards either on paper or digitally (read below), with answers written at the back.

2. Gather around 3-5 envelopes and number these.

3. Label 3-5 envelopes with study time periods in consecutive order (e.g every day, every 2 days, every 4 days, one week etc).

4. Place all flashcards in envelope 1.

5. Start going through the flashcards. Every card you get right, you may move this onto the next envelope (e.g envelope 1 to envelope 2).

6. If you get a card wrong, move this down a box or keep this in envelope 1 if it was already there.

7. Each envelope determines how often you will review your flashcards.

Example:

● Flashcards in envelope 1 = review every day.

● Flashcards in envelope 2 = review every 2 days.

● Flashcards in envelope 3 = review every 4 days.

● Flashcards in envelope 4 = review every 7 days.

Alternatively if you are making digital flashcards, feel free to use apps like Quizlet or Anki to help aid your revision. These tools use this system as a basis to allow you to regularly review flashcards to help information be stored in your long-term memory.

This reading comprehension technique has been created to help you effectively gain as much information as possible from textbooks. This method enhances learning through reading material, which many students do passively. Each letter stands for something different:

1. Survey: Skim through a chapter of your choice and take notes of the main things that stand out to you e.g headings, diagrams etc.

2. Question: Create questions based on what you have skimmed through. You may keep these open and general e.g ‘What is this chapter about?’.

3. Read: Read through the chapter carefully, keeping in mind the questions you’ve formulated beforehand.

4. Recite: Summarise everything you’ve read after each section and identify key points.

5. Review: Quiz yourself by answering the questions you’ve created in step 2. You may then proceed to re-read any parts of the chapter when stuck or look at any other material. This technique is great for learning key points and helps retention for written information, especially in areas where you need to condense content.

5. SQ3R METHOD

PICTURE REFERENCES:

https://www.vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/smart-living/digital-parenting/exam-season-the-best-revision-tools-for-reading-writing-and-kinesthetic-learners/

Blurting: https://studiology2019.wordpress.com/2019/01/22/4-effective-study-revision-techniques/

Feynman: https://www.ppic.org/blog/the-employment-value-of-higher-education/adult-students-studying-together-in-college-library/

SQ3R Method: https://www.edutopia.org/article/highlighting-ineffective-heres-how-change/

Leitner system: https://www.pocketprep.com/posts/how-to-use-the-leitner-system-for-studying/

Pomodoro: https://www.cdchk.org/parent-tips/visual-timers/