Taking notes might seem like a simple task. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed trying to write down everything during a fast-paced lecture, you’re not alone.
However, learning it in a way that actually helps you study smarter, not harder, is a skill that pays off.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to take notes quickly, and even how to make notes easy to remember.
Apart from that, you can also use these tips to reorganize and review your notes more efficiently after the class. This will improve both your learning and remembering of the material you study.
Why Taking Notes During Class Matters
You’ve probably heard a saying: “the palest ink is better than the best memory.”
Science backs that up: writing notes by hand improves long term memory retention and understanding.
You will be actively engaging with the material, organizing ideas, and making later test prep easier.
Quality notes:
- help you recall and retain information;
- make studying faster and more efficient;
- provide a personalized roadmap for revision.
Tips on How to Take Notes in Class Effectively
Not all note-taking methods are created equal. Here are some useful tips on how to take notes more effectively and more quickly.
Start with Structure: Topic and Subtopics
Begin by identifying the main topic of the lecture and break it down into subtopics. This makes it easier to categorize information and find it later.
If you structure the notes while your memory is still fresh, you will find it easier to remember the information you put down.
The more you follow the natural structure and hierarchy of the topic you are taking notes of, the less work you will have afterwards.
Use Visual Separation
Divide your notes into sections – either by drawing boxes, columns, or simply adding space between subtopics. You can even split your page into four quadrants to organize facts.
This technique taps into your visual memory. It also makes it easier to recall the information and specific details.
Write Bullet Points, Not Paragraphs
Do not waste your time and energy trying to write everything word for word. Stick to bullet points that capture key ideas. When learning how to write notes fast, brevity is your best friend.
This helps you stay focused on the essential information and prevents you from falling behind.
Add Illustrations, Graphs, and Charts
Another saying you have probably heard in your life: “A picture is worth a thousand words”. If you’re a visual learner, drawing quick sketches or diagrams can help you remember more information from your notes.
When the class ends, you can revise your notes and create completely new ones, this time, using images. If you are an artistic soul, and you struggle with subjects that are a bit “opposite” of that, then this is a tip for you.
It is somewhat similar to the “Mapping method” mentioned later in the article. Instead of writing information, you draw it.
However, in our previous tip, we emphasized the importance of structuring the information properly. With the mapping method, you can draw the “map” of the structure that represents the topic you are learning.
In the middle of the paper, you draw the main topic and a small illustration that represents it. Then you draw branches, each with its own unique drawing, representing subtopics.
You branch further until you make the “map” of the whole topic. When you revise, you remember illustrations, not boring sentences and paragraphs.
Mapping methods can differ from person to person, so make sure you use it in a way it suits you the most. It is highly recommended to use colors to make drawings easier to remember.
This works particularly well for subjects like Biology, Math, and Science. Is also useful for social sciences like Geography, History and others.
Color Code Your Notes
Once the class is over, revisit your notes and add highlights or colored markers to emphasize key points.
Just like in the mapping method, the color association helps with memorization and turns your notes into a visually engaging study tool.
Review and Rewrite When Needed
Going over your notes shortly after class helps reinforce what you’ve learned.
If things seem messy to you, rewrite them to make them clearer. This is a great way to combine learning and organizing in one go.
Popular note-taking methods
Depending on your learning style, you may want to experiment with these proven strategies to improve how you take notes:
- Cornell Method: Divide your page into cue column, note-taking area, and summary section;
- Outline Method: Great for hierarchical information. Perfect if you want to learn how to take notes in class in an organized way;
- Mapping Method: Ideal for visual learners. This helps when information follows a sequence or flow;
- Charting Method: Best for fact-heavy lectures. Separate info into columns for quick reference;
- Sentence Method: Fast and simple. Good for when you need to write notes fast during rapid lectures.
How Online K12 Schools such as EduWW solve this problem
Students enrolled in K12 online schools, especially our school EduWW, have a huge advantage when it comes to making their own notes more organized.
Unlike traditional classrooms, digital learning platforms offer 24/7 access to lectures, notes, and other materials.
Here’s why that matters:
- No Rush to Write Everything Down: Materials are always available. This means students can pause, rewind, and re-watch lectures, unless they are attending live classes. Even the live classes are with a small group or even individual. This greatly reduces the stress and urgency to write everything down. This allows them to take notes at their own pace or even take detailed notes slowly without missing any information.
- Easier Organization: Digital platforms often include downloadable slides, transcripts, and interactive modules, helping students focus on summarizing rather than copying.
- Built-In Review Opportunities: Because the content is on-demand, students can immediately revisit parts they didn’t understand and revise their notes accordingly.
- Cleaner, Sharper Notes: Online K12 students often use typing or stylus tools, which are faster than handwriting and easier to format – making it simpler to complete notes fast and neatly.
For all these reasons, making notes easy to remember is also a more achievable goal for every online school student.
