Enhancing Learning: A Reflective Essay on Note-Taking Techniques

This reflective essay explores the critical role of note-taking in the academic life of students. It begins by defining note-taking and highlighting its benefits, such as facilitating quick reviews, evaluating concept importance, and improving listening skills. The essay emphasizes the value of note-taking as a crucial life skill that aids memory and active learning. It also discusses the importance of taking notes before, during, and after lectures to maximize learning. Furthermore, the essay delves into various note-taking methods, including Cornell notes, outlining, flowchart/concept maps, and charting methods, along with the sentence method. The essay concludes by underscoring the need for students to understand and apply these techniques to enhance their study habits, organize thoughts, and improve work quality, ultimately leading to better academic results. The essay also references several academic sources that support the arguments presented.

Reflective Essay

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY ..................................................................................................................................1
CONLUSION .................................................................................................................................2
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................4
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................5

INTRODUCTION
Note taking is defined as an practice in which process related to recording of information
is being undertaken which is being read or heard (Luo, Flanigan and Peteranetz, 2018). Students
can undertake use of taking in before, during and after class and can significantly improve their
knowledge and learning pattern.
MAIN BODY
In a student life cycle taking notes plays most important role as it facilitate them to have
quick review of key essential points in a well define and effective manner. Taking notes acts as
significant way through which students can effectively able to evaluate importance of concepts
that are duly covered within class. It is essential for essential to have written record that later
provide many benefits. Further it has been evaluated that it is one of the most important valuable
life skill. Taking notes allows to remember informations and plays crucial role as important
source of material (Boyle, Forchelli and Cariss, 2015). It has been evaluated that with the help of
this significant improvement in listening skills can also be measured. In addition to this, it has
been identified with the help of taking notes students can increase efficiency of their active
learning through which they can further assure better academic results. There are numerous set
of importance of taking notes such as it helps students to avoid distractions and keep them alert
throughout the lecture. Along with this, this is being identified that it engages their mind and
helps students to create a condensed record for study. With the help of this students can also
improve their learning abilities through which their end productivity can be significantly
increased. One of the most important benefit of taking notes is that it allows to organize thoughts
as well as ideas and also facilitate towards making improvement in work quality. This has been
evaluated that there is formative significance of taking notes before, during and after lecture
(Mueller and Oppenheimer, 2016). In context to before class or lecture as with the help of this
students can effectively allow themselves to answer questions in a well define and effective
manner. While on the other hand, during class note taking allows students to avoid distractions
and stay focused throughout the lecture. While if it is talked about after class, taking notes serves
as an essential source for tests as with the help of this, students can review key points that are
being discussed in the class. Thus, as per according to the above mentioned discussion it has
been evaluated that, taking notes plays crucial role through which students can not only increases
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quality of their work but also allows them to have detail-orientation in order to enhance learning
experience.
However, it has been determined that note taking is most essential element or aspect for a
students academic life, thus it is essential for them to understand various form of methods
through which they can allow themselves to take notes. Note taking plays most important and
essential feature of a student in their academic life as it will significantly help them to review key
points later which also save their time (Jansen, Lakens and Ijsselsteijn, 2017). In order to take
notes students can have access to many methods through which they can take notes. If it is talked
about before class, students can visit library in order to learn about the topic from additional
reference sources. In addition to this, it has been evaluated that there are different types of format
for notes, by taking advantage of different styles and structures students can enhance their note-
taking qualities. Some of the certain formates of note taking include, Cornell notes, charting
method, flowchart/concept map and more (Reddington, Peverly and Block, 2015). Further it has
been evaluated that in Cornell notes, students are required to include sections for questions, date,
summary, essential questions, notes and topic (The Cornell Note-taking System. 2020). The
Cornell note-taking system is an effective method with the help of which students can conduct
the process of note taking in better way. While on the other hand outline is other form of method
with the help of which students can organize their lecture by main points, further this has been
signified that in this method students can have room for details as well as examples. Along with
this flowchart/concept map is a method in which students can undertake note taking in a form of
visual representation format. Charting method is also an essential method with the help of which
students can organize notes from lectures with a significant amount of factors via driving
essential topics into columns (Effective Note-Taking in Class .2020). In addition to this, sentence
method is termed as one of the most easy or simple way that allows students to take notes. With
the help of this they can disseminate informations from lecture according to their importance by
evaluating informations as well as details in quick manner. Thus, as per according to the above
mentioned discussion it has been evaluated that in order to stay organized and review essential
points to increase efficiency of results students can undertake use of many methods of notes
taking in before, during and after class (Morehead, Dunlosky and Rawson, 2019). In addition to
this, students are also required to review their notes as to further use them for reference purpose.
It will further help them to build up a skill that will offer them benefits in number of ways.
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CONLUSION
As per the above mentioned report it has been concluded that note taking is an essential
activity for students that are required to be duly consider by them as to ascertain key important
findings in a quick manner. Further this is being identified that students are required to have
proper understanding of different types of note taking methods in order to note down information
before, during and after class.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Luo, L., Kiewra, K.A., Flanigan, A.E. and Peteranetz, M.S., 2018. Laptop versus longhand note
taking: effects on lecture notes and achievement. Instructional Science, 46(6), pp.947-
971.
Morehead, K., Dunlosky, J. and Rawson, K.A., 2019. How much mightier is the pen than the
keyboard for note-taking? A replication and extension of Mueller and Oppenheimer
(2014). Educational Psychology Review, 31(3), pp.753-780.
Morehead, K., Dunlosky, J., Rawson, K.A., Blasiman, R. and Hollis, R.B., 2019. Note-taking
habits of 21st century college students: implications for student learning, memory, and
achievement. Memory, 27(6), pp.807-819.
Jansen, R.S., Lakens, D. and IJsselsteijn, W.A., 2017. An integrative review of the cognitive
costs and benefits of note-taking. Educational Research Review, 22, pp.223-233.
Mueller, P.A. and Oppenheimer, D.M., 2016. Technology and note-taking in the classroom,
boardroom, hospital room, and courtroom. Trends in Neuroscience and Education, 5(3),
pp.139-145.
Reddington, L.A., Peverly, S.T. and Block, C.J., 2015. An examination of some of the cognitive
and motivation variables related to gender differences in lecture note-taking. Reading
and Writing, 28(8), pp.1155-1185.
Boyle, J.R., Forchelli, G.A. and Cariss, K., 2015. Note-taking interventions to assist students with
disabilities in content area classes. Preventing School Failure: Alternative Education for
Children and Youth, 59(3), pp.186-195.
Online
The Cornell Note-taking System. 2020. [Online]. Available
through<http://lsc.cornell.edu/notes.html>
Effective Note-Taking in Class .2020. [Online]. Available
through<https://learningcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/effective-note-taking-in-class/>
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