Note taking is an important academic task that helps you to remember what you have
learnt and helps you to review materials for re-use in revision and assignments. It is
important that you are critical when note taking and that you only write or draw what you
will need later on, and that you record the information in a format that is easy to
understand. You should look out for clues about what is important. The lecturer or author
will organise his or her material in a logical way so try to utilise their organisational skills
when note taking. When taking notes you might like to try different study techniques such
as the SQ3R approach or you might like to use a more visual approach such as a spray
diagram. And most importantly, after taking effective notes, it is important to organise and
store your notes effectively. Effective note taking should reduce your study time, should
increase your retention of knowledge, and should provide you with a summarised list of
resources for your future projects.
If you need any further help with this topic, please contact your tutor or the Student Support Officer, or you may
wish to consult the ‘Note taking reading list’.