Best way to take notes?

[Lifeman]

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Hey guys so im starting Biology and a GE for geology. For both of them they have powerpoints. Do you guys think that sending the ppt to onenote and writing on it is a good way of taking notes? My dilemma is if theres too many pictures and equations it would just be better to use a pencil and paper. Does biology have alot of equations and such? What did you guys personally do?

 

[azerkail]

this sounds like a lot but saves time in the long run. worked best for me in gen bio. and algebra based physics.

1. pre-read chapter/upcoming topics. skim like 10-20 minutes of it sometime prior to class (doesn't have to be day before or anything. i usually reserved an off day to just reading)
2. in class cornell notes - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornell_Notes take notes of things that aren't already on ppt (leave space if you want to synthesize them later so you only have one study aid). any questions he mentions as test worthy put them on the margins as well. make note of anything that should be rote memorization and make flashcards for it
2.3 flashcard games are awesome. i use www.quizlet.com to make mine.
2.5. invest in a voice recorder. helps to sometimes just listen to the lecture on the go as well as good for getting anything you missed.
3. after class/next day - do summary portion of notes from prior day as 'homework'. bulk of studying should be here as well, like rote memorization or the like.
4. on the go/when i get time - listen to lectures, skim summaries either in notes or in end of chapter sections of text.
5. day before - don't cram, go over anything in the rote memorization category. be as relaxed as humanly possible and block out this day for relaxed review.
6. test - destroy that test with the force of a thousand pagan gods.

for me, writing notes is better than typing them as you can draw diagrams faster and (call me crazy) there's some muscle memory from writing instead of typing* as well as if you're on a laptop in class we all know you're on facebook/pwning noobs in tf2.

gen bio doesn't have many equations but many MANY diagrams to remember, like krebs cycle, nitrogen cycle, photosynthesis, etc.



*unless you're taking like a LISP or PERL class

ps. also look into stealth studying, there's a neat article on this on lifehacker

 

[zwitterion34]

For Biology course you will not have many equations. But it might be much more helpful to use pen and paper to take notes instead of using technology. Also read the material before showing up to lecture, so you know what are things that you are having a hard time understanding. 😎

 

[Morsetlis]

Cornell notes, imho, is the worst thing ever invented 😛

I either take notes on printed powerpoint slides or via pen and notebook.

 

[Drogo]

Hey guys so im starting Biology and a GE for geology. For both of them they have powerpoints. Do you guys think that sending the ppt to onenote and writing on it is a good way of taking notes? My dilemma is if theres too many pictures and equations it would just be better to use a pencil and paper. Does biology have alot of equations and such? What did you guys personally do?

My advice, find a competent partner and rape whatever concepts and material is at hand. old school Pencil/pen and paper is the way to go and even rewording things to your liking can prove to be beneficial.

Biology is relatively easy, it's a lot of memorization and looking at the 'big picture' when it comes to conceptual topics. Don't get bogged with a certain thing, go ahead and comeback to it later or get aid from a tutor/friend.

 

[AymAyzing]

I usually print off the slides and put like 6 or 9 slides on one page. When I am in class I usually take my notes by hand in a notebook. I keep my powerpoint to make notes on diagrams which is easier than trying to recreate the image in my notebook (crappy art skills).

To be honest, I never go back and read my notes that I wrote; writing manually just helps me to remember it more. When the semester is done I keep my old notebooks in a pile, just incase I ever want to review anything.

 

[deleted357625]

Hey guys so im starting Biology and a GE for geology. For both of them they have powerpoints. Do you guys think that sending the ppt to onenote and writing on it is a good way of taking notes? My dilemma is if theres too many pictures and equations it would just be better to use a pencil and paper. Does biology have alot of equations and such? What did you guys personally do?

i write down everything from the powerpoints.

 

[ppfizenm]

I prefer pens. I know some like pencils but the point gets dull and breaks. Pen just feels more concrete also.

 

[Stumpyman]

I never use technology; always a pen and paper. Outside of class I write on my whiteboard and kill a lot of trees by writing on paper.

 

[seafood92]

ahhh the secrets of note taking, here is how i do this:

Write notes by hand in lecture, DO NOT PRINT OUT the slides. Save this for after class.

After lecture rewrite your notes as neatly as possible. While doing this read over the textbook and try to understand the material as much possible. ALWAYS PARAPHRASE IF YOU CAN! If it helps, draw out diagrams that are in the book. This is when i find using the slides help, they compliment your 2nd batch of notes.

If you really want to understand the material I suggest getting a voice recorder (already mentioned). I like to paraphrase my notes again and listen to them before the next lecture.

So, if you've done all this you're bound to ace whatever comes your way😉

Another point: try to understand the theories and mechanisms behind the material. Don't just memorize everything (works for some people, but for the rest of us that aren't special it's a death trap).

 

[1TB4RKSB4CK]

I never use technology; always a pen and paper. Outside of class I write on my whiteboard and kill a lot of trees by writing on paper.

Hell yeah! I pity those people at my Bio class who bring their Macbook Pros type out all the slides from the powerpoint that is already given online, and get 70's on the exams.
Writing with pen/pencil and paper makes it stick 10X more.

 

[music2doc]

Do what works for you.


Personally, I do whatever works for a given class, but for most classes, I don't really take many notes. Basically, I am a minimalist notetaker -- I only write down those things I know will be tested and that I won't remember otherwise. For the most part, I just sit and listen in class. I prefer to learn it the first time, not study it later. I think your best bet is typically to learn it right away so that when new concepts that build on the first piece get introduced, you're not behind the 8-ball. It seems like an awful lot of students don't actually learn the fundamentals until they get tested on them and by then, it's way too late. Learn it the first time.

Hell yeah! I pity those people at my Bio class who bring their Macbook Pros type out all the slides from the powerpoint that is already given online, and get 70's on the exams.
Writing with pen/pencil and paper makes it stick 10X more.

Meh... your opinion. I take a good share of my notes on my MBP and, frankly, I am almost always ranked #1 in the class. It's really neither here nor there. You need to take notes the way that works best for you. I have seen an AWFUL lot of students who take copious -- even ridiculous -- notes and end up in the C/B range. The students who consistently end up in the high A range seem to be the ones who take the LEAST number of notes and simply "get it" the first time. I've even known some of them to not bother buying the book or take hardly any notes and basically just absorb what is said like a sponge and then attend a few study groups with top students to fill in the gaps....

 

[Doctor246853]

For Biology course you will not have many equations. But it might be much more helpful to use pen and paper to take notes instead of using technology. Also read the material before showing up to lecture, so you know what are things that you are having a hard time understanding. 😎

This.

 

[1TB4RKSB4CK]

Do what works for you.


Personally, I do whatever works for a given class, but for most classes, I don't really take many notes. Basically, I am a minimalist notetaker -- I only write down those things I know will be tested and that I won't remember otherwise. For the most part, I just sit and listen in class. I prefer to learn it the first time, not study it later. I think your best bet is typically to learn it right away so that when new concepts that build on the first piece get introduced, you're not behind the 8-ball. It seems like an awful lot of students don't actually learn the fundamentals until they get tested on them and by then, it's way too late. Learn it the first time.






Meh... your opinion. I take a good share of my notes on my MBP and, frankly, I am almost always ranked #1 in the class. It's really neither here nor there. You need to take notes the way that works best for you. I have seen an AWFUL lot of students who take copious -- even ridiculous -- notes and end up in the C/B range. The students who consistently end up in the high A range seem to be the ones who take the LEAST number of notes and simply "get it" the first time. I've even known some of them to not bother buying the book or take hardly any notes and basically just absorb what is said like a sponge and then attend a few study groups with top students to fill in the gaps....

People are different learners. As for me, I simply cannot absorb all the info that a professor is spewing out to me without taking notes. As for the bold, that is not the case in my college. The people who don't take notes are usually failing. Again, difference of study or learning habits. Typing notes down, in my case, did not work out too well. I would agree that taking copious amount of notes isn't really a good way to learn the material. I usually take out concepts of what my professor tells us and create situations in which I can beter understand the material though examples.

 

[orthomyxo]

You shouldn't have to take many notes if you already read the chapters beforehand. I rarely, if ever, take notes in core bio classes.

 

[Morsetlis]

It also depends on the test writer. If they are conceptual / problem-solving test writers, the questions will involve logic and deduction a majority of the time, favoring the "smart" people. This is especially true in phys/ochem, and much less true in biology/biochem.

If the test writers test on minutiae such as whether Moses had on sandals when he saw the burning bush or the difference between the enzymes that Arsenic and Arsenite inhibit, the tests will favor the hard workers.

 

[1TB4RKSB4CK]

It also depends on the test writer. If they are conceptual / problem-solving test writers, the questions will involve logic and deduction a majority of the time, favoring the "smart" people. This is especially true in phys/ochem, and much less true in biology/biochem.

If the test writers test on minutiae such as whether Moses had on sandals when he saw the burning bush or the difference between the enzymes that Arsenic and Arsenite inhibit, the tests will favor the hard workers.

I've heard Ochem and Biochem I similar in concept though? Or am I wrong?

 

[njslex16]

It helps me to try and copy down every word thats said by the professor (unless it's completely irrelevant of course) and if you record the lecture you can go back later and fill in the gaps that you weren't able to get in class- this also helps because sometimes you can use the tone of the professor's voice to determine what is likely to be on the test- I do this in medical school for every lecture and my grades have improved dramatically since I began doing this- it may sound cumbersome but I think it really helps- good luck 👍

 

[btown8908]

I write down something ridiculous or silly next to the important points so that I can recall it on a test. I remember things well when they stick out in my mind. I also have had luck with formatting notes/review sheets in a particular format. If I can remember the format it makes it easier to recall info on the formatted sheet for an exam.

 

[Ghost117]

I actually found that NOT taking notes is much better. Then you can actually sit and listen to the professor and think about what he is saying, rather than scribbling things you will never look at again. Then, when it comes time to study for a test, you look back on the lecture slides and remember what was talked about in class (which you will be able to remember since you were listening, instead of mindlessly writing notes). And this way, just by listening, you will already know most of what you need to know! Its really that simple!