How to read and remember things with out taking notes?

[Alricson]

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I feel I spend a huge amount of time taking book notes.

I'd like to have this skill - if possible.

 

[Fdsa2495]

Mnemonic devices, make stories up or visualize something that relates to what you're trying to memorize (I think theres a word for this but idk).

For example:
Amino acid Tryptophan (I call it Twyptophan like a child would when they haven't learned how to say the letter 'r')
This helps me remember that the one letter code is W and the ring on Tryptophan looks like a W so I know it has 2 rings and is aromatic.

Honestly the crazier the better. I've always done this and usually with a couple of time practicing did well in most classes. Also, trying doing it with a friend and it's even more effective. For book concepts try visualizing what the paragraph states, or draw out the pictures and label them (less writing notes and more drawing) or try the following

Example:
Molecule A is usually a simulator for cell growth. Call molecule A, Adam. Adam is a child that wants to grow bigger. Just an example but hope you understand what I'm trying to say here

 

[wholeheartedly]

one thing I've noticed is that a lot of times when people read and take notes (or even listen to lecture and take notes) they try to transcribe almost everything and the focus winds up being on writing the notes vs. taking in/understanding the material. Your reading (or listening) tends to be more broken and interupted while taking notes which can impede putting together the picture for understanding.

So less is more for starters. In reading a book, I would just read through once for understanding w/o taking notes the first time. Once you've read through it the first time and understand things. Then go back and take notes only on the highlights/important stuff. Even though you're making two passes, you'll probably find that it goes faster than one pass of read/stop/take notes.

When taking notes, you can use pictures, mnemonics, etc. But ultimately, the more you understand, the less you need to worry about memorizing (though in some cases memorization is pretty unavoidable)

 

[libertyyne]

Read for understanding and then take practice tests.(answer questions at the end of the book ).

 

[kb1900]

My notes are ineligible scribbles that I never revisit. When learning a new concept you can map out the ideas a little bit but other than that it's not going to take much to understand the concept. Then all facts/discrete knowledge go into flash cards, or if I'm lucky are tested in practice problems available

 

[ciestar]

I do a lot of talking to myself and talking concepts out. This all happens after a first pass, though.

 

[libertyyne]

My notes are ineligible scribbles that I never revisit. When learning a new concept you can map out the ideas a little bit but other than that it's not going to take much to understand the concept. Then all facts/discrete knowledge go into flash cards, or if I'm lucky are tested in practice problems available

I think a key skill to develop is what needs to go into the flash card pile and what needs to go in the conceptual understanding pile.

 

[cranialLOOP]

Take notes on a laptop. It cuts down time by half and still allows you to chew on the info long enough to remember it. Worked for me.