Effective note taking is more than writing down what an instructor says; it’s an active learning strategy that helps you organize information, identify key concepts, and prepare for exams. By staying engaged during class and reviewing your notes regularly, you can improve understanding, retention, and long-term learning.
Note Taking & Engaged Learning
Prepare Before Class
Good notes begin before class starts.
Before each class 
- Complete assigned readings or videos.
- Review notes from the previous class.
- Preview today’s topic in the syllabus or course schedule.
- Write down questions you’d like answered.
Arrive prepared
Arriving prepared makes it easier to recognize the most important ideas during class. Only have a few minutes to prepare? This quick 3-minute checklist will still have an impact on your learning.
The 3-Minute Class Prep Checklist
- Review – Look over your notes from the last class.
- Preview – Skim today’s topic or reading.
- Question – Identify one thing you want to learn.
Stay Engaged During Class
Learning happens best when you actively participate instead of passively listening. Try some of these strategies to improve your focus.
Minimize distractions
- Silence notifications.
- Keep only necessary tabs open.
- Sit where you can easily see and hear.
Listen for cues
Instructors often signal important information with phrases like:
- “This will be on the exam…”
- “The key idea is…”
- “Remember that…”
- “Let’s compare…”
These cues help identify what deserves extra attention in your notes.
Think while you listen
Instead of writing everything down, ask yourself:
- What’s the main idea?
- How does this connect to previous material?
- Could I explain this to someone else?
Participate
Ask questions.
Answer questions when appropriate.
Write down ideas that confuse you so you can revisit them later.
Downloadable Resource: Get more from every class
Take Effective Notes
Your notes should help you learn, not simply create a transcript.
What to focus on during note taking
- Main ideas
- Definitions
- Examples
- Connections
- Questions
Avoid trying to copy every word.
Instead, summarize concepts in your own words whenever possible.
Cornell Note taking method
Divide your page into sections for notes, key questions or cues, and a summary to encourage active review and self-testing after class.
Best for:
- Lecture-heavy classes
- Exam review
- Self-quizzing
Outline Note taking method
Organize notes using headings, subheadings, and bullet points to show the relationships between main ideas and supporting details.
Best for:
- Organized lectures
- Sequential topics
Concept Mapping Note taking method
Visually organize ideas by connecting concepts with lines or arrows to show how information and relationships fit together.
Best for:
- Science
- Relationships between ideas
- Complex concepts
Digital vs. Handwritten Notes
Both can be effective. Research shows that students who took notes by hand performed better on conceptual questions than students who typed notes. However, typing can be effective if you take the time to summarize and process the information you are writing down, rather than simply typing the lecture word for word. Putting concepts in your own words has a significant impact on learning and retention.
Choose the method that helps you stay engaged and review your notes consistently.
Review Within 24 Hours
Reviewing shortly after class helps strengthen memory before information fades.
During your review
- Fill in missing details.
- Highlight key concepts.
- Write a short summary.
- Identify confusing topics.
- Create practice questions.
Even 10–15 minutes can make later studying much easier.
Downloadable Resource: Note Review Worksheet
Turn Notes into Learning
Notes are only valuable if you use them.
Ways to use your notes
Instead of rereading:
- Cover your notes and recall information.
- Create flashcards.
- Solve practice problems.
- Teach the material to someone else.
- Explain concepts aloud.
Learning happens through retrieval, not just reviewing.
Common Note Taking Mistakes
Avoid these common habits:
❌ Trying to write every word.
❌ Never reviewing notes.
❌ Highlighting everything.
❌ Taking notes without thinking about the material.
❌ Waiting until the night before an exam to organize notes.
Instead, aim for notes that help you understand, not just record, information.
Recommended Apps for Note taking
Microsoft OneNote
Free with Microsoft 365, excellent organization, handwriting support, and easy integration of images, PDFs, and class notes. Information on how to access this as a UGA student.
Microsoft Learning Activities
Free with Microsoft 365, Learning Activities uses AI to transform your content into interactive practice activities like flashcards, fill-in-the-blank exercises, matching games, and quizzes.. Information on how to access this as a UGA student.
Anki
Converts notes into spaced-repetition flashcards to improve long-term retention. The computer-based version is free.
Additional Resources
Peer Tutoring: Discuss difficult concepts and compare understanding.
Peer Academic Coaching: Develop personalized note-taking and study strategies.
Related Academic Success Resources
- Test Preparation