How to take better notes during lectures

University courses Law
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I know, I know, lecture season has finished for quite a while (at least for me). However, taking into account that we are in the exam season, we may find ourselves re-watching the lectures that we missed during the year (oops) in order to revise for our module exams. Taking notes is crucial for processing the information after the lecture ends. Considering that I found this quite difficult at the beginning of my studies, here are some tips that I have found pretty useful:

  1. Review the syllabus: Familiarize yourself with the topics that will be covered in the lecture beforehand. This can help you anticipate what will be discussed and prepare relevant questions or points of interest to focus on during the lecture.

  2. Use a structured format: Develop a consistent format for your notes, such as outlining or using bullet points. This helps organize information in a clear and logical manner, making it easier to review later.

  3. Active listening: Stay engaged and focused during the lecture by actively listening to the speaker. Try to identify key points, main ideas, and supporting details as they are presented.

  4. Abbreviations and symbols: Develop a system of abbreviations and symbols to quickly jot down information without falling behind. This can save time and help you capture important points more efficiently.

  5. Highlight key information: Use different colors or highlighting techniques to emphasize important concepts, definitions, or terms. This makes it easier to locate key information when reviewing your notes later.

  6. Review and revise: Take some time after the lecture to review and revise your notes. Fill in any missing information, clarify unclear points, and organize your notes for better comprehension.

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Thanks for sharing these tips! I totally get the struggle of keeping up with lectures and taking effective notes. I’m curious, do you have any specific methods or tricks you use to stay focused and engaged during lectures, especially when they get long or complex?

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I think that one can stay engaged by trying to make sort of a transcript of what the teacher is saying as even though we may not find some things important then, after reviewing the notes we would have missed important elements if we did not register everything that the professor was saying. Though this is quite time consuming and tiring, at least it keeps you quite engaged!

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aaaahh these are great tips!

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I wish I’d seen this when I was a freshman😅 I swear, it would have made my life so much easier

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