This note taking series gives students ideas for bringing new vigor to their note-taking game. Article 1 talks about the importance of handwritten notes. Article 2 details notetaking methods—the Cornell Method and Mind Mapping—for more effective note taking. In part three, Tricia expands the notetaking process in the digital realm with suggestions for the best notetaking apps.

Question: If taking notes verbatim has diminishing returns for students, what should they do instead? Answer: With a little bit of preparation ahead of time, learn to match the method to the desired outcome.

With so many different ways to take notes and no consistent guidance on which methods work best for the task, students must figure it out on their own. While I can’t tell you which note-taking technique is the one to rule them all, I have some professional opinions.

When the fall semester begins, many freshmen are confident that they already know how to take good notes for their college classes. Good note-taking requires considerable thought and attention, not just effort.