How to make useful notes: 9 recording methods effective

1. Bill Gates Method

An unusual way of doing recordings of Bill Gates noticed a young entrepreneur Rob Howard and described it in his blog. Microsoft creator uses plain paper and a pen and divides the sheet into four equal parts. Each of the resulting squares allotted for certain information: Rob managed to peep in one of the lower Bill writes the questions.

when useful

Useful in business meetings, lectures, without a clear plan, held in the form of free discussion.

How to use

On the same theme to highlight a blank sheet of paper and divide it into four parts. Each give a name, depending on what you fill them. For example:

• main ideas;
• notes and important details;
• examples;
• issues arising in the course of the conversation.

2. Cornell method

Perhaps this method Bill Gates I modified by itself. The method requires a clear separation of the basic ideas and notes in the record time. According to the results you need to formulate a summary at the bottom of the sheet.

when useful

Cornell features a method that using it is convenient to handle large amounts of information - long and informative lectures.

How to use

Leave the place from top to indicate the subject. The rest of the paper is divided into two columns - narrow and wide. Leave the bottom of the place - about a quarter of the page.

The left narrow part will need to record key thoughts. The more of them will be smaller, the better. And the easier you will then be guided to the synopsis. And better to fill it after the lecture to accurately select only the right.

On the right side you write down all the important information, details and notes. At the bottom - a summary of the lecture: to draw conclusions and formulate questions on the topic.

3. boxes method

This method is also similar to the previous ones, but the point is to conclude each unit topics in small squares. Thus visually perceive the information easier and more convenient: you focus only on selected aspects of the topic. As a result, the facts are not confused with each other, and recall writing easier.

when useful

The method is suitable when the lecture you are considering several concepts, learn foreign words, dates, biographies of historical figures. At work is useful when discussing a number of tasks within a project.

How to use

Information on each key idea or concept is in the "pits" - squares or rectangles. Spread them on a page at random, so as not to take everything as a single table or combine concepts to each other. Inside them the most information structuring.

For example, you need to briefly remember the key moments in the life of famous personalities of X century. Draw individual squares for Prince Igor, Princess Olga, Svyatoslav and others. Each separate item mark important dates and facts. As a result, an outline will look something like this:

4. column method

It will be convenient if the theme of the lecture, and every one of its points should be considered according to the same criteria. To do this, draw a table - are usually done in history lessons. In the left column, write the date, and the remaining one by one point out what happened, where, what results from this, and so on.

when useful

Effective if you need zakonspektirovat a lot of facts to bring a few items in a clear system and understand the pros and cons of something.

How to use

Decide beforehand what columns you need. Try to make it 4-6 and they really contained the most important. For example, you prepare for meeting on the working project. The names of the columns may include:

• Who;
• will do what;
• with someone on the team;
• when he should finish;
• What we are waiting for the results.

5. The proposed method

The essence of this method is simple: every thought you have recorded numbered. This is done in order to make you easily navigate through the text and do not have to granulate the fields in search of a place where to add information.

when useful

Ideal if you have to zakonspektirovat long lecture, and the teacher used to jump from one thought to another.

How to use

During the lecture, write tezisno - it is desirable that phrase fit in one line. Numbers each of them. And if you want to return to what is written in the third sentence, just at the end of the new thoughts enter, "see. № 3».

6. Maria Popova method

Maria Popova - the creator of the blog BrainPickings. She saysThat every week she I have to read about 15 books to write three articles to your blog every day. It would be strange if it has outlined all that reading. Therefore, Mary was his own notes, a system in which only the pages of the books said.

when useful

The method would help if you read a lot of books on the subject. In the summary, you can collect the necessary materials or to isolate the basic idea of ​​a very bulky books.

How to use

All that you need to burn - is the main theme of abstract and key moments. To him you add the pages of the books, where they found the basic idea.

For example, you do the analysis of several books on brain plasticity. Your synopsis will look something like this:

• What is brain plasticity - Norman Doydzh with. 12, 56;
• Is it possible to develop - Norman Doydzh with. 17;
• how to do it - Joe Dispenza, p. 26, 45.

Quotes mark directly in the book - highlighter, crayons or stickers. So you do not have to waste time on a detailed synopsis, and at the time of writing the material of the work will need to simply follow the points list.

7. index method

This method assumes that you mark important points in the text of certain icons. They will help to continue to work with the following synopsis: structure the information, to take some action, to formulate questions.

when useful

Handy if you do not have the time or ability to process material from the course of writing. For example, when after a meeting is necessary to put the task, prioritize and roles.

How to use

Make a list of icons that you will use. Mark thought this way:

• square - its own problems;
• circle - the tasks that need to be delegated;
• asterisk - very important points;
• a question mark - that needs to be clarified.

8. flow method

This method of recording proposed programmer and entrepreneur Scott Young. He advises not to record the words of the lecturer and his own thoughts. Only in this way, according to Scott, you can really learn something.

when useful

The method helps in cases where you do not need exact or verbatim material. Using it, you will understand better in the subject, as will be immediately independently to process the information. Plus, you will be able to formulate questions during the lecture and ask them immediately.

How to use

Write down only the key points of the lecture. If you come across something else important - pass in your own words. For the rest, give complete freedom to the flow of thoughts: Capture your ideas, questions, comments and conclusions.

9. The method of mental maps

mind map At first glance, it seems much more complicated and confusing conventional progressive abstract. It is the key idea in the center, and from it extend branches of thought and explanation. But in fact it is much more efficientEffectiveness of Mind Mapping Technique in Information Retrieval Among Medical College Students in Puducherry-A Pilot Study.

when useful

The method is convenient when you need to process a very large amount of information, new ideas, a plan or something to analyze their current status. If you tired of stupid cramming textbooks, the way you like it too - which is only drawing branches, stickers and other designations.

How to use

In the center of the card write the main idea. From her spend a few lines and check all the key ideas related to the subject. These branches, add new items that reveal the past, and so on.

For example, you face the task of creating a company website. You need to make a plan. In the center of the sheet write: "Create site." Now answer the question, what points you need to work? And responds by drawing the branches: "The aim", "Price", "Creation", "Filling", "Promotion". This will be the first card level.

Come on, on the second level - from the "Objectives" Enter "Sales", "Involvement of partners", "Recruitment". Next, go to the price. This will include the cost of domain, hosting, design services, development, copywriters and promotion team. By the same logic, the remaining open items. As a result, you get a detailed list of what you need to consider in order to begin the task.

Write concisely and try not to expand the map on the fourth level. Combine topics from different branches, add notes and ideas. Do everything possible to not only convenient to arrange thoughts on the map, but also to make it work for you.