Effective Note-Taking Techniques by Amy

Introduction

• Amy shares her note-taking strategies that helped her achieve straight A's while maintaining good sleep.
• Emphasis on simplicity over complexity in note-taking.
• Importance of the tips in succeeding across all classes, including difficult subjects.

1. Request PowerPoint or Printed Notes

• Proactively ask teachers for notes that will be available online.
• Helpful for challenging subjects like chemistry and organic chemistry.
• Saves time on homework and allows for better understanding during class.

2. Functionality Over Aesthetics

• Focus on functionality; pretty notes aren't necessary.
• Use color coding for organization:
  • Blue for lesson titles
  • Orange for important formulas
  • Yellow for key concepts
  • Pink and green can be adapted per class.
• Simplify note-taking techniques to avoid overcomplicating the process.

3. Accept Blind Copying

• Blind copying is okay, especially when tired or unable to pay full attention.
• Capturing information is more important than understanding it in the moment.
• Take pictures of the board if necessary and copy later.

4. Increase Writing Speed

• Writing speed is key; legibility is less important than speed.
• Use abbreviations to write faster (e.g., ampersand for 'and').

5. Avoid Copying Diagrams Immediately

• Listen and absorb the explanation without trying to copy diagrams during lectures.
• Take pictures of diagrams to copy later with better understanding.

6. Annotate Your Notes

• Leave space for annotations, capturing additional information from the teacher.
• Annotations can be tips or extra details not on slides/board.

7. Add, Don’t Redo

• Avoid rewriting notes; instead, add annotations and new information.
• Keep notes as a living document, continually updated with new insights or corrections.

Bonus Tip: Using Your Notes Effectively

• Create links between notes, homework, and textbooks to make studying easier.
• Jump straight into homework after class, using notes as references.
• Study smaller snippets of information first, then review the main notes.

Conclusion

• Good notes lead to better studying outcomes.
• Overcome procrastination to leverage effective notes.
• Amy hints at sharing tips on beating procrastination in the next video.