It’s no joke that studying network related technologies can fill your brain up pretty quick. At some point you need to defer information to the part of your brain that knows where it’s at when you want to reference it. This is why good note taking is essential. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve taken notes and they were on a sheet of paper that for some reason or another was lost, along with that really important information I needed to refer to. So I decided a while back to use a dedicated notebook that I could consistently refer back to. I found some interesting posts about note taking and decided to try each of them until I found the one that did it all for me. Here is a list of each approach and what I thought of it. In the end I found a winner and I now, more consistently, take good notes that I can easily review. Lets look at the contenders.
Outline Method or Split Page Method
Some people like a split page approach. In this approach you draw a line down the center of the page and take notes on one side of the page while outlining on the other side.
Advantage
If things are organized properly this can be a great approach.
Disadvantage
If the notes you are taking require a great deal of thought this may not be the best idea.
Single Page or Sentence Method
The Single Page Approach is a “Free for All.” You basically take notes wherever you want line by line. This doesnt work for me because there is no structure and no easy way to look topics up at a later time.
Advantage
This method is simple and allows you to pull main points.
Disadvantage
It may be hard to distinguish topics as they change and even reference them later.
Mapping Method
This method uses concentration skills and relates each fact or idea to every other fact or idea. Think of it as a mind mapping method of someone elses mind. You could actually use iTHoughtsHD for this type of note taking.
Advantage
It’s very visual which may help the information to stick.
Disadvantage
You may not be clear as to when a new topic is presented and thoughts may run together.
The Charting Method
This method is great if you are working with facts that are cronological. Give yourself come column headings and then in order down the columns note the facts.
Advantage
Conversations are easy to track using this method.
Disadvantage
Figuring out what categories should go up top is not always easy during live lectures. Also, it may be difficult to note changes in topic without starting a new chart. Linking charts may be difficult.
The Cornell Method
The Cornell Method is what I now use. This method is designed to be a good format for condensing and organizing notes without a lot of work when recopying. Basically you write the notes in the main space on the page and then on the left in the Cue area you can note the main points and keywords. The bottom of the page can be used as a summary area.
Advantage
This is a great method for review. I find that in the past I would take notes and never review them. Using this method it’s much easier to review later on and way more productive.
Disadvantage
I can’t think of a better method. It’s simple and efficient.
The Networkers Notebook
I’ve created the Networkers Notebook in the Cornell Method style. This is the notebook that I now use for my personal notes.
I’m making it available to all my readers and students at the cost of 14.99. Using the preview embedded here you can purchase the Networkers Notebook on lulu.com. I’m donating a portion of the proceeds to the LACE Cancer Foundation. If you really don’t care about getting the notebook, but want to make a donation feel free to let me know. LACE is a foundation that has helped raise awareness, not only for women, but also for men in regards to various forms of cancer as well as treatment. LACE helps families communicate with doctors and doctors communicate with families during very trying situations. LACE helped when my cousin, Ryan Brown, and my Grandfather, James Young were battling cancer. They were an integral part in assisting the family understand what was happening to our loved ones as they underwent treatment. LACE also helped in coping with the loss of these loved ones.
References
http://www.sas.calpoly.edu/asc/ssl/notetaking.systems.html
