Mrs. Christy McNair: Note Taking
Author: David Markopoulos | Living Education
In a recent forum, Mrs. Christy McNair began by asking the Living Education students a question: how do you take notes? It should come as no surprise that note taking is an important aspect of learning, and Mrs. McNair’s forum offered sound principles of effective note taking.
The Problem With Notes
Taking notes may seem straightforward, but the quality of our personal notes can easily be affected by distractions, lack of engagement in what we’re hearing, and our own lack of organizational prowess. The problem is all too common: passive listening leads to disorganized, poorly written notes that don’t actually benefit us later on.
The Cornell Method
Mrs. McNair introduced the students to the Cornell Method of taking notes. This style of note taking is used to neatly organize information for handy reference and help reinforce active listening, rather than passive—allowing us to more easily remember what we’ve learned.
Consisting of a left-hand column—in which you put your key points and cues—a right-hand column—in which you put important points relating to your cues—and a bottom section summarizing what you’ve learned, this method simplifies the randomized, chaotic notes that many tend to create out of habit.
This method is particularly effective when used with other principles in mind. Mrs. McNair stressed that it’s important to not try and write down every word: pick out the main points, and use the Cornell Method to organize what you’re hearing.
Reread Your Notes
One other important piece of advice that Mrs. McNair related was to go back over your notes within the next 24 hours. Even a short ten minutes going over the material can greatly add to your understanding of the topic and help you remember it for longer.
The Cornell Method and the other principles Mrs. McNair shared with the students are important lessons, not only for taking notes but for becoming a more effective student and learner. Our efforts to be a disciplined, resourceful, and successful student of whatever we’re taking on requires careful planning, active listening, and an organized mind.
David Markopoulos is a Living Education alumnus from the 2023-2025 school years. Originally hailing from Chicago, he currently works for the Living Education program.
