Effective Note Taking for Online Training: Going Beyond the Outline

In any learning situation, the material presented is only useful if it can be remembered and applied at a later date. In the case of online training, learners need to apply that information on the job when the source material is out of reach. And this is where note taking comes in – taking notes is important for processing information for later application. One study found that information taken down in notes has a 34 percent chance of being remembered, as opposed to five percent for information not recorded in notes.

But what are the best ways to take notes? Should they be typed in a note-taking app, to be stored in the cloud and synced across your devices? Should you use pen and paper, with an outline full of Roman numerals and lowercase letters? Or should you draw a map to learning, harnessing the power of those doodles you already drew in the margins?

There is more than one way to take notes, and you can try different styles to find the one that best suits you. Linear note taking, for example, is the method of recording information in the order in which it is received (outlining for example) but this format does not take into account the relationships between pieces of information that can aid in recollection and application. Nonlinear note taking incorporates graphics and different structures to show relationships between concepts.

Handwriting vs. Typing

With the popularity of smart phones and laptops, people more and more are taking notes electronically, for convenience of reading and ease of storage. But don’t put those “old-fashioned” pens and pencils away just yet.

In their study “The Pen Is Mightier Than the Keyboard,” Pam A. Mueller of Princeton University and Daniel M. Oppenheimer of the University of California found that students process information to a higher degree when handwriting notes as opposed to typing them. Though more information is recorded when typing, which is faster than writing by hand, students tend to copy the presented information verbatim. When writing by hand, the information needs to be processed and reframed in one’s own words as it is recorded. Students perform far better in conceptual/application tests when their notes have been written by hand, the study says.

Different Methods of Note Taking

A variety of different note-taking styles have come to the fore in recent years. Below are oft-cited techniques, both linear and nonlinear. Which is the most effective for you?

Outlining: By far the most familiar form of note taking, outlining organizes information in a logical way down a page, with headings and bullet points used to structure the information by main topics, subtopics, and details. This method provides easy review but the structure inhibits adding information at a later date.

The Cornell Method: The Cornell note-taking system was created by Walter Pauk of Cornell University in the 1940s. Start by dividing your paper into two columns, with the left column two-and-a-half inches wide and the right six inches wide. Reserve a bottom margin of two inches. The right column is your main area for taking notes. Soon after the presentation, write questions and keywords in the left column based on the notes in the right column. Use the bottom margin to summarize the notes on that page. This method provides neat organization and easy review.

Mind Mapping: Mind maps start with a circled topic in the middle of a page with subsequent concepts drawn around it and lines connecting the relationships between ideas. Further branching can reveal hierarchical details of each fact. Images, color, symbols, and lines organize information into a memorable structure.

Sketchnotes: Invented by designer Mike Rohde, sketchnoting is a method of note taking that incorporates drawings with text, without the need for artistic ability. Sketchnoting makes use of typography, arrows, bullets, icons, and containers to activate both verbal and visual channels of information processing. It is meant to engage one’s whole brain for better concentration and application.

Charting: The charting method is an effective system for topics that can be broken down into categories. Start with a table of columns with each column labeled with a different category. During the presentation, write information into each appropriate column. This method may reduce the amount of writing needed for taking notes since only the most important information is recorded. It also shows relationships between topics and provides easy review.

Sentence Method: With the sentence method, each topic is written as a simple sentence. Number the sentences and record each on its own line. This method is good for fast-paced presentations in which a lot of information is conveyed. It is recommended that you rewrite your notes after the presentation to organize them into themes and categories.

With the tools for different note-taking methods in your toolbox, you will be well on your way to more effective memorization and application of training materials.