How to Take Better Notes — From a Teacher\u2019s Perspective

Most students take notes thinking the act of writing things down means they\u2019ll remember them. Spoiler: it doesn\u2019t. Good note-taking is about what you do after the notes, not the notes themselves.

The Cornell method (still the best)

Divide your page into three zones:

• Right 70%: your actual notes during class
• Left 30%: questions or keywords (filled in later, not during class)
• Bottom strip: a 2-3 sentence summary you write within 24 hours

The 3 rules of active note-taking

1. Don\u2019t transcribe — translate

Don\u2019t try to write down every word. Write down the idea in your own words. If you can\u2019t paraphrase it, you don\u2019t understand it yet.

2. Leave space

Big gaps in your notebook = room for examples, questions, clarifications later. Tight, packed notes = unreadable later.

3. Mark what you don\u2019t understand

Big question mark, star, or “?” in the margin. These become your tutoring or office-hours questions.

The 24-hour rule (the part everyone skips)

Within 24 hours of taking notes, spend 10 minutes:

• Filling in the left-column questions/keywords
• Writing the bottom-strip summary
• Answering the question marks (if you can) or making a list of what to ask

Digital vs. paper

Honest answer: paper is better for retention for most subjects. But digital is better for searchability and editing. Use paper for active learning, then photograph and add tags if you want digital access later.

For math/calculus: paper, almost always. The act of writing the symbols matters.

Tools that help

• OneNote / Notion / Apple Notes — for digital folks
• Cornell-method notebooks — pre-divided pages
• Our Worksite — for math notes with Desmos + GeoGebra side-by-side