how to take notes DEPENDING ON THE SUBJECT *study tips from a HARVARD student* | PART 1

Summary

In this educational video, the host, an incoming pharmacy student, shares effective note-taking strategies tailored to various subjects, including chemistry, biology, math, humanities, and business. Emphasizing the importance of adapting to different learning styles, the host provides tips on highlighting, annotating diagrams, condensing information, and using both examples and text to ensure a deep understanding of concepts. The goal is to create a personalized and efficient note system that enhances learning and study.

Takeaways

• 📚 Note-taking is subject-specific and requires adaptation based on the course material.
• 🔬 For chemistry, pre-lecture reading and highlighting key concepts is crucial for understanding complex topics.
• 🧪 In chemistry, creating a fact sheet for quick reference and annotating problems as examples can enhance learning.
• 🌿 Biology notes benefit from annotating diagrams and condensing information for better retention.
• 📈 Math notes should include detailed step-by-step explanations and logical understanding over memorization.
• 📘 Humanities require condensing extensive content into main ideas and supporting details for effective studying.
• 🏛️ Language courses should focus on foundational material, using tables for grammar and vocabulary lists for reference.
• 💼 Business courses combine elements of various subjects, necessitating a blend of note-taking strategies like annotation and condensation.
• ✏️ Writing in words alongside mathematical examples helps in understanding concepts logically rather than just numerically.
• 🖌️ Use of color and personal learning style adaptations are encouraged to make note-taking more effective.
• 📝 Note-taking is about condensing, organizing, and personalizing information for effective learning and review.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video?

The main focus of the video is to share strategies for effective note-taking in various subjects, tailored to different academic fields such as chemistry, biology, math, humanities, and business.

Why is highlighting important before attending a chemistry lecture according to the speaker?

Highlighting is important because it forces the brain to comprehend the information, giving a rough idea of the main ideas and making the lecture more comprehensible.

What does the speaker suggest for note-taking in chemistry?

The speaker suggests reading through the content and highlighting main ideas before the lecture, annotating during the lecture, and maintaining a fact sheet for quick reference.

How does the speaker handle note-taking for biology?

For biology, the speaker annotates PDFs or slides, emphasizes annotating diagrams, and condenses information to capture the essence of the lecture.

What is the speaker's approach to note-taking in math?

The speaker advises writing everything down from the board, using examples, highlighting key ideas, and explaining concepts with text to ensure a logical understanding of the material.

Why is condensing information crucial for humanities according to the video?

Condensing information is crucial in humanities because these subjects are content-heavy, and it helps to separate relevant from irrelevant information, making notes more manageable and focused.

How should one adapt their note-taking strategies for language courses?

For language courses, one should keep notes simple, focusing on grammar rules in tables, and maintaining a vocabulary list for easy reference and memorization.

What is the speaker's tip for note-taking in business courses?

In business courses, the speaker recommends annotating diagrams and charts, writing every step for numerical subjects, and condensing notes with main ideas and supporting details for content-heavy courses.

Why is it important to adapt note-taking strategies to different subjects?

It is important to adapt note-taking strategies to different subjects because each subject has unique requirements and complexities, and tailoring note-taking methods can enhance understanding and retention of the material.

What does the speaker suggest for students who are not using course notes?

If students are not using course notes, the speaker suggests they can replace the reference with their textbook or the slides provided by their professor.

How does the speaker feel about using an iPad for note-taking?

The speaker personally prefers not to use an iPad for note-taking due to the texture of the stylus on the screen and the unappealing appearance of their writing, but acknowledges that it works well for others.