56 Cornell Method Note Taking

Note taking is essential for college students as it enhances comprehension and retention of information. By actively engaging with lectures and readings, students can distill complex concepts into manageable points, making it easier to review and study later. Good notes serve as a personalized resource, allowing students to track their learning progress and clarify any misunderstandings. Moreover, effective notetaking promotes critical thinking skills, enabling students to connect ideas and synthesize information, which is crucial for success in higher education and beyond.

The Cornell Method is a popular note-taking approach that’s helpful in class while reading textbooks, and when using online resources.

This system helps students take notes, condense key ideas, and organize their study notes in one place.

The Cornell method uses a two-column approach. The left column takes up no more than a third of the page and is often referred to as the “cue” or “recall” column. The right column (about two-thirds of the page) is used for taking notes using any of the methods described above or a combination of them.

After class or completing the reading, students review their notes and write the key ideas and concepts or questions in the left column. They may also include a summary box at the bottom of the page, where they can write a summary of the class or reading in their own words. The Cornell method can include any of the methods above and provides a useful format for calling out key concepts, prioritizing ideas, and organizing review work. Most colleges recommend using some form of the Cornell method.