As a mature student, returning to education can have its challenges and developing effective note taking may be one of them. If it's some years since you've sat in a classroom or lecture hall, you can suddenly find yourself being bombarded with information that you need to remember. Getting your note taking right, early on, is essential to staying on top of your studies.

Note Taking not Every Word Taking!

It's important that you're listening to what is being said as well as making notes. If you're busy trying to write down every word said, you will find that you're actually taking in very little. Note down key words; develop a form of abbreviation that you understand. Write your notes in ways you understand, not verbatim. Abbreviation isn't scribble; many people struggle with notes that later looks more like a hen's scratchings that actual notes. While you need to write quickly develop a style that you can also read clearly.

A Picture says a Thousand Words

Some people, but not everyone, find that pictures are more helpful than words. If you are one of these people then you might find it more helpful to draw brief diagrams that help you remember information. Mind Mapping is a useful technique for taking notes, and through spider diagrams helps the note taker visually capture information in words and diagrams.

For more information on Mind Mapping see Tony Buzan's website. Mind Maps originated in the late 1960s by Tony Buzan.