As a student I have always struggled to learn and understand better and this books has enlightened me about the one thing that I urgently needed help with- “Note Taking”
This book is all about making things simpler. It’s not about undoing what you have done before but changing the way of working from now on. Ahrens argues that note taking begins before you have even picked up the pen and represents a preceded performance, namely learning, understanding and the ability to analyse the text critically .By writing, we demonstrate what we have understood and made sense of the text that we have read and can develop ideas with all that knowledge.
The book basically gives a brief history of note taking , why it’s so important and urgent for us all to learn, what are the different ways and what way works the best.
The idea of a slip box is definitely the one that works. It helps build a web of knowledge, retrieve the right memory when needed, find connections among topics and develop ideas,arguments, and discussions efficiently.
The idea of not just copying what you read, making a transition from one context to the other using different words that fit a different context but strive to keep the original message, made a lot of sense to me. The author asserts
that it is independent research that prepares you for studying. The more lectures you attend, the more reading you do, the more content you consume enriches your knowledge and helps distinguish good sounding arguments from the actually good ones. Writing helps externalise your ideas .
Making different types of notes and understanding their importance can help save time and make one a better learner.
These types of notes are:
- Fleeting notes: Used to capture ideas that pop up in your mind while reading a text, they are temporary notes . Reminder of information.
- Literature notes: using your own words and thoughts to contextualise theming that you read. Contain more details, are self explanatory
- Permanent notes: help develop ideas , arguments and discussions in. Understandable ways, has potential to become part of the final written piece.
- Project notes: relevant to the topic and kept within a project specific folder.
Compiling all permanent notes together, developing topics, questions, research help translate that information into a manuscript. And all that is left now to do is editing and proofreading.
All of these steps require different types of effort and intention. But writing is not a step-by step process. One keeps on moving back and forth with the information he is collecting to make better sense of things and that is what makes your mind grow.
Learning is an essential part of life and even if things that you come across by accident are a contribution to your future understanding and thinking. Therefore it becomes important to store that information in a system called- slip box.
A Slip box is designed to present you with ideas that you have forgotten and focuses on thinking more than remembering. Note- taking is not just about what to write but also what not to write, so thinking in abstract terms is an important skill that must be developed.
Favourite quotes :
- Nothing motivates us more than the experience of becoming better at what we do.
- Doing something multiple times makes us feel as if we are good at it. We confuse familiarity with skill.
- Not only undivided, but the right kind of attention is required.
- We must separate author from critic.
- The key to creativity’s balance between a playful, open mind and a normal analytical framework
- The moment we stop making plans, we start to learn.
- The very thing academia and writing is all about is gaining insight and making it public.
- Letting thoughts linger without focusing on them helps deal with problems in a different, often surprisingly productive way e.g. thinking in the shower.
- Having the courage to use your own understanding is therefore the motto of enlightenment.
- Most important advantage of writing is that it helps us to confront ourselves when we don’t understand something. We would like to believe.
- Make sense of the things we learn and encounter.
Actionable takeaways:
- Writing a paper: Reading+ Understanding + Reflecting+ getting ideas+ Making connections+ Distinguishing terms +Finding right words+ Structuring and organising+ Editing, Correcting and Rewriting.
- Once we make a meaningful connection to an idea or fact, it’s difficult not to remember it .
- Step 1: Break down the task of writing into smaller pieces of different tasks that can be finished in one go.
- Step 2: Write down the outcome of thinking and make connections.
- With practice you can develop the ability to find words to express things in the best possible ways, simple terms and not simplified.