During the learning process, it is important that we are able to engage all of our sense. We need to create sensory and mental impressions that can be implanted deeper into our memory bank. We are all aware about the sensations we feel when we hear fingernails scratched on the chalkboard and the smell of freshly baked chocolate cookies. During the learning session, we should make sure that we are able to remember these sensory impressions. They contain a large amount non-verbal information that we remember for a long period of time. Students should be really adept in creating such sensory images in their mind. This can make a huge difference when you get to the college. You will be able to understand and memorize information much more easily. One of the best ways to create physical and mental images is by performing effective note taking actions. When we do this, we use 3 of our 5 senses, allowing us to remember information relatively quickly. During a note taking session, we use our sense of hearing to pick up verbal information.
We use our sight to coordinate our fingers and hands to write the proper information on a piece of paper or to type with the computer keyboard. By using all three senses, our learning capability will be enhanced significantly. It is also the time when we are likely in a proper learning environment. We surround ourselves with recorded audio messages, textbook reading material and other learning sources. People who take note effectively will be able to master the content. We should know what need to be written down on our notebook. We should know what’s important, so we could choose what we write or type. It is important for students to cultivate the right kind of studying habit. When students flip through the learning material, they should be able to notice the most important piece of information. We should also be able to understand graphs and charts easily. The book writers want us to pay attention specific sections of the book. The key information should provide clear explanation, compared to regular sentences or paragraphs in the book.
The note taking session could also be based on verbal information. Compared to taking notes from written material, students should listen to the inflections and tones of the speaker’s voice. The teacher should be effective enough in giving the right kind of emphasis and students will know information that’s the most relevant. After we have completed the note taking session, it is important to review our notebook regularly. It is a good idea to repeat the note taking sessions, if we still can’t fully grasp a specific topic.
When reviewing the notebook, students should read out loud and discuss it with fellow students in the study group. Students should be able to listen when a student reads his notebook, so they make comparison with their own. It is possible that they are missing a few details in their own notebook, so by the listening session, we should be able to get a more complete perspective of a specific topic.