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43Folders.com is Merlin Mann’s website about finding the time and attention to do your best creative work.

Note Taking Tips?

I'm in my first year of university and trying desperately to come up with the best way to take notes on my mac...

I've been looking into notae and yojimbo (I like the tagging features alot, but dislike that I can't put in pictures and such) but have heard good things about journler and devonthink.

The problem with Notae (which I used today) is everything is in SQL databases which is going to make it difficult. Plus most of these apps REQUIRE you to make a new database file rather than a bunch of text files which it will database and collect, etc. I've also heard wiki's are a great way to take notes but have no clue how to do so on my mac.

So please, if you have any suggestions I'd love to hear them. I'm sure there are many like me who also would love to know any suggestions for great apps for us Univeristy kids.

Lethe's picture

Shortcuts

The point is not to come up with the perfect set of notes but to learn the stuff. There are several shortcuts. The best one I know is to make friends with someone in the year above and photocopy all their notes on the course. Or print out any web-based notes. Most lecturers don't change the course much from year to year.

Before each lecture, read through last year's notes. Then, during the lecture, do whatever helps you learn and retain more: annotate your copies, write new notes or simply listen. Stick to paper and pen/pencil. Always date your notes and file them as soon as you get home.

There's no point in recording the lecture. You go to an hour's lecture to distil an hour of someone talking into notes you can read in a few minutes. If you record the lecture, it'll still take you an hour to listen to it again.

If the lecture is really so complex that you can't note down enough in the time, even with last year's notes to help, then make the best notes you can and find a book to study from instead.

If you really want to save time (and attendance isn't compulsory), skip lectures altogether. Borrow and copy someone else's notes and study from books. It's far more efficient. I speak from experience here.

 
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