So now that I am once again a full-time student, I've had to go to classes. I know, it's surprising. And even more surprising, now that I'm going to classes, I'm having to take notes! Can you believe it?!
The tough thing is...I've found that in my two-year absence from the Academy, my note taking skills have severely diminished. So, since I feel like I'm almost starting from scratch anyway, I've been trying to experiment with different note-taking methods. (Mostly deciding whether I prefer the old, and reliable handwritten notebook method, or the more cutting-edge, computer-aided method.)
So far, the good, old notebook has been my preferred method, even though I'm not able to write quickly enough to keep up as well as I would like (sometimes I really wish I learned shorthand). But, as I'm beginning to recall, there is an art to handwritten notes--making elegant summaries and highlighting only the key facts.
The computer offers several alternative methods. There's the standard electronic parallel to the handwritten notebook by simply typing notes up in Word (or in my case, OpenOffice). But I've also found that a Wiki-like note taking scheme can be useful. (You could actually use a Wiki for this, but I've been using the most excellent Tomboy, which is, unfortunately for all you poor proprietary slobs out there, only for Linux.) The Wiki method is interesting because if allows for links to be made automatically between different subjects and courses. Say, for instance, you're writing notes in a theology course about the Christology spelled out by the Chalcedonian Creed. Well, Tomboy could then make a link back to your church history notes about the Council of Chalcedon.
Anyway, my main question here is--what is/was your preferred note-taking method. Any trade secrets you wouldn't mind sharing? Lend a poor student a hand!
