Taking notes using digital devices or choosing the best note-taking method can be sometimes difficult. The best technique choice usually depends on the overall goal of a meeting at work. It can be a brainstorming session, educational or training meeting, interview, etc. According to Stacy and Cain (2015), because notes help to establish cognitive links between different concepts, they are effective for retaining and retrieving important information. Therefore, dwelling upon these 5 best strategies will help to explain how to take notes at work effectively.

Outlining as a Method to Take Notes at a Meeting

Although outlining seems too simple, but when you do not know the goal of the work meeting, it can be the best choice. Its hierarchicl structure can be useful to recall events, facts, chronological order, cause and effect, etc.

Use it to take notes of important points:

• at a one-on-one meeting,
• for work planning,
• training,
• writing down facts, answers, issues, etc.

How to Take Notes at Work Using Sketchnotes

During brainstorming sessions, when there is a need to generate different solutions or ideas, sketchnotes can be effective. It is a visual note-taking technique that can be useful to show cause and effect, connection between different concepts or notions, among other things.

Use it to take visual notes:

• at a brainstorming session,
• for spacial information presentation (in comparison to linear, as in the case of an outline),
• to draw important elements of an action plan,
• for the creation of a mind or concept map with arrows.

For making a sketchnote, use different elements like arrows, shapes, text emphasis, containers, etc.

Cornell Notes for Educational or Training Sessions, Workshops, Conferences

Take Cornell notes to write down questions, cues, or keywords in the left colum and main points in the right one. Overall, put the date and topic at the top and divide the paper in 2 columns below.

Cornell notes can be the best choice for:

• training sessions,
• workshops,
• educational sessions,
• finding solutions to questions, issues, challenges, etc.

Verbatim Split Method

The Verbatim Split Page Procedure is similar to Cornell notes in the way of dividing the page into 2 parts. However, in this case, it is necessary to include brief or verbatim notes in the left column (40 percent of the page) and add expanded notes in the right column (60 percent of the page) with additional explnations of concepts or main points.

This strategy is also useful in case of taking notes during workshops , training, or educational sessions. You can also develop a detailed plan of action, presenting steps in the left column and all necessary details in the right one, including stakeholders, finances, resources for implementation, etc.

Boxing Method

The boxing method involves grouping ideas into boxes based on one specific topic for each box.

It is good for:

• Grouping alternative solutions or different plans of action into separate boxes;
• Brainstorming with details for each idea as a box topic;
• Visual learning.

The method is similiar to sketchnoting in the way that it uses boxes as containers for visual representtion of information. It has several advantages, one of which is that it can be useful for taking notes using digital apps. Another one is that all main topics or ideas are easily identified. It make it easy to retrieve and recall the main points of the meeting.

Overall, choose the method based on the situation or goal of the meeting, workshop, brainstorming session, etc. You can use either linear (outlining) or spacial (mapping, sketchnoting, etc.) representation, or both.

Reference

Stacy, E. M., & Cain, J. (2015). Note-taking and handouts in the digital age. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 79(7), 107. https://dx.doi.org/10.5688%2Fajpe797107