What is an effective way to take notes during a lecture?

Paraphrasing key ideas and concepts during a lecture allows you to actively engage with the material being presented. This approach helps reinforce your understanding and retention of the content, as you process the information in your own words rather than passively transcribing everything that is said. By focusing on the main points, essential arguments, and critical concepts, you can create a more meaningful and organized set of notes that facilitates further review and study.

Writing down every word spoken can lead to missed conceptual understanding, as it often results in a focus on transcription rather than comprehension. Using technology to record lectures without listening does not promote active learning and may lead to a lack of engagement with the subject matter. Taking notes after the lecture ends fails to provide the benefits of real-time processing and integration of information while it is being presented. This means the opportunity to ask questions and seek clarification during the lecture is lost. Paraphrasing effectively strikes a balance between noting important information and enabling a deeper grasp of the material.