Why You Forget What You've Learned & 5 Tips to Help You Retain the Information
Unless you have a photographic memory, remembering information taught to you can be complicated.
This applies to most people in a classroom, learning a new skill, on the job training, or when reading a book. We compensate by going back to the source. Assuming we use the information, we'll finally retain it.
What if we can't go back to the source?
Take notes…
Let's say you're training on the job. The process you're learning only needs to be done once or maybe twice a year. Now your trainer is retired and you're the only one who was trained on this process. Guess what, you didn't take any notes at the time. You're now left with nothing to fall back on. Just your memory of something you learned a year ago, and never needed to use it since you learned it.
You're shit out of luck.
What can we do to prevent this from being an issue? As I learn something new, I take notes. That's the first step to making sure you're not left in the above situation. While going through the process of learning and taking my notes, I make sure to ask questions, especially if I'm unsure about something. Once my notes are complete, I review them and rewrite to make sure they are coherent and legible. If it's a repeatable process, I might write them up as a "How to", so I can share them. If questions still come to mind, I'll follow up with the source. Then, assuming the source is a trainer, I might have them review them for accuracy.
Studies have found that taking notes on anything will help you remember more on the first pass. If you are putting the information into your own words, instead of transcribing, the amount of information you remember increases.
Anytime I've trained any group or person, I can get a good idea as to who will come back with questions.
As a professional in the Information Technology field, there are often times where I'm asked to train someone in one task or another. It happens quite often in the IT field. I've taken note over the years that almost everyone who hasn't taken notes during any training session, will come back with questions, or how to do the process again. Often times they'll come back over and over again for that same information. This is unfortunately even when documentation on every step of the procedure has been provided.
Some people are just lazy and don't like taking notes. Many of them will also avoid looking at provided documentation. It's just easier to ask for it again and again, becoming a burden other than an asset.
Don't be one of the LAZY ONES!
Take the time to learn and understand the information. This will help you build not just the skill, but your ability to write and take notes.
I didn't quite understand the importance of notetaking myself until after I graduated from high school. I leaned on provided notes and documentation from my teachers. This lead to me not being very good at taking notes. I would find myself copying word for word what my teachers would say, slowly falling behind on the subject matter. I figured if I used my teachers' own words, I would not be able to have the information wrong, but going word for word would also cause me to miss things. In fear of missing more, I would just try to listen, and only write what the teacher wrote on the board or overhead projector.
There were concepts of truth in my thoughts at the time. I just didn't know how to execute.
What really are the best ways to take notes?
Here are 5 tips that helped me improve my own note taking skills.
Use a Structured Method
The Cornel Method - Divide the page into three sections—one for main notes, another for key points and questions, and a summary at the bottom.
Outline Method - Organize notes hierarchically with bullet points and sub-points.
Mind Mapping - Ideal for visual learners, connecting ideas using diagrams.
Summarize & Use Your Own Words
Avoid writing verbatim, instead rephrase the concepts and information into your own words to enhance understanding.
Capture key ideas rather than every detail. Focus on what's most important.
Highlight & Use Symbols for Quick Reference
Use Bold, Italics, Underlining, or Highlighters to emphasize key terms.
Develop personal symbols: "?" for Questions, "→"for Cause and Effect, "*" for Important Points
Review & Revise Notes Regularly
Right after a lecture or reading, review your notes and fill in any gaps while the information is still fresh.
Rewrite, or condense them into a clearer version to reinforce learning.
Make Notes Actionable & Engaging
Add questions to test yourself later.
Relate new notes to prior knowledge to strengthen memory.
Jot down key takeaways, personal insights, and actions to apply.
These are key tips that have helped to take better notes when I'm listening, reading, or attending a lecture. As you can see from my stories above, I needed to learn and practice myself to improve. We all do.
If you find yourself unsure where to really start, my best suggestion is to follow these key points.
Do your best to quickly summarize in your own words
Abbreviate when needed at the time of writing
Review directly after to clarify anything for future you.
Rewrite if needed
I have found these key quick points more than the others on my list to be the most beneficial in the shortest amount of time. These have been one of the pillars to my ability to learn and improve in my career in IT.
It's a skill that builds others skills more quickly.
Go on and take what you're learned and make a better version of you. I hope you were taking notes along the way.
