From Note-Taking to Note-Making: How to Improve Learning and Accelerate Expertise

Kazuki

Hatched by Kazuki

Jul 18, 2023

4 min read

1

From Note-Taking to Note-Making: How to Improve Learning and Accelerate Expertise

Note-taking has long been considered a crucial aspect of learning. Whether in lectures or while reading, note-taking allows us to capture important information for later reference. However, recent research suggests that simply taking notes may not be enough to enhance our understanding and retention of knowledge. Instead, note-making, a more deliberate and active process, may be the key to becoming an expert in any field.

The Cornell method, free-flow notes, outlining, and guided notes provided by teachers have all been popular approaches to note-taking. However, studies have shown that there is no significant difference in student performance between these methods. It seems that the act of quickly capturing content for later reference is the primary goal of note-taking.

On the other hand, note-making involves a more intentional and thoughtful approach. It is often done while reading, where we actively engage with the material and craft our own version of the information in our own words. This process not only helps us understand the content better but also aids in memory retention.

The generation effect, which explains that actively creating information from our own minds enhances memory, supports the effectiveness of note-making. When we rephrase, connect ideas, and question the material while making notes, we are more likely to remember and understand the concepts.

To shift from passive collection to active creation, it is important to rephrase the original ideas using our own language instead of relying on the author's or teacher's language. This Feynman's Technique allows us to distill complex ideas into simpler terms that we can easily comprehend and remember.

Furthermore, note-making involves connecting ideas together. Memories are rarely formed in isolation, and building upon existing ideas is crucial for deep understanding. Our notes should be living documents that we can revisit, review, and revise over time. This process of back-linking and revisiting helps solidify our understanding and facilitates the formation of a more comprehensive knowledge base.

In ill-structured domains, where concepts are instantiated in highly variable and messy ways, note-making becomes even more important. Concept instantiation refers to the application of concepts in the real world, and in such domains, it can be challenging to reason from first principles. Experts in these domains rely on comparing previous cases rather than relying on fixed principles.

Cognitive Flexibility Theory (CFT) tackles the challenges of ill-structured domains by emphasizing the importance of cases and the construction of temporary schemas. Experts in these domains combine fragments of previous cases to form a temporary schema on the fly. They also possess an adaptive worldview, which means they do not rely on one framework or model but instead have a collection of prototypes that they can assemble fragments from.

To apply the principles of CFT in our own learning, we can utilize a hypertextual note-taking system. This system allows us to link concepts to specific cases and backlink to other related notes. By storing each case and highlighting concepts, we can create a network of interconnected ideas that helps us understand the subject from multiple perspectives.

To accelerate expertise and promote adaptive worldview change, a four-stage model can be implemented. This model involves demonstrating to learners their reductive worldview, showing them the limitations of this worldview, introducing the adaptive worldview, and providing activities for mastering it.

To construct a CFT hypertext system for ourselves, we can choose a note-taking app with backlinking capabilities. By copying cases into the app and marking up passages with concepts or case features, we can create a library of interconnected fragments. It is important to seek out diverse cases that differ from our existing ones and continue expanding our collection until we reach diminishing returns.

In conclusion, note-making offers a more effective approach to learning and accelerating expertise. By actively engaging with the material, rephrasing ideas, connecting concepts, and utilizing a hypertextual note-taking system, we can enhance our understanding, retention, and application of knowledge. To become experts in ill-structured domains, it is essential to prioritize cases and construct temporary schemas that allow for adaptive worldview change. With the right mindset and tools, we can transform our note-taking process into a powerful tool for learning and growth.

Actionable Advice:

  • 1. Incorporate active engagement in your note-making process by rephrasing ideas in your own words and connecting them to existing knowledge.
  • 2. Utilize a hypertextual note-taking system that allows for backlinking and interconnecting concepts to create a comprehensive knowledge network.
  • 3. Continuously seek out diverse cases and fragment them to expand your collection and enhance your understanding of ill-structured domains.
Kazuki
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