How to Take Faster Notes - College Info Geek

TL;DR

Learn about shorthand writing systems and other efficient note-taking techniques to save time and reduce wrist strain.

Transcript

I want to show you something cool that I can do on my Mac here. So I get a lot of email, and for a lot of these emails, I have to type the exact same responses. But instead of typing the same words over and over and over again, I have this cool little Chrome extension called Gorgias that lets me bind templates to little keywords that I can... Read More

Key Insights

• 💌 The Gorgias extension for Chrome can be a time-saving tool for email responses, reducing the need for repetitive typing.
• 💨 Shorthand writing systems, such as Pitman and Gregg, have a long history and were once commonly used by journalists for fast and accurate note-taking.
• ⌛ Learning traditional shorthand methods like Pitman or Gregg can be time-consuming and challenging.
• 🤬 Alternatives to traditional shorthand, such as alphabetic shorthand or simplified symbol-based systems like Ford Improved Shorthand, offer easier and quicker learning options.
• 💨 Creating one's own shorthand system can be a personalized and efficient way to take notes.
• 🎵 Visual note-taking methods, like drawing diagrams or using symbols, can also help condense and simplify notes.
• 🤬 Prefixes, suffixes, and function words are good targets for shorthand or symbol-based abbreviations.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does the Gorgias extension help with email responses?

The Gorgias extension allows users to bind templates to keywords, saving time by generating pre-written responses with just a few keystrokes. This eliminates the need to type out the same words repeatedly.

Q: What are shorthand writing systems?

Shorthand writing systems are techniques that use symbols or characters to express words and phrases in a more condensed form. They were developed to facilitate faster and more efficient writing.

Q: What are the challenges of learning traditional shorthand methods like Pitman and Gregg?

Traditional shorthand methods like Pitman and Gregg are difficult to learn and require significant time and practice. They are phonetic systems, meaning the symbols represent the sounds of words rather than individual letters.

Q: What are some alternative shorthand options for easier learning?

Alphabetic shorthand systems like speedwriting or personal shorthand use the standard Latin alphabet, making it easier for beginners to learn. Another option is Ford Improved Shorthand, which can supposedly be learned within 15 minutes.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The speaker introduces a Chrome extension called Gorgias that allows for the creation of templates to save time when responding to emails.

• Shorthand writing systems, such as Pitman and Gregg, are discussed and their historical development explained.

• The speaker suggests using simpler shorthand systems, such as alphabetic shorthand or Ford Improved Shorthand, to quickly learn shorthand techniques.

• The option of creating one's own shorthand system and utilizing other visual note-taking methods is presented.