It’s a big learning day at The Expo. The General Session kicks things off, followed by a full lineup of breakout sessions. With so many conversations unfolding, you don’t want any of the insight to slip away. That’s where notetaking comes in.
While there’s no single “right” way to take notes, sticking to a consistent style from session to session makes it easier to capture insights. In this issue of PromoPro Daily, we highlight a post from the Coursera blog that breaks down some of the most effective notetaking methods. Give it a read and get ready to make the most of a day packed with learning.
- Sentence method. Also called the list method, this is a simple notetaking strategy that involves recording every thought or sentence on a new line without pausing to organize or prioritize any information. According to the Coursera post, it’s helpful when you want to keep up during a fast-paced presentation.
- Outlining method. This notetaking method involves creating an outline of a presentation’s important points using numbers, letters and indentation to show information hierarchies. The Coursera post says it’s great to help you quickly understand how information is related. It’s also easy to review and make sense of later.
- Charting method. Are you more of a visual learner? This might be the best option for you. The post explains that this method requires you to visually organize your notes in a chart. For example, you might list supplier names or product categories down the left-hand column, with headings across the top such as “key products” or “use cases.” As the session unfolds, you can quickly fill in each box with details you’ll want to reference later.
- Mapping method. The Coursera post says that this method provides a visual representation of how the material relates. It starts with a central idea in the middle of the page. You then write related ideas in smaller circles around the main idea, connected with lines.
- Flow-based method. This notetaking system focuses on visually connecting ideas as they unfold. You write down points of information from the session in your own words and then connect them visually with arrows. The post says it’s similar to the sentence or list method. But instead of moving down the page line by line, you draw connections in a visual way.
Whether you prefer a structured system like outlining or something looser like flow-based notes, it really comes down to what clicks for you. The key is paying attention to why you’re taking notes. When your notes help you focus on what matters and come back to the important stuff later, your sessions don’t just feel productive but can help drive results after the show.
Compiled by Audrey Sellers
Source: A blog post from Coursera’s editorial team, which includes editors, writers and fact checkers.
