Taking Notes Isn’t Learning

by Sanjana Kulkarni and Justin Skycak on

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You think that taking detailed notes in class means you’re actually learning? Think again.

See, learning doesn’t happen when you listen to a teacher and just copy down what they’re saying or just nod along and look studious. No, learning happens when you pull information from memory.

That is what strengthens your knowledge: Retrieving information from your brain and bringing it out to the outside.

And I mean, yeah, it’s gotta get inside your brain first, but if you just let it sit there without trying to exercise retrieving it from your brain to, to bring it out, then it’s just gonna kinda decay and dissipate and you’re just gonna forget it.

It’s use it or lose it, right? Everybody knows that, but few people want to actually put it into practice.

It’s the solving problems. That is where the learning happens.

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Further reading: Why I Recommend Students NOT Take Notes .



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