How to Take Math Notes Using the Cornell Method

Do your math notes look like this?  Have you been looking for a more organized, and efficient method for taking math notes, which would be helpful in studying for exams?  Welcome to the Cornell Method, a comprehensive note-taking tool.  Developed by Walter Pauk, an education professor at Cornell University, this system of note-taking requires that you reduce and summarize notes taken in lecture, so that studying is a breeze!  To begin, you must divide your paper into three sections: the note taking column, the cue column, and the summary column.  Please look at the attached powerpoint I made for a full guide on what to do (Cornell Notes).  The next steps require that you follow the 5 R’s: Record, Reduce, Recite, Reflect, and Review.  Here is an example of math notes taken, with the note taking area (done during class), and the cue column (done at home within 24 hours) filled in.  Notice how the cue column (left side) resembles an “index” of the notes that were taken during lecture (right side).

The summary column is a 3-sentence summary of the notes.  Just think of it as a “tweet,” or recap of the lesson.  Here, you can show off what you’ve learned in only a few sentences.  Cornell note-taking is not math-specific: it can be used for any subject–from history to psychology.   Not only is this technique designed to help you organize your notes better; it also demands that you simplify and review your notes everyday, so that you are not cramming when studying for exams.  Try it out!

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