Use AI To Take Notes Without Typing! 📝
Learn the most effective note-taking method + how to use ChatGPT to automate it!
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Today at a glance:
At the end of this article you will know different note-taking methods to help you take better notes and learn faster.
The methods included are:
Cornell Note-Taking Method
Progressive Summarization by Tiago Forte
Outline Method
Boxing Method
Synthetic Notes.
Each method has specific use cases and quick tips to make the note-taking process easier.
And, I will share a cool automation idea to leverage the power of AI to take notes without typing!
A Framework:
As a Productivity Nerd 🤓 and avid learner, I take a 30-minute course every single morning on different topics and platforms, according to what my life and business needs. This is the future of education and I highly recommend this habit to everyone!
I have been exploring various note-taking methods to optimize my learning process. To my delight, there are many note-taking templates in the Official Notion Template Gallery. In fact, I recently submitted one myself, and it was accepted! (I'll talk more about it at the end of this article.)
That's why it is valuable to explain the best note-taking methods out there. By doing so, you can unleash the full potential of any note-taking app or Notion templates you use.
Firstly, it's important to remember that not all note-taking methods are created equal. You need to know when to use each one of them to maximize their effectiveness.
So let´s get into it:
🎓 Cornell Note-Taking Method
It is a simple yet effective system that involves dividing your note-taking page into three sections: a section for the main notes, a section for cues or questions, and a summary section. By doing so, you not only capture the information but also create a reference system that helps you review and remember the information more effectively.
When to use it:
Use this when you need to quickly summarize and review important information from lectures, meetings, or other sources.
A Quick Tip:
After the lecture or reading, write a brief summary of the main points in the "summary" area at the bottom of the page.
📝 Progressive Summarization by Tiago Forte
This method involves gradually summarizing information to make it easier to digest and remember. To use this method, start by taking comprehensive notes and then highlight or bold the most important points. Then, go back and summarize the highlighted parts in a shorter paragraph. Keep repeating this process until you have a condensed version that captures the most essential information.
When to use it:
Use this when you want to consolidate and refine your notes over time, gradually distilling them down to their most essential elements.
A Quick Tip:
Do not forget that the third layer underlines only the most essential information.
📑 Outline Method
This one involves creating a hierarchical structure for your notes. Start with the main topic and then create sub-topics and sub-sub-topics. This method is ideal for organizing complex information and making it easier to review and remember.
When to use it:
Use this when you need to organize information in a hierarchical or structured manner, making it easier to follow and review.
A Quick Tip:
Leave space between topics to add additional information or make connections later.
📦 Boxing Method
It involves drawing a box around important pieces of information. This helps to separate it from other less important information and makes it easier to spot and remember.
When to use it:
Use this when you need to visually separate and categorize different types of information, such as important points, definitions, or examples.
A Quick Tip:
Use arrows or lines to connect related ideas or concepts.
🔍 Synthetic Notes
This system involves summarizing information in your own words and using visuals such as diagrams and mind maps. This method encourages active learning and helps to identify connections and patterns between different pieces of information.
When to use it:
Use this when you want to synthesize and integrate multiple sources of information into a cohesive whole, helping you to better understand and retain complex topics.
A Quick Tip:
Be selective about what you include in your notes and focus on the most important information.
Taking better notes can be a game-changer when it comes to learning and retaining!
By using effective note-taking systems such as the ones we've learned here, you can improve your note-taking skills and accelerate your learning.
Give these methods a try and see how they can transform the way you take notes and learn.
An Automation Idea:
↓ Trigger. Record a voice memo and upload it to a predefined folder in Google Drive or Dropbox (This works with any audio file)
↓ Transcription. The audio file is automatically sent to Whisper AI and this generates a transcript
↓ Summarize. The automation leverages the power of ChatGPT + the transcript recently generated to create a summary, potential arguments against, generate new ideas, or even action items related to the note.
↓ Store. All the stuff generated by ChatGPT will be sent to a new page in Notion
This way you will upload your knowledge to your Digital Brain in Notion, without typing!
Do you want me to build this for you?
I am a Business Automation consultant spending most of my time with my trusted squad: ChatGPT, Notion, Make, Zapier, Airtable, Slack & Google Suite.
Together we can achieve almost anything - I haven't found many problems we cannot solve... you name it.
Feel free to drop me a reply to this email if:
You want me to build this automation workflow for you
You would like to explore how I can help you to simplify your business workflows with any other AI automation idea
You are an automation expert yourself, and want to collaborate!
You just want to talk about anything and everything in the no-code & automation world!
Super useful post, thank you! After exams, I am definitely going to try some of these to take notes of what I read in books! Thanks for the valuable insights! :)