Writing Notes- Waste or time or not?

[horizon]

For subjects like chemistry, biology and physics, do you think writing notes is a waste or time or not?

As students, we probably all receive a whole stack of notes from teachers, schools etc, so is it actually worth the trouble rewriting these notes in your own words or summarising them so that they are all together?

For memorising stuff, I'm really pedantic, and I prefer my notes to be set out in a logical order before memorising the information...
However, I sometimes feel as though I'm wasting time rewriting the notes.

How would you recommend to best use your time?

[yearningforsimplicity]

Writing (or more preferably typing) notes isn't a waste of time - I think it helps to write certain concepts or information in your own words and it also makes it easier to memorise in the long term. I always made my own notes - but maybe for your subjects, it'd be different?

Re-writing notes isn't really that efficient I think, probably best to read them out loud and sort of verbally rehearse the information to yourself

[chimpy400]

Writing notes is always helpful, just don't spend too much time on it and try to make sure you write the notes as you are progressing through the coursework. So that by the time you start studying for exams you already have a comprehensive set of notes and can focus more on technique and understanding.

Also re-writing notes in my opinion is a waste of time, reading it out loud or using the 'teach the dog' method is more effective imo.

[paulsterio]

I've never been fond of writing notes, but ever since doing Biology, I've found that it helps. I didn't write notes for VCE though

[oliverk94]

I've never been fond of writing notes, but ever since doing Biology, I've found that it helps. I didn't write notes for VCE though

My god! How?! Are you some kind of genius who remembers the textbook of by heart? LOL.

[ggxoxo]

There are times when writing notes is appropriate and other times when it's not useful...

[oliverk94]

There are times when writing notes is appropriate and other times when it's not useful...

I guess everyone's different.. I find it easier to revise off the notes I've written then simply going over the textbook

[horizon]

Next question: Type or write?

[Planck's constant]

There are times when writing notes is appropriate and other times when it's not useful...

I guess everyone's different.. I find it easier to revise off the notes I've written then simply going over the textbook

Yes, it is always better to do what you are doing and sometimes it is necessary, because the textbooks are not all that good.
An example would be way the Particle Model of Light and Wave Model of Matter are presented in the Jacaranda text.
Although all the material is more or less there, not everything is explained clearly and in a logical order.
It is a struggle to follow the logic even after a couple of readings.
But after you have things explained in class and you have done a few problems and thought about things for a while, the penny drops and things start to make sense. Even the textbook starts to make sense
This is a good time to write your notes and record your thoughts.