How I sketchnote during lectures
What to do:
Symbols, symbols, symbols. I think the main advantage of sketchnoting is being able to use an image in place of words. Arrows are your best friend. Use it to connect ideas to each other - helps make those prized neural connections that makes things easier to remember. Other symbols I use are checkmarks and x’s (usually to denote pros/cons), “scroll boxes” for history/documentation, “lined paper boxes” for case studies, and checkboxes. There are limitless possibilities.
Colours can help a lot! Try not to use too many colours, but black + red, red + blue, black + any other dark colour are good, simple combinations that require you to not have to keep capping and uncapping pens.
Arrange information differently. Don’t follow the standard line-by-line neat note-taking. Box out information to help with readability. Timelines can be sideways.
Personalize it. This goes whether or not you’re sketchnoting or taking notes yourself. I box out information, draw pictures instead of words, use colour coding only I understand, and take down things I know are either important or something I will have trouble forgetting. Everyone attends the same lecture but produces very different notes. Make it work for your brain.
What NOT to do
Spend 5 goddamn minutes sketching something else instead of taking notes down. If you’ve seen my sketchnotes, there are some detailed drawings in there that don’t have to be there. Drawing between breaks is fine, but it’s far more important to get down information.
Write down slides that will be put up later. Make notes yours, and add to them with posted notes online later. Rather than write down everything word-for-word, take down key pieces.
Use 20+ different colours. I love my Staedtler 20-colour fineliner pack and I like to switch between colours, but it’s far too time-consuming and messy once you move beyond 3 colours. Keep it simple!
Worry about your art. It doesn’t have to look good as long as you understand it. Keep it rough, you’re not producing something for a gallery.
How do I know sketchnoting is for me?
I’m a really visual person. My study materials are full of diagrams and information arranged in a logical and visually pleasing way. How the information is presented can really affect how effectively I can study it. I write my notes like a canvas to arrange information in such a way I understand it.
I’m artistic. You don’t need to be artistic in any way to sketchnote, but drawing for me is a viable learning tool and also can be very therapeutic.
I’ve been told it can increase attention and my academic advisors have commented that it seems to work really well for me. What I would suggest is if you enjoy doodling in lecture, give sketchnoting a try. Take notes in it and test your retention of information. It’s okay if it doesn’t work - it can also be time-consuming and tedious.
