Note restructuring

Using your notes actively
Using your notes in an active way helps you to learn effectively.  It is known that simply re-reading, highlighting or copying out notes is not particularly effective.  
Think about ways of organising material into a meaningful structure.  Think about inter-relationships between parts of the course.  Look for points for and against an argument.  Try to relate what you are learning to examples or case studies or real-life situations.  
Writing answers in response to questions you pose for yourself is a good way to test your comprehension of your notes.
Group and label or tag your notes so you can find them easily.
Making summaries
Constructing summaries under test conditions in the absence of the original text is a really effective way to learn.  This is because test-like conditions force you to think back and recall material.
Your summaries can take the form of a written paragraph, a diagram with annotations or a concept map.  You can compare and contrast ideas, models or points of view on a grid or table.  You can record a five-minute talk bringing together the main points.
The format doesn’t matter much as the critical factor is practising retrieval.  However, varying the format can help to make sudying more interesting.
Concept or mind mapping is also a good visual way of making connections to form a big picture.  Grids are good for comparing ideas, views and models.  Short summaries can be made on record cards.
A method for using lecture slide notes more actively
You will have access to slides, slide notes or a lecture outline for most lectures on your course.  This is a method for using those lecture-based resources.
1.	Firstly, pick one lecture.  Summarise the main point of the lecture in 30 words or less – as if explaining to someone else.
2.	Pick out one key detail from the lecture and write for five minutes without stopping or checking the lecture slides.
3.	Repeat this process for other key details in the lecture.  (You need only do this for selected key ideas, points, examples or concepts which you feel are the most important.)
4.	Finally, check your summaries for gaps in your understanding.  
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