How to Make Notes Colorful

Colored notes can help you learn faster.

One of the keys to being a successful student is taking proper notes. Your notes need to include all of the information you need to know in a neat and organized way. Some students are visual learners, which means they are stimulated by visual information. If you're a visual learner, try making your notes colorful. You'll find that with colored notes, you'll be able to retain more information than usual.

Things You'll Need

• Colored pens
• Colored pencils
• Colored highlighters

Instructions

1. Write titles of topics in similar colors. Keep all of the main titles one color and the subtitles another color.

2. Compose the main body of your notes using a single color, but avoid blue or black.

3. Write information that is not part of the main body of the notes in a separate color. For example, if your teacher lists other materials you can read to find more information on the topic, write those citations in a different color.

4. Read your notes to yourself when the class is over. Use a colored highlighter to mark the most important points of the notes.

5. Underline new terms, names and concepts in a color that is different than that used for the body of the notes.

Tips & Warnings

• Purchase a pen with four different colors; this will save you time as you color-code your notes.

References

• Degrees Online; 17 Ways to Help you Take Better Notes in Class; Aug. 24, 2010
• Academic Tips; Note Taking Techniques; Nicole Watts
• Life Hack; Advice for Students: Taking Notes that Work; Dustin Wax; Sept. 7, 2010
• Great Schools: How to Take Great Notes
• Berkeley Office of Education Development; Color-coding Your Lecture Notes; 1983