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Two responses, as the context differs dramatically. For coursework, I would take notes. At the end of the day, I would reread the notes and complete them. Completing them means correcting errors, filling in details from examples, and using assignments and course material embellish the notes. Embellishment means adding notes of personal interest from other course material, and also adding examples from problem sets. My notes were my source of truth, and I kept them in good order. For exams and future coursework, I would only use my notes since they were complete. In my professional life, I consume a lot of material but do not take notes. I find that there are two important aspects to learning. The first is high exposure to material. Being able to put a name or provenance to an idea is helpful in finding my way back there again. The second, which is similar to what nickjj mentions in a comment above, is to close the loop. To wit, my engagement with material is to find aspects for which I can test it outside of the scope presented or examine in in contrast to another idea. By engaging with the idea, I am able to come to an understanding of its verisimilitude and utility to me. In the later, I do not take notes while attending lectures and reading. However I maintain complete lab notes for my work. Lab notes include random thoughts, references, uri:'s of data sets, links to papers and wikipedia articles. The lab notes are written for me, and are mostly in chronological order. By the contain as thorough an appendix as I have the patience to maintain. |