Taking notes and mind maps

In short: Good notes summarise the essentials briefly and help with later revision. Mind maps present connections as branches around a central topic.

In more detail: Writing by hand often promotes understanding because you have to select and formulate.

In detail

• Bullet points instead of sentences: Keywords and abbreviations.
• Structure: Headings, numbering, indentation.
• Cornell method: Divide the page into notes, cue column and summary.
• Mind map: Central topic in the middle, main branches, sub-branches, colours and symbols.
• Own words: Rephrase instead of copying (gedaechtnis-und-arbeitsgedaechtnis).
• Follow-up: Revise notes on the same day.
• Digital or paper: Both work; what matters is active processing.
• Learning: Turn notes into flashcards and questions (texte-lesen-und-verstehen-sq3r).