Note-Taking
(Online Course)
At Alumni G, The Art of Note-Taking and Application has been our most popular course for the past five years, helping dozens of international school students gain a real edge through an often-overlooked skill. Past students have shown significant improvements in academic progress—results that even academic tutoring alone often cannot achieve.
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Our instructor experienced this transformation firsthand. She raised her own IB score from 28 to 41 out of 45 by applying these exact techniques to her studies.
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We know summer can be hectic, with travel plans and other commitments filling up fast. That’s why this course is fully self-paced, giving students the freedom to learn on their own schedule and complete it in the way that works best for them.
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Module 1: Foundations of Note-Taking
This module introduces the fundamental skills needed to capture information effectively and efficiently.
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1.1 Intro to Passive Note-Taking: Understanding the types of passive note-taking methods and recognizing its strengths and limitations in long-term retention.
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1.2 Intro to Active Note-Taking: Learn Active note-taking techniques to process, summarize, and question the material as you write, which drastically improves comprehension. Simultaneously learning of its strengths and weaknesses.
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1.3 Practice 1: A hands-on exercise applying active note-taking strategies to a sample text or lecture.
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Module 2: Cognitivism and Memory Retention
This module explores the science behind learning so students can study smarter, not harder.
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2.1 What is cognitivism?: A foundational look into the psychological framework of how the mind processes, stores, and retrieves information.
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2.2 How does memory work?: Breaking down short-term, working, and long-term memory, and exploring how to transfer knowledge effectively between them.
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2.3 & 2.4 Practice 2 (i & ii): More note-taking exercises designed to test memory recall and apply cognitive strategies, such as spaced repetition or active AND passive recall abilities.
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Module 3: The Mechanics of Writing
Please note that the costs for this optional step will be provided in a separate quotation if parents choose to pursue it.
This section focuses on the physical act of writing and its direct impact on the brain's ability to learn.
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3.1 Why does handwriting matter?: Exploring the neurological benefits of consistency and why it often leads to better conceptual understanding
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3.2 - 3.4 Practices: A series of practical activities prompting students to synthesize complex information into concise, handwritten study materials.
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Module 4: Modern Tools & Research
This module bridges traditional study methods with modern technology and academic requirements.
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4.1 How to better use AI for revision?: Strategies for using artificial intelligence as a study partner—such as generating practice questions, summarizing difficult concepts, or creating flashcards — without relying on it to do the thinking for you.
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4.2 What makes a good research essay?: A breakdown of the structural, analytical, and formatting elements that elevate a standard essay into a rigorous, well-supported research paper.
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Module 5: Psychology of Learning
The final module addresses the mental and emotional hurdles of being a student.
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5.1 Mindset: Exploring how your perspective and mindset on learning, challenges, and failure dictate your academic success.
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5.2 Procrastination and Laziness: Understanding the core differences between the two. This section highlights that laziness is apathy and an unwillingness to put in effort because you don't see the value , whereas procrastination is actively delaying a task you know you should do simply because you don't want to do it right now.