Active Recall and Cornell Method

I wanted to share how I’ve started using the Cornell note-taking method’s format and use it for active recall.

Note: This works best for right-handed people.

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ ･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ ･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

First of all:

Active recall is the method in which you actively try to what you’ve read or just learned using only your memory.

We do active recall all the time during exams when we try to what we’ve learned in class to answer questions or essays.

In theory, by practicing active recall while you study, you condition yourself to ing what you’ve learned and through spaced repetition, you memorize better.

Spaced repetition is when you actively recall topics in staggered time frames (in one minute, then in one hour, then the next day, then in 3 days, etc.) This technique helps “solidify” what you’ve learned for longer term memorization.

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ ･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ ･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

Next:

Cornell Note-taking method is a method by which you separate sections of your paper as such:

Image link

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ ･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ ･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

Now, I tried out Cornell Note taking method recently while watching and taking notes from a video lecture and realized that if I put my initial I can use the side and bottom sections for active recall “sessions”.

I tried out my theory and loved it! I think I’ve found “the one”. :two_hearts: I’ll post more notes like these in the future.

As I watched the video lecture, I wrote on the bigger portion of the paper and kept writing. After 2 pages, I went back to the first one and while covering the bigger portion of paper (where the notes are) *with my writing hand* and without help from the video, I rewrote shorter paraphrased stuff from that section.

I’ll reserve the bottom part for another active recall session and cover the top portion with another notebook or blank paper, so as not to “cheat” and practice active recall.

I hope I was able to explain this well. If not, let me know in the comments section below and I’ll clarify further!

In the meantime, here’s some notes to inspire future/current medical/nursing students.