The reason we’ve all come up with our own system, however, is because we’ve been given SOME sort of system at some time. We’ve altered it to fit our own mental processes. If you wouldn’t have been given any system, though, your note taking, if you had any, would be extremely difficult to follow and review. So these teachers forcing the Cornell system tells me that they feel the need to significantly increase the organization of their specific groups of students. They also probably want a way to unify the note taking throughout their school.

At the same time, I’ve never heard of a teacher that would be willing to modify their requirements if you give them good reason. This is on a person by person basis, so talk to them away from the other students, and you will likely be surprised as to what your teacher is willing to do. They’re not trying to be difficult….they’re trying to HELP YOU LEARN! If you’re still in school, then the person teaching you likely has done a hell of a lot more schooling than you.

If a 7 year old told you they know more than you about what they should do, you’d tell them that they didn’t..and you’d be right 95% of the time. A 16 year old telling a 35 year old that they know more than them about learning makes about the same amount of sense. Show them some proof that applies to YOU, however, and they are probably going to either agree, or explain why the other system needs to be followed.

For those who approve of Cornell notes, it is fine to teach your students how to use the system and even HIGHLY suggest that they follow suit, but it is unreasonable to assume that every student structures their ideas and notes in the same way.

Personally, I use a more loose-outline form, and when I’m getting ready to study for a test, I’ll take a few hours to condense the outline into some handy index cards. The transferring of information to the index cards as well as the old tried-and-true ‘flash card’ method works wonders for me. I absolutely despise Cornell notes and find that I can get just as much out of a lecture using my own methods and probably in half the time it takes to structure everything so strictly.

So teacher, please stop ramming these down your students’ throats! Make suggestions, fine! But forcing your students to organize information in a way that you like and not in a way that they like is only going to breed resentment in your students.

Holy shit 20 a week….dayum my sympathies bro my avid teacher(useless class btw) her names ms cody shes a bitch ha some old black lady anyway yea i agree

So for you’ins who’ve never actually been taught how to take notes, (reference #18), this would be a lifesaver as a start-up “kit” to at least get you in the habit, and perhaps might just perk up the test scores. As mentioned above by those obviously not feeling the Cornell system is being rammed down their throats, the middle section can be done ANY way you want…so more power to ya.

It would seem that the problem for some is not so much the method, but feeling like they have no control of their own notebook. If I were your teacher, I’d say by all means do what works for you, BUT if your grades don’t “prove up ” YOUR method…Well, then it’s MY way (Cornell) or the high-way!

Obviously, #18 has no education whatsoever and probably has never taken a note in his life.

Basically what #11 said is right. The core of its use is the page format to strengthen review: summary + auto-notecard. If you want to use color code, or highlights, graphs, pictures, etc. in Area C go right ahead.

1. I am very anal about things and like hyper organization.

2.The Cornell system makes recall for exams so much easier. Especially since I am a crammer, and looking in the left margin saves time I would not have had I read ALL the notes.

3. I began using this voluntarily in college (um, yeah, I’m still in college BTW). The fact that I wasn’t forced may make a difference as to why I actually enjoy this system of note taking.

The teacher here are friggin’ crazy about Cornell Notes… even my Calc teacher requires them (SUMMARIES for MATH notes? Excuse me?!?). When my AP Lit teacher told our class that we didn’t have to use Cornell Notes, the whole class literally broke out in a huge applause – that shows how much it’s shoved down our throats. It’s actually a very good way of taking notes for subjects that concentrate on memorization (like history), but otherwise it’s a worthless waste of time.