Notater

Notater are written records that capture essential information from sources such as lectures, readings, meetings, or experiments. They function as memory aids, summaries, and planning tools, enabling later review, synthesis, and decision making.

In Norwegian, notater is the plural form of notat and commonly refers to short written items; in academic and professional contexts, notater may include lecture notes, study notes, research notes, or personal reflections. More formal meeting records in Norwegian are referred to as referat or møtereferat.

Types of notater include lecture notes taken during classes, study notes created for exam preparation, research notes collected during projects, meeting notes that summarize discussions or decisions, and personal notes for reflections or planning. The exact naming and scope can vary by institution or field.

Techniques for taking notater include several established methods. The Cornell method uses a structured layout with cues and a summary. Outlining and mind mapping help organize concepts hierarchically or visually. The sentence method records notes as continuous sentences, while the boxing method groups related ideas. Annotation and highlighting aid later review.

Digital and analog approaches both have advantages. Digital tools such as Evernote, OneNote, and Notion support keyword search, tagging, and cloud synchronization, making notes accessible across devices. Handwritten notes can improve recall for some learners. Best practices include dating entries, noting sources, using consistent abbreviations, summarizing content, reviewing regularly, and backing up data.

See also notetaking, notebooks, minutes, and memos.