Improving Cornell Notes With Sketchnoting Techniques

Let's spice up your notes with some visual goodness!
Learn how to take visual notes: www.verbaltovisual.com
My name is Doug Neill and I'm passionate about helping others reach their full creative potential. I teach a skill called sketchnoting (also known as visual note-taking and graphic recording), which for me is a gateway to doing better work. Check out the resources below for more info.
** Resources **
Getting Started with Sketchnoting (Free Download): geni.us/Wo6w
An Introduction To Visual Note-Taking: geni.us/DFJw0
Sketchnoting In The Classroom: geni.us/0jlmV
Digital Sketchnoting: geni.us/bwYtg
How To Make Sketchnote Videos: geni.us/uzXlBq
Learn a New Language with Sketchnotes: geni.us/iuAFK
Build an Online Course with Sketchnotes: geni.us/4zfvYA
Learn In Public: geni.us/SdNM9
The Verbal To Visual Community: geni.us/tyI2N8a
*Our Website*
www.verbaltovisual.com/
I've chosen to not be on any social media platforms other than KZbin.
To stay in touch via email, subscribe to my newsletter: geni.us/nwHp

[@RevElderKnight]

I've always have used the Who, What, Where, When and Why (the first for W's) make it significant. In the margins, I draw a stick person for a "Who", glasses for the "What", a compass north arrow for "Where", a clock face represents the "When", finally an exclamation sketch symbol for "significance."

[@maryditzel559]

I like your intuitive symbols and plan to use them. Thank you.

[@japemmanut]

This is so smart!

[@unifang]

thank youu

[@nathaliaferraz9982]

I'm literally screaming right now . You have no idea how I am happy for finding your channel . I've always used sketching in my notes, but I had no clue how to organize or make it work . Thank you for helping me !

[@verbaltovisual]

I'm glad you found it too! Best of luck :)

[@Diamond18116]

I always do that during my teaching kids love it and their are more interested.

[@jacknolan756]

topaz5858 .

[@SpareKingdom]

me too!!!!

[@Kevin-Schmevin]

Hey Alex, I know it's been 6 months since you wrote this reply but I just want to remind you in case you forgot that you're an idiot, as is everyone else that's ever called someone a snowflake. Climb out of your echo-chamber and join the rest of us in polite society, either that or stay in your moms basement (even if you happen to support yourself somehow you're at the very least living in your moms basement mentally and emotionally).

[@harryportfelikartakredytow8907]

If you are a teacher and you're watching this - I'M REALLY HAPPY YOU DO! It's really rare for teachers to want to be better at their work and actually help students learn. Teaching is not only about knowing your subject, but also knowing your students. 90% of teachers I know are tired of their work and they don't listen to us, they don't even try to explain something so everyone understands.

[@ashleighfox537]

It's not at all rare for teachers to "want to be better at their work." Do you know any teachers?

[@kittykiyomi8279]

@@ashleighfox537 Most of the teachers in my area want to help students learn and improve. However, some don't. (Of course, the teachers in my district receive decent pay compared to most areas...But I think there's always going to be at least one good teacher that will change your life or at least your way of thinking during your lifetime.)

[@ashleighfox537]

You're absolutely right, Kitty, that conditions at the school (and compensation is only one piece of that puzzle!) do determine teacher motivation and, in turn, impact. The challenges are real! But I love your notion that at least one teacher will change your life or your outlook. :)

[@ruthcherry1783]

As a teacher, I have known quite a few who are tired and just waiting for retirement! I love teaching though and I'm here to learn new tricks to help my students to enjoy learning with me :)

[@triad6425]

Finding teachers that know their subject really well isn't very common to begin with. Those that do often leave for better paying opportunities with less frustration

[@Spartan20852]

I've used this method for weeks and It really works efficiently and I've reduce the Time to study substantially.

[@majemeryn]

I am a life-long learner and this is one of the best study techniques I've ever seen. I am off to look at your other videos. Thank you so much!!

[@ChristianMercadoAcevedo]

I just came to this video by mistake and will apply every single concept to my work day. Excellent!

[@kevinsavage7322]

The idea of changing verbal to visual is not only great for visual learning but also for young people with Autism and Learning disabilities. Thank you for the video. Love Cornell Note taking also it's great btw.

[@kentvandervelden]

Very interesting. I'm going to start experimenting with these methods. I have all the degrees I'll ever need, but I keep reading and studying. We should always be a student.

[@angiemenapa]

Thank you so much for this! I already know the Cornell, but your method of sketching things into it is just awesome! I will never look at notetaking as a somewhat tiring pocess again! Good luck in your future videos!

[@igniteking3696]

Simple, Clear and Concise. It just brings to live note taking and your way of taking notes makes it seem less daunting as a task and more appealing to look after. Thanks so much !

[@Laurenelizabethrodriguez]

Had to watch this for my HR course at my SUNY college and I have to say I LOVE LOVE LOVE this approach! I’m always drawing on my notes so this makes my doodling more tied in to what I’m learning - hopefully I have enough time while my professors are lecturing to be able to do this approach! Thank you for sharing!!!

[@pammyzenmed2161]

I'm a fourth year medical student at the moment and I've been in school for about... a bazillion years. Wish I'd discovered the Cornell thing mannnny moons ago. Cornell + Doodling= Great idea! Thank you!

[@SkadeDK]

Eh? No problem if she's a Doctor that's a slow learner - still miles better than the Doctors who won't learn anything.

[@Liuhuayue]

@Christopher Schuster She's including schooling before even medical school, which is no doubt a requirement. That would be primary school, middle/ junior high, high school, and probably undergrad and maybe even master's or another graduate program if she's not in a 4 or 6 year program out of high school. No doubt she's been through the gauntlet, as most doctors have!

[@Liuhuayue]

​@Christopher Schuster Pretentious of you to assume that the OP is that one hypothetical student who scored less than all the others, and secondly, to assume that you're better than people who made it into medical school when you made such a typo (it's graduating, not gradating). Also, students who scored less than the others might not even have made it to 4th year. Again, all medical students in this day and age have been in school for a while, so the hyperbole she used is understandable; it is not extraordinarily bad by any means. Frankly, you're just making a mole hill into a mountain. It's good that the OP has made it so far, and it's good that the OP is trying to improve her note-taking. Nothing wrong with that.

[@kerrie-leighstory2346]

You make note taking seem really exciting, haha. You're enthusiasm is a little contagious! Thank you for the video.

[@verbaltovisual]

Note-taking IS really exciting!!! haha

[@maryditzel559]

"You're" is a contraction of "you are;" you wanted the possessive adjective pronoun "your" here.

[@DavidCrandallDC]

Would love to see a video on how you've created your own icons/visual vocabulary...with specific examples. I'd like to expand my visual vocabulary for my notes too. Love your videos!

[@verbaltovisual]

Let me know if this video is helpful! kzbin.info/www/bejne/bIuvimCIn7ajas0

[@crandallsoutloud8395]

Loved this! (This is the same person your replied to; I switched accounts and never noticed you replied.)

[@DavidCrandallDC]

Confirming. :)

[@AfroChilanGringo]

I create my own icons and abbreviations. Make it personalized and easier for you to understand.

[@user-gu9vu6cc6c]

Wow. This is huge. Thanks. You just encouraged me to read books with hard topics with out worrying about remembering them.

[@rbaileyrb]

love seeing the passion that drives others and in-turn helps us in what they share

[@jeffhess4650]

I've never had room on a page for icons or non-chart graphics. I have however, found the use of icon-like color assignments -- yellow for key points, blue for biographical information, green for historical information, &c. -- to quickly identify specific information to be the key to understanding my notes. I've also found that reviewing and rewriting/typing my notes after the fact to be extremely helpful. The review process allows me to add context and nuance (and complete sentences) to the notes and typing helps to remedy my horrible penmanship.

[@jjetson403]

I love this idea. I think it makes Cornell notes fun, personalized, and relevant to certain subjects. Thanks.

[@cherylap214]

Your videos are so helpful. You are a gifted teacher. Thank you so much!

[@athenaenergyshine7616]

I love it I like combining things. Especially at home when rewrite my notes or studying to add notes and merging them.

[@verbaltovisual]

athena energy Shine yeah it's great if you have time outside of class to synthesize what you've learned

[@Platttraining]

Hi Doug, Fellow teacher here.Our school requires (I agree) CN. I love how you make this more valuable, fun and creative. My students will be watching this tomorrow and I will link to this video from my website. Great job!!

[@PeppermintMoriGirl]

Thanks so much for this! I'm teaching/ homeschooling my brother--he's a visual/ kinesthetic learner--so I'm having him watch your videos to make his studying and note-taking more fun and easier. :)

[@yaserhu]

Look, I had watched many videos about note taking and none had stood out with me because they either focus on colors or focus on explaining the method. You had explained cornel method very well and provided your sketch method input + provided a great example. Thank you for this great video content! Very good teaching style of yours

[@nancymetzger1369]

Love your style, visual aids, & pacing! I previewed about 10 videos on this topic before choosing this one to show to my 8th graders! Keep up the good work!

[@Geemeel1]

GREAT innovation to the original method!! thank you so much!!

[@waellerbe]

Your video provided my *first* exposure to the concept of sketch notes, and I am truly impressed with what I've seen thus far. Thank you for sharing this concept with us here on KZbin.

[@tamarareynolds3658]

This brings so much to client meetings, especially for creative industries. Key take-aways. I am a bullet maven!

[@reginamanning7733]

Thank you so much. I am a Dyslexia Tutor and this comes at a special time to show my dyslexic students, who hate to copy notes, how to provide visual notes that they can student. I will be reviewing your introduction video as well as your newest for teachers in the near future. Thank you again.

[@nichahh]

Perfect!! I love it. This is what our middle school teachers need to watch. I will be sharing!

[@mariaelenagonzalez8110]

I really appreciate your videos, they give me ideas to improve my learning and my organizations. Congratulations!

[@verbaltovisual]

Maria elena gonzalez glad to hear it! And thanks for watching :)

[@leilassou]

Love it. Will use it next term at College. Thank you so much. Its helping me to use my artistic side to study.

[@verbaltovisual]

Glad to hear it! Good luck next term :)

[@iantawashington-allotey9913]

This is so wonderful. I am very new to visual note taking. Older adult returning to school for Design and Media Production. This video was so helpful. Thank you. I think I used to do this naturally when I was younger. I doodled a lot white thinking and taking notes. Wow.

[@BeatRYSy]

great summary of more interesting Cornell notes using small icons. thank you for sharing examples - they're useful

[@code-sh6rz]

Thank you ,for being alive!

[@nayanmolla32]

Very informative and practical. I can empower myself and my students now. Thank you so much! God bless you!

[@smartta999]

I have to say, those are some nice videos you make. I love how you explain everything and the quality of the videos is great. Keep up the good job! :)

[@verbaltovisual]

Thank you!

[@maryditzel559]

Amen! The lighting is fantastic, the enthusiasm and energy are contagious, the visuals are A+, and the format is logical and smooth!

[@jimmygavidia786]

Thank you for such a great video. I love to take notes and do lots of scheduling for work and planning for daily life. This method is so amazing. You really have impacted my vision. Keep it up champ!

[@mojojojo485]

Hi, This is exactly the kind of training I was looking for! I love how you have structured your techniques. Thank you for sharing all you have learned. Visuals are my strength but I have never had a teacher. 3 weeks ago I bought an iPad Pro 9.7 inch, Apple Pencil, and Notability app. It really helped me take better notes class. This semester is over, but I am watching all your videos right now. I expect my note taking skills to go off to charts next term. Please consider making some videos with an iPad Pro! I am seriously curious to see what you could do with one of those! Anyways, thanks again for making all these videos!!!

[@lexikeeton187]

I used about 2 minutes of this clip in a year 11 History class the other day and it went really well. They enjoyed it! Some students who already had note-taking skills used a bit more drawing and colour, while some who never take notes, still didn't take notes. Anyway, maybe it'll sink into their subconscious and come out in another class, another year :) Thanks for the resources!

[@mariajeffrey4037]

I love this!! I can't wait to try it out this upcoming semester

[@kaysleedecker9993]

I just graduated from a college preparatory high school that puts a lot of emphasis on Cornell notes. Wish I could have seen this video sooner! It will be very helpful for my college life. :)

[@IanMcVitty]

This is a wonderful way to combine visual and non visual learners styles. I like it and your examples are excellent. I did some like this years ago for my class and it was structured, but missed the Cornell Notes element. Now I will try to incorporate Cornell Notes, Icons and mind maps...........thanks very much

[@MonsterChuck]

I have always done this without thinking about it. It is how I got through calc courses :) Neat to see a structured video to introduce others to it.

[@sportslogos7771]

Excellent build up on an existing great idea of note taking - the icons would definitely help a lot in remembering and recalling a particular note. thank you so much for a great video.

[@MissElisabelle]

School books are basically structured like Cornell notes.

[@douglashaeberlin6384]

Not here (Brazil), sadly ;-;

[@SuperRidz]

Or here (Malaysia) :(

[@julian8080]

Or in Austria...

[@lkj5510]

@@SuperRidz Our sejarah, bio, phys books arw boi especially form 5

[@kodomochan32]

Not all textbooks are designed like that 🙁

[@kandicarol]

Brilliant. I have my own visual note taking which involves me left brain (logic, structure and math) along with stimulating my right brain (color, pictures and non-linear thinking).

[@verbaltovisual]

Love it! That combo is where it's at :)

[@gedankee536]

This is soo helpful, thank you!:)

[@PaulGarthAviation]

Thanks for the video. I've intersected over the years with David Allen (GTD), Buzan (Mind- Mapping) and Dan Roam (Back of Napkin). I came away with some new ideas -- icons that have meaning. I'm back in school (doing a MSW), and needing all tricks I can come across to get through it. I've found that doing quick mind-maps during class is an effective way of note-taking vs writing out in script. I like your visual method, as it also makes the material more inviting to come back to and review, refine, tune-up, etc.

[@verbaltovisual]

I love the idea of a mind map approach to in-class notes! (Might even work better than the process I described here ;) Best of luck in your graduate program - that's important work that you're preparing for!

[@leaderlogic7004]

I love the idea of building up the icon list to use again and again. For my work it would be useful to have one per project, a set for meeting minutes, one to highlight key data, one to highlight references, and the set I use currently for task tracking. Phew!

[@RicaMaeValero]

I love this kind of note taking!

[@shaniapeters8590]

Love this! Thank you!

[@kelliebrace8121]

Thankyou for sharing. Seriously your videos are so helpful, simple and informative. I can't wait to watch all your videos and perhaps take one of your courses.

[@verbaltovisual]

Thanks for the kind comment, I'm glad to hear you're enjoying them :)

[@ahicks414]

Often notetaking itself can be enough to learn the topics so that reviewing notes isn't necessary. I have 3 undergrad degrees, earned by taking graphical & detail notes, mixed together on each page. It did help me. But I almost never reviewed my notes. These notes in the video seem more horizontal-vertical than mine ever were. Occasionally I did go back later and highlight details to memorize.

[@jovicaguinaldo1766]

Who knew this video will come in handy this year?

[@sallybrown3363]

Thanks so much. Your video helps me to organize and remember my notes.

[@harunhakimibasri3292]

i just wanna say. good job n thank you. very helpful video

[@evissima107]

I may apply these techniques to my notes in class, I'm a visual person and I think this will help me a lot during classes. I'm sure I'll apply the Cornell left margin to pull out the main ideas and then I'll use diagrams at the bottom of the page so I can make a summary using visuals. Thanks!!

[@NotionMindset]

Hello! I already knew the Cornell method and I quite liked that adaptation. I have been trying to implement more pictures in my notes. I just met your channel and I'm enjoying your method. Hugs!

[@danuarzani6128]

i dont know how youtube brought me to this, the thing i never knew it exists... but apreciate this. thanks for this video dude 👏👏👏

[@janiceh6704]

This was a wonderful way to explain and SHOW me how to use this method. I love the way you presented this method. I just Subscribed and look forward to learning more from you

[@verbaltovisual]

Thanks Janice!

[@tanyareyna4379]

I teach CTE and Computer LIt to 8th graders. This is a video that I will be showing them to help them find their method of note-taking. Thanks, great job.

[@coltonjohnson552]

I am a middle school student and I use this method of Cornell. I have used it since fifth grade.

[@katherinemillshernandez2810]

I love this--thank you!

[@holanicolette]

This is so useful! 😭 Thank you for this! Definitely subscribing! 💕

[@jeaneb]

GENIUS! you just blew my mind. i've never really utilized the cornell method, but i've always liked the idea of sketching and maybe annotations. i especially love the icon idea. i like sketching but thought it to be more of a doodling mess in the midst of my organized note taking. but you marrying the two in a structured way just made my heart sing. hahahha... too much? okay, i'll stop now. BUT THIS IS COOL, THANKS!

[@roylesterjr7052]

This is good, thank you for sharing.

[@reem4912]

love the video! hopefully using this technique next semester :)

[@verbaltovisual]

Glad to hear it! Let me know how it goes.

[@bonysingh1255]

thank you sir, for your faithfulness...

[@justindriver7371]

This video was very helpful thank you!

[@roisin1274]

Thanks for the video, just watched it and a few of your others, and found them super helpful.

[@MichikoYamashi]

It's really helpful. Thank you very much!

[@carina8332]

Such an inspiration. So glad i discovered this channel :)

[@auntpurl5325]

Some great tips. I'm not particularly visual, but my students are. I'll be thinking about icons and graphics more. Thanks!

[@ewlong1031]

Thanks for making this video and offering all of these helpful suggestions. In addition to your suggestions I will be utilizing some techniques I learned from Bullet Journaling such as: Create an Index Page at the front of the notebook so you can index the information as you go. Number the pages of the notebook so you can quickly find information referenced in the index. Use a list of standardized icons as a personal 'shorthand' to aid in recording information quickly. Such icons would be standard ones like $, %, &, etc.,. but would include custom ones you use regularly and understand. Add a reference chart for these shorthand icons after the index so you can reference them in the future or share your notes. Hope others find these methods helpful.

[@huinicguerrero7872]

Showed this video to colleagues. Thanks for sharing

[@mayankshahabadee8331]

You're awesome Neil. This has helped me to be more creative minded while studying, as you know basically every system in INDIA is UK Based, and GB education system sucks big time.

[@-MAgungPerdana]

I love how you did the record without cutting the part when u look at your text for talk

[@isaginationchannel]

I would LOVE to take notes like this but let's be honest - I'd last a day or two and then go back to nervous scribbling that is all over the place and completely unreadable to any other person :D

[@mariozamora9684]

Agree. However if you make a bet with someone and try this for a couple of days it should stick with you.

[@joaohenriquecorvetto2673]

I really love this video. Thanks!

[@jameshorn270]

Oddly, I went to Cornell in the late 60s and never heard of this, although it is apparently a product of a professor at the School of Education in the 1940s. For what its worth, I think the big thing is that it requires review of the notes to fill in the left hand side, right after the notes are taken, whereas most students do not look at the notes again until exam time. So an extra look at the notes. I never really took good notes except in one course,, History of Western Civilization by L Pierce Williams. He would come in as soon as the previous class ended and write an outline on the board. He would then deliver the lecture, never once looking at the board, and in a very lively fashion> (I think he was a frustrated actor). At the end of the class, I would look at my notes, look at the board, and Lo, my notes were organized very much according to the outline.

[@maryditzel559]

Absolutely! Revisiting the notes immediately after class, again that evening, every weekend, and before the exam is the goal and easily done using the Cornell system. Each revisit begs for additional editing using color and symbols. I was told the side column is also a great place to factor in possible exam questions. All this work encourages the student to become master of the material, owning it, engaging with it repeatedly, and even loving it. This method even invites me to do further research, which I put on the blank back of the note page. L Pierce Williams obvious knew his topic and had that outline in his head. Your copying the outline began to develop that same information in your head. Go students and teachers! We can do this!

[@The017094]

this is a lovely technique! I'd love to try

[@pauloasafe25]

Thank you, sir! I wasn't familiar to any of these techniques and my notes are very messy. Recently, I have been trying to improve it and this is when I found your channel (or has it found me?). You have another subscriber now!

[@parentingchildhoodocd]

Brilliant video .I had not heard of this method of note taking before. Thank You :)

[@lynnecota9103]

just awesome! thank you

[@robmartinique4397]

Thanks for this. I have been looking for a method to improve my note taking for a while. Good luck with your travels. :)

[@BubblesPothowari]

I line in GMT +5:30. I seem to be taking notes like "Cornell" with red & blue pens. + 3 highlighters: Red Where not clear, weak, WIP space, Green Take aways, Blue "Bonna" "Eureka" what I loved about the session. & yes Doodles too. Many Thanks for the lesson made here.

[@BadKittyNoMilk]

This is great. I'm new to your channel. I'm going back to school and have no idea how to take notes. I don't know how I got through it in the passed. I hope this type of note taking will work with event planning courses. Thank you. Good luck on your travels and your new journey. Maybe I can catch up on your current video. =)

[@verbaltovisual]

Welcome to the channel! Here's a video I made for college students that might be helpful: kzbin.info/www/bejne/omnUhWqwdrWWgc0 Good luck to you as well!

[@maryditzel559]

"Passed" is a participle adjective; you wanted the word "past" here, a noun.

[@RakeshPrajapati-bd9pr]

Best you tube channel I had ever seen 😍😍😍

[@salmachi9836]

This method takes time and planning to apply but helpful .

[@sshaheed]

I started using my own sets of icons inspired by GUI of computers. It really helped me, alhamdulillah. I also like to write important info within a box because it is easy to find those and because they are boxed in I know I have to pay attention to those when I find them.

[@juang_arango]

My comment is not about the video. Any compliment would be redundant. I just want to congratulate you for such amazing growth. This makes me SOOOO happy to know that things that you have done have led to so much success. Keep growing. Keep kicking ass.

[@UmiChan358]

10/10 loved it!!!

[@katrina6984]

THANK YOU! My school uses cornell notes, and I want to sketchnote!

[@muugiilively9356]

awesome, creative and useful. 😊 Thanksssssss

[@ccrosetti12]

Great content, thanks - useful to business analysts too!

[@Kupferonkel]

That was a huge bucket of brainfood to think about. THANK YOU!

[@brucebailey1371]

Doug, thanks. I will employ your ideas for personal note taking, but your idea of creating an institutional icon list was thought provoking. My mind immediately went to that's what our nonprofit logo is for, but then it occurs to me there might be ways to share our newly created icons with the public to spread our message to many people in various settings. You've challenged me!

[@user-xy3kc6ng1j]

I'm using the Cornell method and in history classes where we simply rewrite a PowerPoint presentation I organise the text and under the key idea I draw a person/map/building that's on a slide. My class and the teacher are laughing and they say "you don't need it", "you have that one in the book"...

[@HolidayGolightlyify]

Amazing. Thanks!

[@semp224]

VERY INFORMATIVE INDEED! EXAMPLES SURELY MAKE IT MORE DIGESTABLE! THANKS DOUGLAS!