plug-in notes

This week was very busy week for me. There were three tests, and I had to memorize lots of things. As a kinesthetic learner, I wanted to try something new and something that I could do actively. I, therefore, chose Plug In Notes to prepare for exams. This note works especially well for my Japanese exam. First of all, I took class note on the right side of the notebook. I wrote down all the things that I needed to memorize, and wrote important information that teacher emphasized during the class. I decided to do this note taking strategy with 20 minute test prep. Therefore, I read my notes and plug in the major information on the left side of the note, with a graphic organizer. I put five graphic organizers. For me, the 'chart' worked the best. Even though it was the most basic one, since there were lots of definitions to organize in Japanese, it was the clearest way for me to see all the information at once.

Then, I inserted a table at the below of the note, writing 10 questions that the professor might ask on the coming exam. This took total of 20 minutes, and I found it very helpful. Since I did this Plug In note right after the class, I could remember most of the information that I learned during the class at that day. Therefore, it was easier to put important information on the left side of the note. Also, when I just did the 20 minute test prep, I didn't know that organizing the information would be this much helpful. Before, I just reread the note for 20 minutes, and that was it. At this time, by writing and organizing information with the graphic organizer, I could concentrate better and I could also remember information much faster. Also, to do the 'anticipating test question' with the 20 minutes test prep was very useful. Since I remembered what teacher emphasized during the class, I could write it down right away. If I did it at the end of day, rather than right after the class, I would not remember all the information that teacher emphasized. By doing plug-in note, I felt that I organized all the information at the note. I had a class note, graphic organizers and anticipating question. Before, I had to look notes, text books, and then the anticipating questions. Now, however, I could look the entire important thing at once, so I just needed to see the note. This was the best thing about plug-in note. Also, by doing review at the end of the week, I could know what I needed to study more. I read the questions and tried to fill in the answers and I realized that there were some questions I couldn't answer, which I could answer right after the class. Then, I realized those were the things I needed to focus more.

For me, writing plug-in note with the hand was more helpful than writing it with the computer. I did both ways, but when I wrote plug in notes with computer, I couldn't concentrate well on it. I wanted to do other fun things with the computer, such as games. When I wrote it with the hands, however, I could concentrate much better. I could even remember some information while I was writing. By doing plug in notes with the 20 minutes test prep and anticipating test question, I could get better mark on Japanese test, even though I studied for the same time as I did in the past exam. I think I should use plug in note again, for my coming midterm exam in Japanese. Since there are lots of things to memorize, I think to organize detail information with plug in note will be very useful.