Description: An introduction to the Matrix method of note-taking.
Mapping
Mapping is a note-taking style where you create a visual representation of different concepts. You can use shapes and colours to highlight major ideas, and lines to show the connections between these different concepts.
In this example, the student has used different shapes to highlight key ideas, and used arrows to connect the concepts together. In this handwritten version, you can see that the student has used colours to highlight different key terms.
Advantages
- Mapping is very useful for visual learners.
- You can use it to connect information together in a systematic way and clearly show connections and comparisons.
Disadvantages
- However, it can be hard to make a map during lecture because you'll need some background information about the concepts and how they can be organized.
- As well, maps can become overwhelming if used for complex concepts.
It's recommended that maps are created after a lecture to organize your initial set of notes, and to visually show these connections between the information.