Question bank software is one of the best and most powerful tools available to medical students in 2021. As the years go by, the technology continues to improve in a way that helps students retain more information and learn to think critically, both of which are critical for careers as doctors and surgeons. If you’re not taking notes during your qbank study sessions, you might be missing out. Here are some of the best reasons to take notes while you’re using your qbank.
Digital vs. Handwritten Notes
If you’re wondering whether you should take digital or hand-written notes, the debate over this subject has been ongoing since the days of the first laptops. Each method comes with its own unique set of benefits and drawbacks, so it’s really a matter of personal choice. Research the pros and cons of each one, then decide what works best for you. You might also consider trying each method for yourself so that you can determine which option seems to benefit you the most. There’s no wrong way to go about it.
The Benefits of Notetaking
Whether you’re listening to a lecture or answering questions in your qbank software, the benefits of notetaking are significant.
- It improves your focus and memory. When you’re taking the time to jot down the most important bits of information, you’re internalizing that information, which increases the odds that you will retain it later.
- It’s a form of active learning. Simply sitting and reading or listening to someone speak is a very passive way of learning, but when you involve notetaking, you’re taking part in an activity. This also helps you retain more information.
- It improves comprehension. Sometimes the mere act of writing things down – even if you don’t really understand them at first – is enough to trigger basic comprehension in your mind.
- It helps you learn to prioritize information. It should also be noted that taking notes requires you to think about things like headings, subheadings, subtopics, and supporting details. This process can help you break down big chunks of information into smaller, more manageable pieces that are easier for you to learn over time.
Notetaking with Your Question Bank Sessions
You might already take notes during lectures or virtual study groups to help you capture new pieces of information, but if you aren’t taking notes when you utilize your question bank for studying, you may not be getting the most out of it. Many of today’s feature-rich qbank platforms allow you to take notes inside the software, which is an excellent way to help keep your train of thought on the tracks when you come back to a piece of information inside the software later. Taking notes on a separate notebook or in a word processor at the same time can also be beneficial for many students, as well – especially if those notes cover topics that are difficult to comprehend.
Notetaking has been one of the most popular methods for capturing information for decades, and it’s still a popular study tool today, as well. Though the tools students use to take those notes change, and though the sources of information they take notes on evolve, the simplicity of it remains the same.