IMHO, note taking is effective because it incorporates 2 or 3 of the common learning modes: seeing (visual), doing (kinesthetic), and if from a talk, hearing (a

IMHO, note taking is effective because it incorporates 2 or 3 of the common learning modes: seeing (visual), doing (kinesthetic), and if from a talk, hearing (aural). Generally this is enough to get something in my brain. I rarely need to look at the notes unless they are meeting notes and there is disagreement. For skills, e.g. differential calculus and programming, doing sample problems is especially important.