Taking good notes is crucial for learning and retaining information. The Cornell note taking method is one of the most effective ways to organize and review your notes. With Google Docs being easily accessible and collaborative, it’s a great choice for making digital Cornell notes. In this blog post, I’ll walk you through the entire process step-by-step.
What Are Cornell Notes?
The Cornell note taking method was developed in the 1950s by Walter Pauk, an education professor at Cornell University. It’s a systematic format for condensing and organizing notes that makes them easier to review later.
The key features of Cornell notes are:
- A column on the left side of the page for writing key words, concepts, questions
- A larger column on the right side for writing detailed notes
- A summary section at the bottom to synthesize key takeaways
The structured layout helps you capture important ideas as well as contextual details in one place. The cue column and summary section also aid long-term retention and studying. That’s why the Cornell method is so popular among students.
Why Use Google Docs for Cornell Notes?
Google Docs has many advantages that make it a great choice for digital note taking:
- It’s easily accessible from any device with an internet connection
- Notes are stored securely in the cloud – no chance of losing papers
- You can collaborate and share notes with others
- Add images, links, documents – multimedia enriches notes
- Format text easily for better organization
- Revisions history allows you to see changes
- Works offline – edit notes without internet access
Since Cornell notes require a specific layout, Docs is ideal because you can customize margins, columns, and tables to create structured templates. This saves time and provides guidance for note taking.
Step-by-Step Guide on Making Cornell Notes in Google Docs
Follow these simple steps to make well-formatted Cornell notes in Google Docs:
1. Open Google Docs and Create a Blank Document
- Go to docs.google.com and login to your Google account
- Click on the + button at the top left and select Blank document
- An untitled document will open up ready for you to start typing
2. Set Up the Basic Layout
- Go to File > Page setup from the toolbar
- Set the page to Landscape orientation
- Set all margins to 0.5″
This landscape layout with narrow margins is ideal for the two-column Cornell format.
3. Make the Left Cue Column
- Highlight the leftmost 2 to 3 inches of text
- Go to Table > Insert table
- Insert a single column table that fits the selected area
- With the column still selected, reduce font size to 10-12 pt for compact notes
You now have a narrow column on the left side for writing cues.
4. Make the Main Notes Column
- With the table formatted, highlight everything to the right of it
- Go to Format > Columns and select One column to align text properly
This section will contain the main notes written in paragraph form.
5. Add the Summary Section
- Place cursor at the bottom below the two columns
- Press Enter to add space
- Type the header “Summary” and highlight it
- Increase header text size to 14-16 pt font to differentiate this section
This completes the basic Cornell notes template!
6. Customize (Optional)
Some additional formatting options:
- Change font style and size for readability
- Add date/class headings at the top
- Use bold, italics, underline for emphasis
- Change text color for visual organization
- Number cue points or add checkboxes
Feel free to tweak the template to suit your needs!
Taking Notes in the Cornell Format
Now that your Google Doc is set up for Cornell notes, use these guidelines when taking notes:
- Cue column: Write key words, main ideas, questions here as cues
- Notes column: Use paragraphs to take detailed notes explaining each cue
- Summary: Review and write the main takeaways from the lesson
Tips for effective notes:
- Leave blank lines between note points for readability
- Break down complex ideas into numbered lists
- Use abbreviations and symbols to save time
- Focus on writing legibly
- Record only the most essential information
Reviewing and Studying Your Notes
The Cornell method helps with retaining information long-term. Follow these best practices:
- Review notes soon after class – reinforce learning
- Test yourself using the cues to verbalize concepts, create flashcards if helpful
- Compare notes with classmates to fill in gaps
- Clarify doubts – follow up on unclear points for better understanding
- Revise summary to capture key takeaways and study broad concepts
This active engagement with course material will boost retention dramatically.
Final Tips
- Customize templates for each subject with colors, icons, etc. for easy identification
- Share notes with study groups for collaborative learning
- Review notes before exams along with textbook, slides, assignments etc.
- Export notes as PDFs to print or take handwritten notes directly into Docs using a stylus
