Samples of sketch notes by Tanmay Vora:

How to create visual notes:

  • There are many methods of visual note taking: sketch notes, mind maps, webs, etc.
  • Visual notes combine words, colours, symbols and pictures to summarize what you have learned, read or discussed onto a single page
  • Lines, arrows, colour-coding and symbols can be used to show connections between ideas and information

Advantages:

  • Great for visual learners and creative classes 
  • Good for recording ideas from a group brainstorm
  • Useful in classes where the teacher uses a lot of graphs, diagrams, charts and other visual examples.
  • Helpful in classes where the lectures seem a bit all over the place and other, more organized methods of note taking are difficult to use
  • We remember only 10% of what we read, 35% of what we see, but 65% of what we learn when we combine words and pictures. 

Disadvantages:

  • Not suitable for all learning situations
  • Trying to make your notes look more artistic can become a distraction
  • Can be time consuming
  • May have to bring extra supplies to class

Other examples of visual notes that may work for you:

Mind Mapping:

Webbing: