Biographies

how to find your own sources

How to take notes from a video or audio clip

From How to take notes from a video: 19 video note-taking tips

GET SET UP

Preview the video

Just as you would flip through a textbook chapter before taking notes on it (to see how long it is, how it’s structured, etc.), you should do the same for video notes. This step could be as minimal as checking how long the video is to see how many notes you’ll have to take.

Put your video and notes document side by side on your screen

This is so that you don't have to flip back and forth. You can also pause a video and copy down the subtitles on the screen.

1. Use closed captioning or subtitles if available. 

If the video is hosted on YouTube, it will likely have an option for turning on closed captioning or subtitles. Reading the words at the bottom of the screen can increase your engagement and comprehension. (There’s a difference between the two: closed-captioning is aimed at the deaf or hard-of-hearing because it annotates background sounds, music and non-verbal communication for the viewer. Subtitles are targeted to people who can hear but who also want to read the words.)

2. Find a transcript of the video.

Not all videos have transcripts, but some educational videos do. A transcript is different from subtitles. You can use a transcript to read the video words at your own pace. You could also print the transcript, and then highlight and annotate it as part of your note-taking strategy. (Yes, people do this.)

3. Slow the video playback speed.

If needed, slow the video playback speed to .75.

4. Pause to take notes.

Can’t write as fast as the video plays? Pause it as often as needed to take your notes.

5. Rewind when something is unclear.

I know this tip sounds so obvious. But I’m shocked at how few of my students do this. If something is unclear, rewind the video and play it again. Still not clear? Rewind and play it again. You can’t take notes on something you don’t understand, so make sure you understand what you’re hearing.

6. Create headings and subheadings to match video topics.

If you’re using the outline method, which I suggest you do, you’re going to create headings and subheadings, with bullet-pointed details below each. Try to create headings and subheadings according to the key topics in the video. You might not get this right every time but do your best. If you realize later that you should have created a new subheading, go back and fix your notes after the video.

7. Use one bullet point for each key detail.

When you’re taking notes in an outline format, each detail gets its own bullet point. Vocabulary words, key people, key dates, etc. also get their own bullet point.

8. Avoid complex and complete sentences.

You’re taking notes, not writing a novel. Short sentences, fragments, and abbreviations are enough.

9. Use your own language.

You should always, always take notes using your own language and wording. Said another way, avoid using the author or speaker’s exact words. When we use our own expressions and phrasing, we learn the information better.

10. Capture key terms, people, dates, concepts, and events.

You should take a note every time the video emphasizes key words, people, concepts, etc. This important information is often displayed as text on the screen in addition to being spoken in the audio. Underline or bold these terms to make them stand out in your notes.

11. Draw simple diagrams from the video.

If there are important diagrams or graphics, pause the video and do your best to recreate them in your notes. If you’re taking digital notes, screenshot the video and insert the images into your notes. 

12. Pay attention to cues like tone and background music.

One advantage of taking notes from a video instead of a textbook is that you have more “clues” that tell you when something is important. Pay attention to the speaker’s tone of voice, the background music (intense or loud music indicates important information), and sound effects. 

13. Use video time stamps (chapters) to guide your notes.

Some videos have clearly marked time stamps on the progress bar that indicate video “chapters.” Not all videos have time stamps, but if they do, use them to guide the organization of your notes. You would use the time-stamped chapter titles as main headings in your outline and include key details as bullet points below it.