The slide already says what is on the slide. Your notes are for what it leaves out: the example, the warning, the link to last week. Preview the deck, write only what the speaker adds, and turn each slide into a question afterwards. In Diaposi, you upload the deck your presenter shows and take notes on every page, on your own device.
What should you write if the slide already says it?
Do not copy the slide: you will have the file. Write what the speaker adds to it. That is usually four things: the example that makes the idea concrete, the warning about a common mistake, the link to another chapter, and anything said to matter for the exam. One line per slide is often enough.
What do you do before, during and after?
- Before. Skim the deck and write one question per section. You will listen for the answers.
- During. Write each note next to the slide it belongs to, by slide number if you are on paper. Mark what you did not understand instead of trying to fix it on the spot.
- After. The same day, turn each slide into a question you could be asked. Those questions are your revision material: see how to study from lecture slides.
Paper, annotation or screenshots?
Printed handouts are quick to write on and hard to search. Annotating the file keeps note and slide together, which is what you want at revision time. Screenshots of slides with no notes attached are the weakest option: you collect pictures and remember little. Whatever you choose, the notes should let you test yourself later.
How following a lecture in Diaposi helps
In Diaposi, you upload the deck your presenter shows and follow it on your own phone, tablet or laptop, whether or not your presenter uses Diaposi. You turn the pages yourself, and every page takes your notes and your drawings. With a free account, any page can be explained in simpler words, and you can quiz yourself on the chapters you choose.
Follow your presenter is part of Diaposi, the EdTech platform for interactive and measurable learning. See how to follow a lecture
Frequently asked questions
Can I take notes on lecture slides on my phone?
- Yes. Upload the deck to Diaposi and follow it page by page on your phone, with your notes attached to each page. You do not need an account to follow and take notes. A free account keeps them after you leave.
What if I do not have the slides before the lecture?
- Note by topic instead of by slide, leave space under each heading, and match your notes to the slides once the file is shared. Ask the presenter for the deck: most will share it.
Is Diaposi free?
- Yes. Diaposi is free, and there is no paid plan today.
