Highlighting?

[princsheather]

I have a habit of being a highlighter addict. I tend to over highlight and I tend to highlight everything in the same color. This method was ok for general education courses, but I know it won't help me a bit with nursing classes.

So, what is your method for highlighting? Do you use different colors for different levels of importance, different topics, etc.?

Any and all suggestions will be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks.

[WKredz5]

Great idea

Red = MUST know

Orange = Important/cool facts

Yellow = whatever it is that needs highlighting

It's not a waste, it's your education.. whatever it is you're doing, its helping, even if you don't realize/think it does.

[Iridescent Orchid, CNA, LPN]

I'm also a bit of a highlighter myself and I have a certain way I code when outlining - and yes, it definitely has to do with different colors meaning different levels of importance. It's a great way to decipher the more important areas as opposed to the less important (but still of some importance) areas of studies.

Magenta/Pink has become my highlighter of choice for more important areas. Cyan/Blue is for the second to most important, Green/Lime for the lesser important, and yellow for the basics that I need to memorize/learn.

I used to highlight with just ONE color. That's definitely a harder way of studying. If you can get yourself into habit with color-coding, it will make your world of studying so much more organized! :)

[BelleNscrubs04]

I use one color to highlight what I think sounds important when I first read. This tends to be a lot so I do it in the lightest color, usually yellow. Then when I read after class I highlight what we've covered in class, or notes, or somewhere else. It was mentioned in class, or class materials so probably really important. I use a slightly darker color that can be layered over the yellow like orange or pink. If there is something else I need to highlight such as something I don't understand or something the instructor really points out, or if I want to just go back and narrow down what I think is important I use blue. This works for me because it sort of narrows things down and organizes them. It allows me to cull good notes from my over highlighting habit :)

[princsheather]

Thanks for the suggestions. I will definitely incorporate the different levels of importance in different colors.

[Southern Magnolia]

I'm starting in the fall too but here's something that works for me in other classes. I use two colors one is for definitions and terms to know the other is for everything else. Then after I read and highlight I go back and make an outline of sorts right in the text. I underline twice the headers of my outline and underline once the secondary topics. If there is anything else (tertiary/ subtopics) I put a dot beside them in the margin.

[tech1000]

I highlighted all in yellow. I highlighted things that were test worthy. After you take a few nursing tests, you're going to know what information might be on the test. Highlight that.

[heavencutstma32]

I start in a couple weeks for the RN program.. I will tell you what has worked for me, for my previous classes!

I read the chapter before class, then had lecture (took my notes with the pulse smart pen.. WHICH I LOVE), then after i went back and highlighted in different colors (for my lecture notes & chapter):

pink - definitions

yellow - some what important information

orange - exam type information

blue - medical diseases

that is what i did for anatomy & physiology. i used to be the highlight queen also, basically i only highlight the really important things. like things i don't know, and can't remember right after i read it. that is how i do my highlighting now.

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

I use one color to highlight what I am going to SEE (assessment data/nursing diagnoses material). I use another color to highlight what I am going to DO ABOUT IT (Nursing interventions)

I am an honor student, so it is working for me.

[Pneumothorax, BSN, RN]

im not so much of a highlighting queen, but those little page flags...my books are usually covered in them. bc i tab all the important areas i should be reading & then i go back and will highlight things like definitions or maybe something the teacher mentioned in the powerpoint(they print the slides off for us))

[NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN]

Ha. My books are highlighted from top to bottom. I too need to develop a method. I highlight everything. lol.

[gr8txrn2b]

I use 3 different colors. I like to use the good post-it notes also for jotting down additional info about the "highlight".