Processed notes are not a polished copy of the lecture. They are material that tells you what mattered, what remains unclear, and when you will return to it.
For one lecture, aim for three outputs: a summary, questions, and a next review.
Decide what the notes are for
Before editing, choose the immediate purpose:
- prepare for a seminar;
- complete an assignment;
- review for an exam;
- preserve reference material.
The purpose determines depth. A seminar needs arguments and discussion questions. An exam needs retrieval without prompts. An assignment may need formulas, examples, or requirements. Without a purpose, it is easy to spend an hour standardizing headings and colors.
Use a three-part processing template
Add this block to the end of the lecture note:
SUMMARY
Main idea:
Three supporting points:
Connection to the previous topic:
QUESTIONS
What I do not understand:
What I should ask the instructor:
What I should check in the course material:
NEXT REVIEW
Method: explain / flashcards / problems / quiz
When:
First retrieval question:Use short phrases. If you cannot write the summary, do not hide the gap by copying more text. Turn it into a precise question.
Process one lecture in 15–20 minutes
- Add the date, topic, and source material.
- Divide the notes into meaningful sections.
- Repair only gaps that block understanding.
- Write a three-to-five-sentence
SUMMARY. - Convert unclear points into questions.
- Close the notes and explain one idea in your own words.
- Schedule the next short review.
The stopping rule is usability: you can locate the topic, explain its foundation, and see the remaining gaps. Matching fonts and perfect diagrams are not part of that rule.
If notes have already accumulated
Do not automatically begin with the oldest lecture. Create a quick inventory:
| Topic | Nearest use | Condition | Next action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topic 4 | Seminar on Thursday | Important gaps | Write 3 questions |
| Topic 2 | Exam next month | Usable | Review later |
| Topic 1 | No current use | Archive | Do not process now |
Start with material needed for the nearest seminar, assignment, or exam. The rest can be archived honestly. Focused work on one relevant lecture is more useful than a plan to “organize everything” at once.
Processing is not the same as learning
Processing makes the material usable. Learning requires an attempt to retrieve, explain, or apply it. After organizing a note, answer at least one question without looking or complete one short problem.
In Flammy, you could repeat “process one lecture” and create a separate quest for the next exam-review block. XP can mark the completed pass, but understanding still needs to be checked through an answer, explanation, or problem—not the tracker itself.
For difficult course reading, use the textbook-reading cycle. If the problem now includes assignments and several courses, move to the broader academic procrastination guide.