For days like this, I started rewriting my notes as soon as I could after the lecture so the information was still fresh in my mind and I could fill in the gaps.

This is a great technique. I actually have a post about it from early in the Study Hacks Canon (I think it’s called “an instant replay booth method,”or some such.) I think of cleaning up holes in your knowledge right after lecture as part of the original notetaking, not a rewriting from scratch that happens later.

Yeah, I thought you were all about rewriting Discrete Math notes!!!

I implicitly referring to non-technical courses in that question. But I should have been more clear!

I enjoyed the Q & A– It helped me skim the questions and find the ones relevant to me. Thanks!

I also think some courses just weren’t meant to be processed. Example are biology courses with their huge amounts of bare fact that just has to be memorized. You can’t go ahead and add in your own ideas at times, although it is possible to re-write the notes in your own words during class.

http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/02/27/the-art-of-taking-science-notes/

I agree it’s a waste of time to rewrite notes for easy classes like psychology. But the equations and proofs for continuum mechanics and medical imaging may need some second-hand kinetic engraving into the mind. This helps one answer Q+R questions more easily, and develops the “insight” you hold high for technical courses. Additionally, to gain insight, I think you said you rewrote proofs for a course like abstract algebra. How would just writing and quizzing w/ Q+R questions be different from Q+R plus rewriting some of your important notes beforehand?