Have you ever colour coded your notes before? Whether it be two standard colours or a handful of shades, you probably have! However, how effective is colour coding? Is this method truly beneficial, or does it simply make your notes look aesthetically pleasing?
What Is It?
Colour coding notes is a method which may appeal to students who tend to be visual learners. As the name suggests, visual learners find it beneficial when they see information presented in a visual manner. Whether it be pictures, diagrams, or in the form of color coding, this type of information helps these learners the greatest! However, each individual is different, making it is important for you to find out what works for you.
By colour coding your notes, you can correlate specific colors to specific points of information. Having a few colors which serve specific purposes will help keep your notes organized and structured.
Why Should You Try It?
Your attention significantly increases when you see color coded information, enabling the successful memorization of a concept. In general, as you give more attention to a certain stimuli, the chances of it transferring it to a permanent memory storage increases! Color coding notes can increase your attention towards points of information. In addition, by colour coding information, you can visually differentiate concepts. This differentiation can contribute to a better understanding of the topic as a whole.
Furthermore, the effects of colour on your mind can be shown in the changes of alpha brain waves. As you transmit colours from your eye to your brain, the brain releases a hormone. This hormone affects your emotions, mind clarity, as well as energy levels. It has even been shown that different combinations of colours can have different psychological effects on your body.
Where To Start?
With the hundreds of colours out there, you may question how you can possibly limit yourself to a few colours. However, by limiting the number of shades you use, memorization will be so much easier! Some commonly used colours within society have been studied. For example, red is found to boost your performance in detail-oriented tasks. On the other hand, blue enhances your creativity! By using such previous research, as well as your own perception of colours, you can successfully create your own method.
The next time you sit down and start to study a difficult concept, consider pulling out a few highlighters. Try to determine which colours work best for you and stick with it. The results may surprise you in a positive manner!
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