Who this is for
Students who retain more by explaining a lecture back in their own words than by transcribing slides.
The moment this saves you
My handwritten notes are a wall of half-sentences I can’t parse at exam time. The understanding was in my head walking out of class, and then it leaked away.
See it work
Messy spoken thought in. A clean, structured artifact out.
Okay so today's lecture was on opportunity cost in econ. The main idea is opportunity cost is the value of the next best thing you gave up, not just the money, it's the best alternative. She used the example of going to college, the cost isn't just tuition it's also the salary you didn't earn for four years, that's the big one people forget. There was also this term, sunk cost, which is different, that's money already spent that you can't get back and shouldn't factor into decisions. Exam is going to have a question distinguishing those two for sure.
Lecture notes, Opportunity cost (Econ)
Main idea: Opportunity cost = the value of the next best alternative you give up, not just the money spent.
Key points:
- It includes non-monetary value, not only price.
- Example, going to college: the cost isn't only tuition, it's also the salary forgone over four years (the part people forget).
Key terms:
- Opportunity cost, value of the best alternative given up.
- Sunk cost, money already spent that can't be recovered; should NOT factor into future decisions.
Likely exam focus: Distinguishing opportunity cost vs sunk cost.
The workflow
Record a voice note
Hit the hotkey and talk, no formatting, no typing.
Tag it with this context
Contextli shapes your words into the structured output above.
Find it later
Everything's searchable and organised by context.
Pull it into Claude or ChatGPT
Bring your contexts straight into your AI tools with the Contextli MCP.
Your raw recording and transcription stay on your device, so you can always go back to the original.
The prompt behind this context
I'm going to recap a lecture or class in my own words. Turn it into structured study notes with: a bold Title (the topic and subject), a **Main idea** line (the single core concept), a **Key points** bullet list (the supporting points and examples I mention), a **Key terms** list (each term I name, with a short definition in my own framing), and a **Likely exam focus** line ONLY if I flag what might be tested. Keep my examples and my explanations, they're how I understood it. Don't add facts, terms, or definitions I didn't give. Output only the notes.
Make it your own. This is a starting point. Once it's in Contextli, tweak the instructions so the output comes out exactly how you like it.
Use this context
One click copies it and shows you exactly how to drop it into Contextli.
Next, open Contextli, go to the Contexts page, click Import, choose From JSON, paste, then Import Context. It is ready to use.
Make it your own. This is a starting point. Once it's in Contextli, tweak the instructions so the output comes out exactly how you like it.
Your raw recording and transcription stay on your device, so you can always go back to the original.
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Questions people ask
Questions students ask about Lecture to Notes
How do I take lecture notes without losing the thread of what I am learning?
The most effective approach is to take it in fully first, then speak a summary immediately after the lecture ends while it is still fresh. The Lecture to Notes context structures your spoken summary into a study note with key points, questions, and takeaways. You retain more because you summarized in your own words instead of transcribing.
What is the best way to capture takeaways from a lecture so I remember them later?
Speak a structured summary using the Lecture to Notes context immediately after the lecture ends. The context formats your spoken words into a study note with the main ideas, anything worth keeping verbatim, and open questions. Speaking a summary in your own words is one of the most effective recall techniques, and Contextli handles the formatting so the result is readable later.
How do I take lecture notes by voice without typing?
Add the Lecture to Notes context to Contextli, then speak your summary. The context produces a study note in plain text you can paste into your notes system. The recording stays on your device.
What should a lecture note include to be useful later?
A lecture note is most useful when it covers the source and date, the main argument or thesis, three to five key points or insights, anything worth quoting, and your own reactions or questions. The Lecture to Notes context structures your spoken debrief to capture all of these, so you do not have to remember the template while speaking.
How do I add this context to Contextli?
Copy the context on this page, then open Contextli and go to the Contexts page. Click Import, choose From JSON, paste it into the Import from Clipboard window, and click Import Context. It is ready to use in under 30 seconds. If you do not have Contextli yet, you can download it for free first.
Is my voice recording private? Does Contextli send it anywhere?
Your voice recording and the transcription are stored on your device only. Contextli processes your audio locally and does not send your recordings or transcription text to any server. The structured output it produces is text you control, and you decide where it goes.
Can I change what the output looks like?
Yes. Every context in Contextli is a starting point you can edit. Open the context in the app, change the instructions to adjust the structure, tone, or fields, and save. The next time you use it, the output reflects your changes. You are not locked into the default format.
Do I need to install an app to use this context?
Yes. Contextli is a free app. Download it, then copy this context and paste it into the Import from Clipboard window on the Contexts page. The whole process takes about 30 seconds.