Effective Note taking

Presented by:ACCESS CENTER

Workshop Goals:To help you evaluate your current note taking styleTo offer guidelines for improving your note takingHighlight styles and resources for additional information

Do you???

Understand your notes after 1 week?

Have a grasp of the key ideas?

Try to write every word spoken?

Why take notes?

• Improves concentration

• Increases retention

• Guidelines for test preparation

• Organizes key ideas

Watch and Listen!Watch and Listen!• Concentrate not only on

the words spoken but… Look for emphasis!

• Translate and use clues!!• Leave spaces for

supplemental information• Review, reword,

Organize!

Top three techniques!!

CornellWorks well with Visual Learning style

Outline Works well with Auditory Learning Style

Mapping Works well with Kinesthetic learning style

The Cornell Note-taking System

2 1/2” left side Cue Column

6” Note taking 1. Record: During the lecture, use the note taking column to record the lecture using

telegraphic sentences. 2. Questions: As soon after class as possible, formulate questions based on the notes

in the right-hand column. Writing questions helps to clarify meanings, reveal relationships, establish continuity, and strengthen memory. Also, the writing of questions sets up a perfect stage for exam-studying later.

3. Recite: Cover the note taking column with a sheet of paper. Then, looking at the questions or cue-words in the question and cue column only, say aloud, in your own words, the answers to the questions, facts, or ideas indicated by the cue-words.

4. Reflect: Reflect on the material by asking yourself questions, for example: “What’s the significance of these facts? What principle are they based on? How can I apply them? How do they fit in with what I already know? What’s beyond them?

5. Review: Spend at least ten minutes every week reviewing all your previous notes. If you do, you’ll retain a great deal for current use, as well as, for the exam.

2” Summary

After class, use this space at the bottom of each page to summarize the notes on that page.

Adapted from How to Study in College 7/e by Walter Pauk, 2001 Houghton Mifflin Company

OUTLINEOUTLINE Taking Lecture NotesTaking Lecture Notes I. What is the purpose of lectures?I. What is the purpose of lectures? A. The instructor may draw on his/her background of reading and experience to presentA. The instructor may draw on his/her background of reading and experience to present material that students ordinarily would not get.material that students ordinarily would not get. B. Important principles might be illustrated and explained in more detail by the lecturer.B. Important principles might be illustrated and explained in more detail by the lecturer. C. Additional materials might be introduced to bring out important pointsC. Additional materials might be introduced to bring out important points II. How might the lecturer present his/her material?II. How might the lecturer present his/her material? A. There maybe only a few major points covered, with much explanation to make them clear.A. There maybe only a few major points covered, with much explanation to make them clear. 1. All material can not be presented; the discussion maybe condensed.1. All material can not be presented; the discussion maybe condensed. 2. The student should pick out the major points2. The student should pick out the major points B. Sources of information or readings may be suggested or noted.B. Sources of information or readings may be suggested or noted. C. In introductory courses, a survey of the field is usually given.C. In introductory courses, a survey of the field is usually given. 1. Controversial issues are usually not brought out.1. Controversial issues are usually not brought out. 2. Limitations or shortcomings of the subject are usually noted, not debated.2. Limitations or shortcomings of the subject are usually noted, not debated. 3. If viewpoints are criticized or experimental methods are questioned in3. If viewpoints are criticized or experimental methods are questioned in introductory courses, the lecturer usually smoothes out difficulties or fills inintroductory courses, the lecturer usually smoothes out difficulties or fills in omissions.omissions. 4. In such courses, getting a body of knowledge is the aim, and representative4. In such courses, getting a body of knowledge is the aim, and representative outlines of the lectures helps get this.outlines of the lectures helps get this. III. What is the purpose of lecture notes?III. What is the purpose of lecture notes? A. Help the student get the meaning and plan of the lecture.A. Help the student get the meaning and plan of the lecture. 1. Notes should represent students’ thinking, questioning and reaction to the1. Notes should represent students’ thinking, questioning and reaction to the lecture.lecture. 2. Notes should encourage the student to take an active (thinking) part in the2. Notes should encourage the student to take an active (thinking) part in the lectures and do reference reading.lectures and do reference reading. 3. Notes should help the student to think more clearly on the organized points of3. Notes should help the student to think more clearly on the organized points of his/her outline lecture notes.his/her outline lecture notes. B. Help the student learn and remember the important ideas and facts.B. Help the student learn and remember the important ideas and facts. 1. Gives an accurate record of significant principles, facts and ideas.1. Gives an accurate record of significant principles, facts and ideas. 2. Helps in remembering more accurately and for a longer period of time.2. Helps in remembering more accurately and for a longer period of time. 3. From the notes, s/he can organize the material for better learning and for3. From the notes, s/he can organize the material for better learning and for review.review.

MappingMapping

Resources

• http://www.lc.unsw.edu.au

• www.arc.sbc.edu/notes.html

• http://www.nlpmind.com/mind_mapping.htm

• www.hull.ac.uk/studyadvice