Learning OutcomesLearning Outcomes

1. Differentiate between annotation, outline notes, column notes, mind maps and summary notes;

2. Develop skills of making notes from printed matters; and

3. Use the note-taking suggestions to develop good notes based on classroom discussions.

Purpose of making & taking Purpose of making & taking notesnotesSave time and effort in: Having to look for the original text; or Having to look through massive piles of

notes just to retrieve the specific information that you need.

a) Annotationa) Annotation Suitable for print materials, ie. Print

modules, textbooks, articles. Make notes by writing in the margins,

underlining facts, highlighting the main points, etc.

Help to remember main points without having to read the text all over again.

b) Outline notesb) Outline notes

Using only keywords and phrases. Usually sequentially numbered or headings

and subheadings.

c) Column notesc) Column notes

More appropriate for mathematics and science courses

d) Mind mapsd) Mind maps

Show relationships among ideas and concepts, with lines serving as links.

Do not follow a linear sequence.

e) Summary notese) Summary notes A condensed version of the information,

written in paragraph form, using your own words.

Used when you cannot impose headings or subheadings for a text.

Making Notes from Printed Making Notes from Printed MatterMatter Understand the objectives. Read the whole topic, then summarise. Leave spaces for additions/changes. Reread topics and improve notes. Use your own words. Put inverted commas for sentences that

you quote. Read over your notes to make sure you

understand them.

Preparing yourself for tutorialsPreparing yourself for tutorials

Pre-reading helps you to:Activates your prior knowledge;Builds mental schemas; andEnables you to make intelligent connections.

Read through the whole topic to familiarised yourself with the subject. It will make note-taking easier.

Listening during tutorialsListening during tutorials

Be an effective listener in class by: Avoiding distractions that may interfere

with your concentration. Listen to the message being said. Pay

attention! Relate ideas to previous tutorial

discussions. Look for clues from the tutor in

illustrations, repetitions, etc.

Listening during tutorialsListening during tutorials

Take notes in class. Identify noteworthy materials. Do not

copy everything! Write down details of discussion ie.

date/time/tutor’s name/subject. Identify key issues, phrases. Create spaces for additional notes later. Use abbreviations if needed.

Review after tutorialReview after tutorial Review your notes as soon as possible after the

tutorial. Rewrite if necessary and fill the gaps. Verify your notes against the module/textbook. Supplement your notes with further reading of

other books. Read and reread your notes. Use them to answer past examination papers. Keep it safe for easy retrieval.

Learning Skills: Note-Making and Note-Taking Skills by Open University Malaysia is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 Unported License.

Based on a work at http://oer.oum.edu.my.

Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at http://www.oum.edu.my.