Taking NotesTaking Notes

Joko Hendarto

Why Taking Notes ?Why Taking Notes ? Taking notes helps students to Taking notes helps students to

concentrateconcentrate in class. in class. Taking notes develops a sense of Taking notes develops a sense of

listening, allowing the reader to listening, allowing the reader to recognize recognize main ideasmain ideas. .

Makes student Makes student an active part an active part of the of the learning process rather than a passive learning process rather than a passive listener. listener.

Helps prepare Helps prepare for the exams, quizzes. for the exams, quizzes.

Notes often Notes often contain info that generally contain info that generally cannot be found else where cannot be found else where (i.e (i.e textbooks). textbooks).

Notes are often Notes are often a valuable clue a valuable clue for what for what instructor thinks is important.instructor thinks is important.

Taking notes in class means that you are Taking notes in class means that you are working the information working the information and and processingprocessing in in every day every day

Why Taking Notes ?Why Taking Notes ?

Taking Notes in ClassTaking Notes in Class

Before the lecture beginsBefore the lecture begins:: Arrive to class Arrive to class on timeon time.. Sit Sit as near to the front of the room as near to the front of the room as possible to as possible to

eliminate distractions. eliminate distractions. Be sure to have Be sure to have read assigned readings read assigned readings before before

coming to class.coming to class. Make a list of questions Make a list of questions from the readings to ask from the readings to ask

the lecturer in class. the lecturer in class. Review your notesReview your notes from previous lecture. from previous lecture.

During the lecture:During the lecture: HaveHave your paper & pencil or pen ready. your paper & pencil or pen ready. Attend all of every classAttend all of every class.. Copy everything that instructor writes on the board, Copy everything that instructor writes on the board,

especially the outline. especially the outline. Be an active listener and pay attention Be an active listener and pay attention to instructor’s to instructor’s

verbal cues. His choice of words might indicate the verbal cues. His choice of words might indicate the importance of the information. For example.., importance of the information. For example.., most most importantly.., the result is.., finallyimportantly.., the result is.., finally etc. etc.

Use Use your own wordsyour own words in summarizing what instructor is in summarizing what instructor is saying. saying.

Taking Notes in ClassTaking Notes in Class

To write a little faster use abbreviations & To write a little faster use abbreviations & symbols to record the information. symbols to record the information.

W/ W/ with with W/O W/O without without p p Page Page< < less thanless thanb/4b/4 before before == equalsequals%% percentpercentVsVs versusversusC/oC/o care of care of

Taking Notes in ClassTaking Notes in Class

Taking Notes in ClassTaking Notes in Class Be clear & complete Be clear & complete in your notes. Leave a in your notes. Leave a

(?) by info that is unclear. Later go back & (?) by info that is unclear. Later go back & check with your instructor. check with your instructor.

After the lectureAfter the lecture: : Revise and/or rewrite the notes as quickly as Revise and/or rewrite the notes as quickly as

possiblepossible, preferably the same day of the , preferably the same day of the lecture. lecture.

Coordinate readings and the lecture notes. Coordinate readings and the lecture notes. Review notes at least once a week & also Review notes at least once a week & also

review before next lecture. review before next lecture.

If permitted, tape recorders can be used in If permitted, tape recorders can be used in class to record the lecture. Later, you can class to record the lecture. Later, you can listen to the tapes to clarify your notes and listen to the tapes to clarify your notes and help you remember important ideas. help you remember important ideas.

Using a tape recorder Using a tape recorder

Good Listening In the ClassGood Listening In the Class Much of what you will have to learn Much of what you will have to learn will be will be

presented verballypresented verbally by your teachers. by your teachers. Hearing is NOT the same as listeningHearing is NOT the same as listening: you : you

need tneed to pay attention and mentally o pay attention and mentally process what you hear.process what you hear.

Be Emotionally Ready to ListenBe Emotionally Ready to Listen…your …your attitude is important…try to find the topic attitude is important…try to find the topic useful and interesting...be committed to useful and interesting...be committed to learning all that you can.learning all that you can.

Good Listening In the ClassGood Listening In the Class Listen with a Purpose Listen with a Purpose (what is it that you want to (what is it that you want to

learn from that class)learn from that class) Listen with an Open MindListen with an Open Mind (remain open to points (remain open to points

of view other than your own)of view other than your own) Be AttentiveBe Attentive. Focus on what your teacher is . Focus on what your teacher is

saying (try not to daydream…it helps to sit at the saying (try not to daydream…it helps to sit at the front..maintain eye contact with the prof)front..maintain eye contact with the prof)

Be an Active ListenerBe an Active Listener. You can think faster than . You can think faster than your teacher can speak BUT you cannot write your teacher can speak BUT you cannot write faster (choose wisely what gets written)faster (choose wisely what gets written)

Good Listening In the ClassGood Listening In the Class

Meet the ChallengeMeet the Challenge: don't give up and : don't give up and stop listening when you find the stop listening when you find the information being difficult to understand. information being difficult to understand. Listen even more carefully and ask Listen even more carefully and ask questionsquestions

Triumph Over the Environment Triumph Over the Environment (noise, (noise, heat, cold, too bright, or too dark. Stay heat, cold, too bright, or too dark. Stay focused on the big picture - LEARNING.focused on the big picture - LEARNING.

Cornel Notes SystemCornel Notes System

The 7’ R For Cornel Note The 7’ R For Cornel Note SystemSystem

RecordRecord ReduceReduce RecallRecall ReciteRecite ReflectReflect RecapitulateRecapitulate ReviewReview

Step #1: PrepareStep #1: PrepareRecall ColumnRecall Column

--2 Inches----2 Inches--

Reduce ideas Reduce ideas after class into after class into a few words.a few words.

Record ColumnRecord Column

--6 Inches----6 Inches--

Record the lectures as fully as Record the lectures as fully as possible.possible.

Reduce ColumnReduce ColumnReduce the main Reduce the main

points of this page ofpoints of this page of your lecture notes.your lecture notes.

--2

1/2

Inch

es--

Step #2: Record Step #2: Record

Record in ClassRecord in Class During the lecture, write as many facts as you During the lecture, write as many facts as you

can.can. Use shorthand to get the full idea. Use shorthand to get the full idea. Leave spaces between ideas so you can fill in more Leave spaces between ideas so you can fill in more

later.later.

Step #3: ReduceStep #3: Reduce

Reduce after class Reduce after class As soon after class as possible, summarize As soon after class as possible, summarize

these ideas and facts in as these ideas and facts in as fewfew words as words as possible in the Reduce Column.possible in the Reduce Column. Helps show relationships between points & Helps show relationships between points &

strengthens memory. strengthens memory. Prepares you for exams gradually & ahead of time.Prepares you for exams gradually & ahead of time.

Step #4: RecallStep #4: Recall

Recalling what your wrote in your notes, Recalling what your wrote in your notes, write write questions in the Recall column of your notes questions in the Recall column of your notes to quiz yourself on the materialto quiz yourself on the material.. Write your questions as close as possible to the Write your questions as close as possible to the

beginning of the section in your notes beginning of the section in your notes you are quizzing yourself on.you are quizzing yourself on. Write a question for each new idea Write a question for each new idea presented in your notes.presented in your notes.

Step #4: Recall, Step #4: Recall, ContinuedContinued

The questions you write in the Recall column will The questions you write in the Recall column will become your best method for checking what you become your best method for checking what you have learned!have learned!

These questions should elicit critical thinking skills.These questions should elicit critical thinking skills.– Levels 3 through 6 in Bloom’s Taxonomy.Levels 3 through 6 in Bloom’s Taxonomy.

Bloom’s TaxonomyBloom’s Taxonomy 1. KNOWLEDGE:1. KNOWLEDGE: recalling information recalling information 2. COMPREHENSION:2. COMPREHENSION: understanding understanding

meaningmeaning 3. APPLICATION: 3. APPLICATION: using learning in new using learning in new

situationssituations 4. ANALYSIS:4. ANALYSIS: ability to see parts & ability to see parts &

relationships relationships 5. SYNTHESIS:5. SYNTHESIS: Use parts to create a new Use parts to create a new

wholewhole 6. EVALUATION:6. EVALUATION: judgment based on criteria judgment based on criteria

Step #5: ReciteStep #5: ReciteRecite from the Recall Column.Recite from the Recall Column. Cover the Record Column. Cover the Record Column. Using only the words in the Recall Column, say over Using only the words in the Recall Column, say over

the facts as fully as you can the facts as fully as you can in your own wordsin your own words! ! Then, uncover your notes and check what Then, uncover your notes and check what

you have said against the facts. you have said against the facts. This will help transfer ideas to your This will help transfer ideas to your

long-term memory!long-term memory!

Step #6: ReflectStep #6: Reflect

Reflect on possible test questions and Reflect on possible test questions and mark unclear points.mark unclear points.

Helps in making sense of your notes by finding Helps in making sense of your notes by finding relationships and order in the material. relationships and order in the material.

Try to put ideas in categories & tie old material Try to put ideas in categories & tie old material to the new. to the new.

Think about which points will appear on tests Think about which points will appear on tests & highlight any unclear points so you can ask & highlight any unclear points so you can ask questions about them questions about them beforebefore the next lecture. the next lecture.

Another way to reflect is to ask questions like Another way to reflect is to ask questions like How do the main ideas of this lecture fit together into How do the main ideas of this lecture fit together into

a "bigger picture"? What is the significance?a "bigger picture"? What is the significance? How do these ideas fit in with the previous lecture(s)? How do these ideas fit in with the previous lecture(s)? What ideas do I agree with? What ideas do I disagree What ideas do I agree with? What ideas do I disagree

with? with? Which ideas are clear? Which ideas are confusing? Which ideas are clear? Which ideas are confusing? What new questions does the information in this What new questions does the information in this

lecture raise? lecture raise? What principles are applicable?What principles are applicable? What are some possible applications of the key points What are some possible applications of the key points

of this lecture?of this lecture? How does this fit with what you already know? How does this fit with what you already know?

Step #6: Reflect, Step #6: Reflect, ContinuedContinued

Write a summaryWrite a summary.. Leave blank one inch at the bottom of each page of Leave blank one inch at the bottom of each page of

notes. Later you may use this space to write a summary notes. Later you may use this space to write a summary of the contents of each page in that reserved space. of the contents of each page in that reserved space. This will give you a space to recapitulate or summarize This will give you a space to recapitulate or summarize the entire lecture for quick, easy reference.the entire lecture for quick, easy reference.

Two kinds of summary are suitable for lecture notes. Two kinds of summary are suitable for lecture notes. Choose the one that works best for you:Choose the one that works best for you: Write a summary of each page of lecture notes in the Write a summary of each page of lecture notes in the

Summary Area at the bottom of each note-sheet. Summary Area at the bottom of each note-sheet. Write a summary of the whole lecture on the last note Write a summary of the whole lecture on the last note

sheet.sheet.

Step #6: Recapitulate Step #6: Recapitulate

Step #7: ReviewStep #7: Review

Review to improve your memory.Review to improve your memory. If you will spend ten (10) minutes every week or so in a If you will spend ten (10) minutes every week or so in a

quick review of these old notes, you will retain most of quick review of these old notes, you will retain most of what you have learned and you will relate the facts and what you have learned and you will relate the facts and ideas to present lectures or readings.ideas to present lectures or readings.

Notetaking TipsNotetaking Tips Keep Keep a separate section a separate section of your notebook or binder of your notebook or binder

for each course. for each course.

Notes for Notes for each lecture each lecture should begin on should begin on a new page. a new page.

Date your lecture notes and number all pages.Date your lecture notes and number all pages.

Never use Never use a sentence a sentence when you can use when you can use a phrasea phrase, or , or a phrase a phrase when you can use when you can use a worda word. .

Notetaking Tips, Cont.Notetaking Tips, Cont.

Use Use indentationsindentations to distinguish between to distinguish between major and major and minor points. minor points.

Put most notes in Put most notes in your own wordsyour own words. However, the . However, the following should be noted exactly: following should be noted exactly:

• Formulas , Definitions, and Specific facts Formulas , Definitions, and Specific facts Use Use abbreviations and symbols wherever possibleabbreviations and symbols wherever possible. .

Note down unfamiliar vocabulary and unclear areas. Note down unfamiliar vocabulary and unclear areas.

If you should miss something completely, If you should miss something completely, leave a leave a blank space and get it later. blank space and get it later.

Terima KasihTerima Kasih