Study Skills: Note-taking

I went to a seminar yesterday at a university in my city. (Gotta love my school division and how well it prepares its students for secondary education compared to the other divisions in the city.) I learned how to take good notes, as well as other skills. I'll post my notes on note-taking...that sounds odd... 

Academic Success

Academic success depends on…

·         Attitude

·         Ability

·         Learning techniques

Note-taking

Why take notes?

a.        Materials to study from

b.       Encourages active listening

c.        Promotes retention of material

d.       Helps with organization of concepts

 1)       Preparation for note-taking

a.        Attend all classes

b.       Do the assignments

c.        Read your notes before coming to class

d.       Bring the right materials

e.       Organize your notes as you go along

f.         GET ENOUGH SLEEP!

2)       Effective note-taking consists of three aspects

a.        Observing

·   If the instructor writes it down, it’s important

·   Watch the instructor’s behaviour and gestures

·   Listen for context

·         Listen for the meaning

·         Listen with a purpose (to answer questions)

·   Listen for language

·         Introductory, concluding and transition words

·         For repetition (if the instructor repeated a point, it’s important)

·         For connections to previous lectures and textbook material

Active Listening

S.L.A.N.T.

S – Sit in front and sit up straight

L – Lean forward

A – Ask questions

N – Nod and smile

T – Track the teacher

b.       Recording – making choices, being organized

·   Label, number and date your notes

·   Use colours

·   Write neatly

·   Use an effective note-taking technique

·         Cornell method

Cornell method example

·         Format the page

·         Take notes on the right

·         Use the cue column for questions or keywords

·         Practice reciting/reviewing

·         Summarize after class

·   Gets the information into your long-term memory

·         Mind and Concept Mapping

Mind map example

Concept map example

·         Concepts flow from one to another

·         One central idea

·   Specific points branch out

·         Use colours to code different ideas

·         Outlining (this whole post is an example.)

c.        Reviewing – daily, weekly and monthly

·   Within 24 hours

·   Do a post-class edit

·   Fill in the blanks

·   Set small study goals

·   Conduct weekly study reviews

 

Keeping Up!

·         Use symbols and abbreviations

·         Write short sentences

·         Develop your own shorthand

·         Leave spaces when material is missed

·         Have an “I’m lost” signal

Be an Active Learner

·         Notice your wandering mind

o    Your wandering thoughts

§  Leave judgement about content and style until after

o    Participate in class activities

o    Relate the class to your goals

o    Think critically about what you hear

§  Don’t write everything down

Summary

Note-taking

·         Encourages active listening

·         Promotes retention

·         Organization of concepts

·         Preparation for tests and exams

Effective note-taking includes observing, recording and reviewing.

Find a note-taking technique that works for you.