TOPIC 6 ; TAKING LECTURE NOTE

Note Taking Strategies 

The notes you take in class are your primary tool for learning class material yet most university students take notes on a daily basis but fail to utilize them until a week before a scheduled exam. In order to be an effective learner, you must learn note-taking techniques that enhance the material presented to you both in your text and in class. Effective note taking is an essential component to improving your study habits and enhancing your ability to remember thus truly learning course material.

Organization

Use a three ring binder and binder paper rather than a spiral notebook. This allows you to put your syllabus in the front, add all handouts by date, and add additional notes as needed. It also allows you to remove sections of notes and place them side by side to create a “big picture” view of a main point, chapter, or section.

Use one binder per class so that notes stay organized and do not get blended with other class notes.Always read the chapter assigned before attending the lecture. This allows for better recall and familiarity of material so that you recognize important points and main ideas and record appropriately.

Get to class early so that you can quickly review your notes from the previous lecture to better connect the new information about to be presented.

           

Record

Either create your own abbreviation system or use standard ones. If you create your own, make sure you are consistent in its use and that the symbols and abbreviations only have one meaning. Make sure you create a legend so that you remember what each abbreviation means:

Highlight important main points when they slow down and/or changes pitch of voice to emphasize an important point.

Give examples, numbers or list points.

Emphasize information by stating it then writing it on the board.

Use phrases that show relationships, summarizes, concludes, connects, compares and contrasts.

  

Review of Notes

Review your notes as soon after the lecture as possible for optimum memory for filling in and revision.

Review your notes daily for maximum recall of material.

Schedule weekly review sessions that encompasses looking at both lecture and textbook notes and reciting information by synthesizing materials.

When using the dual or multicolumn system, cover the main body and recite the answers to the questions in the cue or recall column. Use your own words when reciting then uncover the main body and ensure you covered all points and details. This process shifts the recall of information in your short term memory to true learning and stores it in your long term memory.

Note Taking Exercise (Cornell Method).

STEP 1 : 

STEP 2 :

STEP 3 :

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.