Note making is essential in college:
For lectures, which are a highly condensed methods of passing on informationFor reading, because what you don't write down, you don't remember
Note making is a skill:
Most people feel deficientIt can be learnedThis takes understanding of what you're doing It takes practice, which involves effort
Note making is difficult because:
Spoken language is more diffuse than writtenSpeaker's organization is not immediately apparentImmediate feedback seldom occursSpoken language is quickly goneThis makes analysis difficult
Five purposes for note making:
Provides a written record for reviewProvides a definite, limited learning taskForces you to pay attentionRequires organization, and active effort on the part of the listenerListener must condense and rephrase, which aids understanding
Sequence
Listen and focus on meaningEvaluate what is being saidIs it relevant to your purpose? What are the high points?Record the informationMake use of it
Physical factors
SeatingNear the front and center - easier to see and hearAvoid distractions - doorways, windows, glare; friends, foesMaterialsLoose leaf notebook: lies flat - organization and additions are easierTwo pens, wide-lined, easy-eye paper; use dividersCourse, date, and topic clearly labeled
Before taking notes - PREVIEW
Prepare yourself mentally - What do you need to get out of this?Review notes from last time and homework. Nail your attention down tight.Review the outline from your reading assignmentThink through what has happened in the class to dateGenerate enthusiasm and interestIncreased knowledge results in increased interestA clear sense of purpose on your part will make the course content more relevantActing as if you are interested can helpDon't let the personality or mannerisms of a speaker put you offBe ready to understand and rememberAnticipate the next step and compare what you've guessed with what happens
Get Involved!
Tune-in, look, listen for clues:Tone or gesture of ProfessorRepetition; cue words: "remember!" "1,2,3..." reference to text, "in your book it says.."Notice what conflicts with your current opinionsThey are harder to understand and rememberKeep thinking...Look for emerging patternsWrite questions in margins to be answered later
While taking notes
Don't try for a verbatim transcriptGet all of the main ideasRecord some details. illustrations, implications, etc.Leave plenty of white space for later additions - underscore or star major pointsNote speaker's organization of materialOrganization aids memoryOrganization indicates gaps when they occur - you fill in laterBe accurateListen carefully to what is being saidPay attention to qualifying words like: sometimes, usually, rarely, etc.Notice signals that a change of direction is coming: but, however, on the other handBe an aggressive, not a passive, listenerJot questions in your notesDo you believe what you're hearing? What do you believe?Seek out meanings. Look for implications beyond what is being said.Relate the material to your other classes and your life outside of school.Develop a shorthand of your ownJot down words or phrases; use contractions and abbreviationsLeave out small service words, use symbols: +, =,&, ~)Try to get the hang of listening and writing at the same time. It can be doneYou may practice listening to the news on TV and taking notes
After taking notes (POST VIEW: Don't move - go over notes at once!
Review and reword them as soon after class as possibleBuild review time into your scheduleDon't just recopy or type without thought"Reminiscing" may provide forgotten material laterRewrite incomplete or skimpy parts in greater detailFill in gaps as you remember points heard but not recordedArrange with another student to compare notesFind answers to any questions remaining unansweredWrite a brief summary of the class sessionFormulate several generalized test questions based on the materialUse your notes as a learning toolReview at spaced intervals it is more effective than the same effort spent crammingWe forget 50% of what we hear immediately, two days later, another 25% is gone. But relearning is rapid if regular review is used.Compare the information in your notes with your own experience - don't swallow everything uncriticallyDon't reject what seems strange or incorrect. Check it out. Be willing to hold some seeming inconsistencies in your mind over a period of time.Build a good "thought map" of the ideas. Explain it to anyone who'll listen.Memorize that which must be memorized.
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