Be an Active Listener!
There are many aspects to taking good notes. It is important to remember that you can be an active listener in the lecture by focusing on four things:
1. Where your attention is
2. How actively are you listening
3. What are you observing
4. How/what are you recording
Listening
Listening must be active in order to allow you to get the most out of lectures.
A. Before the lecture:
- Look over the appropriate parts of the textbook in order to know what to expect from the lecture
- Intend to listen and learn - your attitude plays an important role in the lecture
- Sit where you will pay attention the best - least distractions, hear and see well
- Quickly review your notes from the previous lecture
- Regularly look over the course outline to remind yourself of where the class is and where it is heading
B. During the lecture
- Pay attention to outlines and opening statements – these tell a lot about the direction of the lecture
- Study the lecturer – take some time to know how he/she talks and especially how he/she emphasizes important points
- Be aware of the organization of the lecture – if the lecturer is not organized you may need to organize the information yourself
- Try to associate previous knowledge with the new information coming from the lecture – from reading or general knowledge
- Do not be afraid to ask questions, either during or after the lecture
- Be aware when your attention lapses and do things to counteract this – move a bit, roll your neck, repeat the lecturer’s words in your head
Recording
A. Selecting
- Write down only key information – use abbreviations, short forms, and incomplete sentences
- Get to class early
- Pay attention to the notes that the lecturer writes down – these are likely to be important
- Pay attention to the lecturer’s use of emphasis and repetition
B. Organizing: it is to your benefit to be organized
- Make headings, dates, and page numbers clear on every page
- Write on one side of the paper
- Make use of the margins – for titles, key words, and thoughts
- Using a loose-leaf binder allows you to add handouts and other sheets when you need them
- Identify key thoughts, headings, and subheadings by using circles, underlining, indenting – you want things to stand out and be easy to find
- Make good use of numbers and letters in identifying headings and subheadings – be consistent in your use of numbering and lettering
- Make your diagrams and other figures big and be sure to label them well – you want these to be meaningful and not a puzzle to be figured out later
- Design alternate note-taking structures – how to compare opposites, listing characteristics, flowcharts, etc.
Editing
Review and edit notes within 24 hours of the class – we tend to forget almost 80% of any new information within this time period.
Some thoughts on Reviewing and Editing
- Do this on a regular basis for each class, especially the more difficult ones
- Spend 15-20 minutes reviewing and editing
- Have an objective for rereading:
- Note any issues that need clarification – write them on the blank page opposite to the notes
- Add personal thoughts and reflections to the notes
- Review at least the key words every two weeks to refresh your memory on the content of the course
- Talk with other students in the course – their perspective may help you understand the lectures in a new way
A WORD OF CAUTION: AVOID RECOPYING YOUR NOTES!! It is time consuming and you do not learn a lot because you are not actively selecting.