For both high school and university students, knowing how to take notes is as important as knowing which notes to take. Unless you know shorthand or carry around your handheld recorder, you will need to make effective use of your classroom time and become an effective note-taker.
1. Do pre-class prep time. Read ahead on what the professor will be going over. If you skim your textbooks you'll have an idea what the professor will be covering and you can get a feel for the topic. If there's a concept you don't understand make a note of it and ask about it in class.
2. Pick up a highlighter to mark the points the professor covers. You might not have to give yourself writer's cramp if you have access to a highlighter. But if you're a purist who doesn't want to write in a text book, carry sticky notes and post them next to the sections covered in class.
3. Listening is as important as note taking. If you zone out you won't know what important points your instructor is discussing. Also, pay attention to your fellow students - they may raise points you had questions on.
4. Pay attention to lecture content. Knowing what to write down and what to ignore can be difficult to determine but keep this in mind: If the instructor puts it in the board or in an presentation, you likely need to know it. Points that are repeated, should be written down - they may come up in a test later.
5. While every individual has his or her own note taking style here are a couple of things to consider. Use a new page for each day's lecture. Leave empty spaces between notes for review and additional topics as they arise. Paraphrase. Abbreviate but make certain you will be able to decipher it later.
Remember, you can't write down everything your professor says, and rest assured - you won't need to. Just pay attention, jot salient points and review your notes after class to make certain you understand what you've scribbled down. - 31376
1. Do pre-class prep time. Read ahead on what the professor will be going over. If you skim your textbooks you'll have an idea what the professor will be covering and you can get a feel for the topic. If there's a concept you don't understand make a note of it and ask about it in class.
2. Pick up a highlighter to mark the points the professor covers. You might not have to give yourself writer's cramp if you have access to a highlighter. But if you're a purist who doesn't want to write in a text book, carry sticky notes and post them next to the sections covered in class.
3. Listening is as important as note taking. If you zone out you won't know what important points your instructor is discussing. Also, pay attention to your fellow students - they may raise points you had questions on.
4. Pay attention to lecture content. Knowing what to write down and what to ignore can be difficult to determine but keep this in mind: If the instructor puts it in the board or in an presentation, you likely need to know it. Points that are repeated, should be written down - they may come up in a test later.
5. While every individual has his or her own note taking style here are a couple of things to consider. Use a new page for each day's lecture. Leave empty spaces between notes for review and additional topics as they arise. Paraphrase. Abbreviate but make certain you will be able to decipher it later.
Remember, you can't write down everything your professor says, and rest assured - you won't need to. Just pay attention, jot salient points and review your notes after class to make certain you understand what you've scribbled down. - 31376
About the Author:
Robbi Hess is a staff writer for the American Educational Guidance Center. Her interests in higher education include online college programs for working adults, specialty colleges and universities and unusual scholarships.
