Notetaking Skills

Notetaking

Today we are exploring the importance of notetaking.

AIM: How can we develop effective notetaking skills?

Do Now: Thinking About Taking Notes Handout

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Taking Class Notes

Information presented in class often contains the central concepts of the course and the material most likely to be included on exams. Yet, students frequently do not realize the importance of notetaking and listening. The following Notetaking will provide tips on how to recall more information from your lectures through active listening and purposeful notetaking. In addition, lecture notes can be a critical tool for preparing for exams. Suggestions are provided for how to use your notes regularly to review.

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Listening

Listening is an essential learning tool, however, humans are poor listeners. Research shows that individuals can only recall 50% of what they hear and that 20-30% is incorrect!

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Taking Notes

While many students view notetaking as an activity conducted simply in lecture, solid notetaking skills require preparation and reflection as well. Your class notes can serve as an important tool for reviewing for exams and distilling key concepts. The following handouts provide suggestions on ways to take good notes and use them well. The key is to develop a system that enables you to:

   * review regularly
   * recite (repeating key concepts from class)
   * reflect (connecting class ideas to other notes and readings)

Classwork & Homework

Lesson PowerPoint Download: Notetaking Skills

Classwork - Your notes & notetaking activity - Signal Statements