CHALLENGES WITH TAKING NOTES
• Make a list of challenges you have experienced while taking notes in class. For example…
Instructor talks to fast or too slow.
Instructor wanders off topic or has distracting mannerisms.
• Compare your answers to those listed in On Course.
STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE TAKING NOTES
BEFORE TAKING NOTES
• Review the list of note-taking challenges you just created and consider:
What strategies could you implement before taking notes to overcome those challenges?
STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE TAKING NOTES
BEFORE TAKING NOTES
• Having note-taking supplies that work well for you is important. Answer the following questions and decide if you need to modify your supplies for school.
Have you ever started taking notes with a pen that smeared, wouldn’t write, or made your hand cramp?
Have you ever taken notes on random pieces of paper, and later you can’t find important notes?
Have you ever taken notes on a computer only to lose them later because you did not back up your files?
• Create a list of note-taking supplies that will work best for you.
STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE TAKING NOTES:
BEFORE TAKING NOTES
• You now know that Prior Learning, Quality of
Processing and Quantity of Processing are crucial to learning.
Form pairs.
On the next two slides, you’ll see strategies you can use BEFORE you take notes. With your partner, decide which of the three aspects of learning above makes each strategy effective.
STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE TAKING NOTES
WHILE TAKING NOTES
• What strategies could you use if you lose focus during lectures?
Mark your notes where you “drifted off”. Try to reduce those marks each class.
Review material where you placed a mark.
Ask and answer questions to stay engaged.
