Introduction to Note Taking Developed by: Developed by:CTLM “ The only voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.” Marcel Proust )

Think about these … 1. If there are 7 months that have 31 days in them and 11 months that have 30 days in them, how many months have 28 days in them? 2. What is boiled then cooled, sweetened then soured?

ANSWERS: 1. If there are 7 months that have 31 days in them and 11 months that have 30 days in them, how many months have 28 days in them? What is boiled then cooled, sweetened then soured? Iced tea with lemon

Sometimes we sit in classes and we just don’t know what the answers are to the questions they are asking and sometimes the lecturer will not seem to make any sense … how will we remember? Choices!

Put the letters in the right order to make words 1.lamande 2.vesiunrty 3.teno 4.aktngi Not easy when you do not have any context!

ANSWERS 1.Mandela 2.University 3.Note 4.Taking

Why take notes? Note taking helps us to make sense of what is being taught to us by our lecturers.

Good reasons to take notes! Saves time Stay organised Helps to concentrate Helps to remember important facts

Overview of Study process Pre-read Attend class -Take notes Make summaries Learn work

Remember in note taking you need to:  Have paper, pens at the lecture!  Add date, module code, lecture title  Number your pages  Write neatly/legible and brief  Have a Notebook / file in date order  Try to use a phrase or just a word where possible  Highlight all new terminology & unfamiliar vocab.  Use your own words where possible  Ask questions (who, what, when, where, why and how)  Obtain missed info & correct notes after lectures Source:educononline.com

Note what is important  Listen to the lecturer’s hints e.g. “remember this”  Repetition  Notes on the board / transparencies  NB Organise your notes – be consistent allfreelancewriting.com

Barriers to Note-taking  Not listening clearly  The module/course  Lack of Motivation  Lack of Concentration  Filing of information freeonlinecopeprep.blogspot.com

How to overcome barriers in note-taking  Improve your listening skills by pre-reading and having question to help focus in the lecture  Learn assertiveness to ask questions from lecturer  Find out what de-motivates you and work out an action plan to address it  Concentration problems: change study environment, away from distractions moodle.oconee.k12.ga.us

5 R’s of Note-taking Record: Record legibly as many meaningful facts and ideas as you can. You can use mind-maps or a linear way, e.g. Cornell system Reduce: Summarise these facts and ideas as soon as possible (within 24 hours). Recite (Repeat): Repeat the facts and ideas of the lecture in your own words. You may then check what you have said. Reflect: Draw out opinions from your notes - it helps prevent ideas from being forgotten. Review: Spend 10 minutes daily in quick review of your notes Will help you retain most of what you have learned (Learning Assistance and Resource Centre, n.d).

What is mind-mapping?  Useful way to take notes  Enhances your creative problem solving  Helps you to quickly identify and understand a subject, and the way that pieces of information fit together  Useful if you need to organise many related ideas in such a way as to see how they all fit together.  You first actively read your work; write the main topic in the centre; then decide on main and sub-topics. t2tuk.co.uk

Mind-Mapping example

The Cornell System  5cm  A4-page Establish lecturer's interest Attend all lectures Attend last lectures Home truths about lecturers: 1. Try to establish what topics of research or advanced study your lecturers are part of, especially if these also relate to your syllabus. Also be aware of any articles or books written by your lecturers and their areas of specialisation. 2. Try to attend all lectures - apart from the obvious academic advantage, it also creates an impression of you as a diligent student which may be to your advantage at some point in the course. 3. Attend the last lecture of every course - usually exam tips are given and lecturers tend to notice who is in the lecture. To get the best out of your lecturers, establish their interests; attend all lectures, specifically the last lecture. (Adapted from of : 2006) NOTE-TAKING AREA – TAKE NOTES HERE DURING LECTURES. SUMMARIES - SEE IF YOU CAN SUM UP EACH PAGE IN 1 OR 2 SENTENCES. CUE COLUMN - SOON AFTER LECTURES REDUCE YOUR NOTES TO MAIN POINTS (USE RECITING, REVIEWING AND REFLECTING STEPS)

A Keys to success initiative Remember there are workshops to support you! Also visit the website:

Conclusion  Note-taking will help you be successful in your academic studies bisd.us

Reference list Drew, S and Bingham, R Students Skills. Tutor’s Handbook. England: Gower Publishing. Ellis, D Becoming a master student. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company. Jenkins, C Skills for Success. Developing effective study strategies. USA: Wadsworth. Note taking skills. Retrieved on 18/06/2007 from  Snyders, S. Vawda, A. Taljaard, N. Brophy, M. & Plaatjes, R How to make Higher Education easier-Take charge of your success. PE: NMMU.