Ideas in Practice: Strategic Note Taking in Developmental Mathematics By: Carol Eades and William M. Moore

Background “There is a general agreement that note taking and note reviews enhance short-term and longer term recall of lectures and that students’ note taking and test scores are correlated.” (Eades, 18)

Importance of Note Taking Provides students a basis for further study and aids students' memory. Ensures students have a record of subject content. Affords students the opportunity to see the subject and lecture structure. Allows students to restructure and analyze the subject. Helps students stay alert.

Teacher Instruction Helping students realize the benefits of keeping a set of class notes. i.e. Reading and studying notes in one’s own handwriting can result in better recall and retention. Teaching students effective note-taking strategies and provide practice opportunities. i.e. Model the process. Provide a precise syllabus. i.e. 3-ring binder with dividers as materials for the class.

For the Students When taking notes, the students should write down the date, text page number, problems worked on in class and on the board, important points and definitions. The students should be able to explain, “Why I use this technique.” Document upcoming quizzes, exams and homework problems. The notebook should act as a daily planner. “The notebook is a learning tool designed to support classroom learning.” (Eades, 20)

Student Benefits Promotes active learning and motivation. Eases math anxiety and frustration. Aides comprehension. Emphasizes the importance of note taking in college. Serves as a review sheet of class work.

Theory into Practice Let the students use an open notebook for quizzes. Have an exam consisted of problems strictly done in class. Make the notebook part of the course grade. The master math notebook can be kept in the instructor’s office for reference and future planning. Beneficial to those students who must miss a class.

Bibliography Eades, Carol, and William M. Moore. "Ideas in Practice: Strategic Note Taking in Developmental Mathematics." Journal of Developmental Education 31.2 (2007): 18-26. WilsonWeb. Web. 14 Apr. 2011. <http://0-vnweb.hwwilsonweb.com.helin.uri.edu/hww/results/external_link_maincontentframe.jhtml?_DARGS=/hww/results/results_common.jhtml.44>.