Chapters 4 & 5 Reading Textbooks, Notetaking

Short-term memory

 Gone within 24h Lots of facts Figures Concepts Relationships  Exams Lecture material Readings Handouts

Before Class Tips Do assigned reading  “Man, that guy was confusing…”  Instructors assume you are keeping up. Warm up  Notes on reading  Anything confusing? Prepare to ask Keep an open mind

During Class  Get the main concept(s) and idea(s)  Listen for new ideas  Hear what is said Distractions? Passing of judgment  Repeat mentally

During Class  Decide what is important Mentally rank the material – rank in notes  NI, I, VI  Use stars, underlines, letters above, etc… Ask Questions Listen to entire message  Take in all data, then make the decision Value your own ideas  Don’t be quick to throw them away

Taking Effective Notes  Identify main points Usually 3-5 Buried in BS? – locate it Identified by instructor  Change of tone of voice (emphatic)  Repeated a couple or several times  “This will be on the test.”  “In other words...” Don’t try to write down everything Leave space for study time

Taking Effective Notes  The disorganized lecture(r)  YOU ARE STILL RESPONSIBLE FOR LEARNING THE MATERIAL  Consult the lecturer

Taking Effective Notes  The recall column Blank during lecture Fill it in ASAP after

The recall Column Main body of notes

After Class  Try to remember the lecture  Explain the concepts to someone (group study)  Fill in recall column Write main ideas in recall column Recite your ideas Review for next class  Works in some cases Write possible test questions

In the classroom  Sit up front Easier to ask questions?  Eyes  Raise your hand and ask the question The stupid question  Assignment: Ask a question

Reading  Overview Title of chapter? Intro paragraphs Read summary Headers, subheaders  Mapping Sometimes helps Convert Read-write to Visual

Reading  Study location – library Quiet, blinders  1h blocks  Goals …end of chapter by the hour.  You are getting sleepy, very, very sleepy…  HIGH YIELD portions of text First, last paragraphs. First, last sentences. Bold, Italic print

Marking your Text  Read before you mark  Think before you mark History books.  Marks Highlights. Margin notes. Questions to yourself.  Review what you marked

Adaptive monitoring  What are the key ideas?  Do I understand this?  What will likely be on the test? Central Ideas of chapter  Related to title and subtitle  Related to points during lecture

Other Study Tips  SQ3R Survey Question Read Recite Review  Vocabulary Don’t read past a word that you don’t understand.