Why take notes? The palest ink is better than the sharpest memory. Chinese proverb

Why take notes? To extend your attention span/keep your mind focused To help you remember what you have heard or read We learn more effectively when we use multiple senses/activities Paraphrasing the lecture will help you understand it To help you organise the ideas To save time

Don’t rely on your memory alone – even if you have a good memory! Find note-taking techniques which suit you.

When to take notes… When reading Listening to a lecture Listening to class discussions Organising thoughts Revising

Common problems Inability to keep up with speaker Not understanding everything Notes are too messy Not using a good system for note taking

Take charge of your lectures Commit to being at every lecture Choose who you sit by carefully Concentrate Capture key ideas Connect ideas Write them down

Listen critically during class Listen to main concepts Listen for new ideas Repeat mentally Ask questions Respect your own ideas & those of others Sort & organise your notes

Before taking notes… Sit near the front Use a clean sheet of paper Listen carefully to the introduction Note the date & title of lecture Have more than one pen! Organised notes are effective notes!

Tips! Use any strategies that will help the key ideas stand out for you – know your learning preferences Don’t take down every word of the lecture! Don’t write down examples or opinions. Summarise the main ideas.

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More tips… Write your notes in your own words Avoid writing things down that you don’t understand Ask questions Think in pictures Be ready to explain your ideas Regularly evaluate the quality of your notes

More tips… Use abbreviations where possible Keep notes in one place Don’t use a small notepad Use a highlighter or coloured pencils Review your notes straight after the lecture

Tips on taking notes from a reading Consider why you are reading this material. What do you need to know? Summarise the main point of each paragraph. Don’t include examples in your notes.

Short term memory Most forgetting takes place 24 hours after you see or hear something! You might forget up to 70% of the lecture if you don’t make notes!