Listen and Take Effective Notes

A DECISION TO BE FULLY FOCUSED WITH THE INTENT OF UNDERSTANDING THE SPEAKER. Attentive Listening During class time, aim to be a central processor and a nonverbal reader

Strategies Prepare to Listen  Read assignments  Be open-minded  Position yourself to listen  Reduce distractions  Show that you are listening Stay Attentive  Be quiet  Stay focused  Show empathy, respect, and genuine interest  Record Keywords  Observe the speaker—watch nonverbals (tone of voice, use of pitch, gestures, eye contact, expressions)  Predict and ask questions  Integrate learning styles and use all your senses  Postpone judgment Review What You Have Heard  Paraphrase  Assess  Practice Awareness

A METHOD OF CREATING ORDER AND ARRANGING THOUGHTS AND MATERIALS TO HELP RETAIN INFORMATION. Note Taking

Note Taking Systems Cornell System of Note Taking Formal (Traditional) Outlines Informal (Creative) Outlines Mind Maps Combination Note-Taking Systems

Cornell System Notes  Largest section; record information from class lectures in the format that works best for you Cues  Jot down cues, main ideas, phrases, keywords, or clarifications Summary  Summarize the class/session in your own words.

Cornell System of Note Taking

Formal (Traditional) Informal (Creative) Uses Roman numerals and capital letters for subject headings, main points, etc. Uses lowercase numbers and letters for supporting points System is very consistent and organized—good for taking notes from chapters, papers, etc. Free form outline that uses dashes, indenting, etc. to highlight main points Useful in taking notes from classes since it allows you to focus on main ideas without worrying about specific rules Outlines

A VISUAL, HOLISTIC FORM OF NOTE TAKING THAT STARTS WITH THE MAIN IDEA PLACED IN THE CENTER OF A PAGE AND BRANCHES OUT WITH SUBTOPICS THROUGH ASSOCIATIONS AND PATTERNS. Mind Maps

Example Mind Map

Combination Note-Taking System No two people take notes the same way. Effective note taking use a variety of methods. Experiment to discover what method works best for you. Listen, organize, record, and review material.

Extra Note-Taking Strategies 1. Go to every class and pay attention 2. Be on time 3. Sit up front 4. Link information 5. Use creative shorthand and focus on keywords 6. Organize your notes—use 3-ring binder 7. Use note cards 8. Expand on notes from others 9. Use your laptop 10. Skip spaces between main concepts 11. Label each page of notes (date, class, assignments)

“Note”-worthy Words “…a major point…” “…pay special attention to…” “…note this…” “…an important reason…” “…don’t forget…” “…a chief cause/effect…” “…what do you think is the reason for this?” “…this will probably be on the test…” Repeated statements Numbered lists

Activity Use your notes from last week’s class to create a 10 question quiz  4-5 questions should be short answer  3-4 questions should be fill in the blank  1-3 questions should be true/false your practice quiz to Christina Sullivan