1. How to make notes from your reading and lectures

2. Workshop plan Reading Making notes
Selection of material - While reading
- Active reading - While listening

3. Learning objectives
By the end of the session you will feel more confident…
selecting relevant material
making useful notes that work effectively while reading or listening
that you are developing transferable skills to use in your future employment

4. Selecting what to read Recommended (or Reading list) Reliable Recent
Plan your reading
Make the most of your time
4 Rs
Activity 1: Selection
Recommended
(or Reading list)
Reliable
Recent
Relevant

5. Active reading Activity 2: Skimming versus scanning Topic sentences
Critical reading
- Analyse, reflect, evaluate,
make judgements (Godfrey, 2009)

6. Making notes while reading
Don’t…
Write in full sentences
Copy from the text
(just) highlight photocopies and class handouts
Do…
Be brief and organised
Use your own words
Use shortcuts
Make connections
Use colour, underlining
Think critically
Examples include: mind maps, linear notes, SQ3R

7. Linear note

8. Mind map or pattern note

9. Survey Question Read Recall Review SQ3R method
Video:

10. Your notes should include:
Reference
Main point
Supporting detail
Critical thoughts
Activity 3: SQ3R practice

11. Making notes in lectures
Prepare
Listen
Review

12. Prepare
Download from Blackboard
Read, question, make connections

13. Making notes in lectures
Prepare
Listen
Review
Making notes in lectures
Activity 4 : have a go from this lecture clip

14. Example: notes (unedited)
Derek Sivers, Keep your goals to yourself
Telling someone your goals makes them less likely to happen
Social reality tricks you into thinking it’s already done
1926: Kurt Lewin founder of social psychology – called it ‘substitution’
1933: Vera Mahler – when acknowledged by others, not real in the mind
1982: Peter Gollwitzer – wrote book about it
1990: Peter Gollwitzer - carried out new tests proving it
Resist temptation to announce goal
Delay gratification that social acknowledgement brings
Understand mind mistakes talking for doing

16. Activity 5 : edit the notes you made
Making notes in lectures
Prepare
Listen
Review
Activity 5 : edit the notes you made

17. Example: edited notes Derek Sivers, Keep your goals to yourself
Theory/phenomenon: Telling someone your goals makes them less likely to happen
Why? Social reality tricks you into thinking it’s already done *SEE LECTURE 2 NOTES
Key dates/thinkers:
1926: Kurt Lewin founder of social psychology – called it ‘substitution’ *FIND REFERENCE
1933: Vera Mahler – when acknowledged by others, not real in the mind *FIND REFERENCE
1982: Peter Gollwitzer – wrote book about it *TITLE OF BOOK?
1990: Peter Gollwitzer - carried out new tests proving it *WHAT STUDY?
How to avoid:
Resist temptation to announce goal
Delay gratification that social acknowledgement brings
Understand mind mistakes talking for doing *ASK LECTURER WHERE THIS COMES FROM
Critical thought: What other studies have there been?

19. What other skills will you need for employment?
Academic skills are employment skills
At university:
How to make notes from your reading and lectures
In the workplace:
Reading effectively to understand a report, taking useful notes at meetings
What other skills will you need for employment?

20. Academic skills are employment skills
Other workshops
How to reference and avoid plagiarism
Acknowledging the words of another company, or institution, that you use in a policy document
How to plan your writing
Planning and drafting a report or a project proposal
How put your reading into your writing
Summarising and synthesising a wide range of sources to explain the importance of an issue, compare and contrast various options to make an informed opinion
How to get started with critical writing & How to improve your critical writing
Writing a report, writing reflectively for continued professional development

21. Further help
Workbooks
Workshops