1. Getting the most out of lectures
Karen Dellar
Study Skills Advisor
Study & Learning Centre
RMIT University

2. Being there
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3. How do I learn in a lecture?􀂃
Be an active learner􀂃
Lectures are just one component of the course􀂃
Do not treat it as a stand alone item
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4. Outline of session What you should do before and after lectures
Active Listening:
What is important – what you should note
Note-taking methods
organization
systems
abbreviations
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5. Discuss How long should you spend preparing for the lecture?
Before the lecture
Discuss
How long should you spend preparing for the lecture?
This stage shoudl take about ½ hour

6. Lecture preparation
What do you think you could do to prepare for lectures?
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7. Before the Lecture Get an overview.
Do not do detailed reading at this stage.
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8. Before the lecture Check the unit outline for topic
Skim text / main reading for week
Read through PowerPoint notes for lecture (if available)
Check key words in subject specific dictionary
Ask yourself: What is this topic mainly about?
How does it fit into previous work?
Skim on public transport; the material will then sound familiar in lectures so you won’t feel lost.
PowerPoint notes may not be available
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9. During the Lecture
Active Listening

10. During the lecture Sit close to the front: watch and listen carefully.
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11. During the lecture Listen actively for structure. Does the lecturer:
Begin with a review of the previous lecture?
Use an introduction to outline the lecture?
Use main points to structure the body of the lecture?
Give examples to illustrate ideas?
Summarise the lecture in the conclusion?
Give further references for additional information?
Discover the organisational pattern for the lecture. Listen to how lecturers say what they say.
Discover the organisational plan for the lecture. Listen to how lecturers say what they say.
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12. During the lecture
Don’t write everything.
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13. During the lecture- What to note.
Discriminate between main points and supporting information
Concentrate on principles and arguments
With PowerPoint notes – highlight, underline and make additional notes
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14. What is important? Notes/references on whiteboard
Repetition Repetition Repetition Repetition
Emphasis = tone of voice or gestures
time spent on a point
number of examples used
Reviews at beginning of lecture
Summaries at the end
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15. What is important?
Write down anything the lecturer numbers. Lists, steps and sequences are often on exams
Note when the lecturer uses key phrases like:
“I can’t emphasise enough…”
“The most important event was…”
“Two points to remember are…”
“You will need to know….”
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16. Listen for language signals to show:
Important points
“This is central…”
“The most significant aspect…”
Examples
“This is illustrated by…”
“An example of this is…”
Reasons
“This is because…”
Consequences
“Therefore…” “As a result…”
Changes to a new topic
‘Let’s move to another concern for educators”
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17. After the lecture Discuss:
What are some things you can do after the lecture to ensure you understand and remember important points?

18. After the lecture In a group
Compare lecture notes: Are your notes clear and complete?
Discuss content
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19. After the lecture (within 12 hrs)
Rewrite your notes
More explicitly
Draw diagrams, make a visual summary.
Make a summary for exam purposes.
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20. After the lecture (within days)
Consult (or at least locate) references given in lecture.
Read (or at least file) the articles / photocopies in context.
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21. After the lecture Listen again if you have recorded the lecture.
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22. Systems and techniques
Note taking
Systems and techniques

23. Task : Find notes you have taken for a lecture
Check to see if you have used a system
consistently
Is it still easy for you to pick out the main ideas/issues in your notes from the examples and supporting details?
Can you see the relationship between the ideas and easily follow the information contained in your notes?
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24. Reasons for taking notes
Helps you to concentrate and assists understanding
Provides a gauge for what is important when reading for assignments and revising for exams
Writing helps you remember key points
Notes in your own words are easier to remember
Provides a structure to develop a topic further
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25. Get your notes organized
Lecture 3
June 5th
Page 2
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26. Strategies for lecture note-taking
Keep lecture notes on each subject in a separate folder (or in separate parts of the folder)
Note title of lecture and date
Begin a new page for each lecture
Write on one side of the paper
Number the pages
Leave wide margins and space for additions
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27. Note-taking techniques
The outline method:
One idea per line
Indent details, less important ideas
Some students use a numbering system
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28. Example of outline method
1) Main idea
1.1 subtopic
* example
1.2 subtopic
*details
*example
2) Main idea
2.1 subtopic
2.2 subtopic
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29. Divided page method Divide page into two columns
Left Column -main idea, key terms
Right Column - definitions, examples, supporting details
This is useful for vocabulary lists
E.g. OUTER EAR
function direct sound waves to tympanic membrane
anatomy pinna, auditory canal
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30. The Cornell Note-taking System
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31. Cornell Note taking Record the lecture using short sentences
Questions: formulate questions and write in RH side column
Recite: Cover the notes and answer the questions/cue words aloud
Reflect: What does it all mean???
Summarize: After class, at the bottom of the page
Review: every week
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32. Note-taking techniques
MAPPING TECHNIQUES
Each main idea has related details branching from it.
E.g TOPIC
MAIN Idea MAIN Point
Explanation Example
Example
There are several methods students can use when taking notes. Most students use a
combination of techniques to suit the purpose of their notetaking and the lecture material.
There are several methods students can use when taking notes. Most students use a combination of techniques.
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33. RMIT University

34. Note taking Essentials
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35. Using space effectively
Performance
Is our most manageable resource
(not heredity or environment) school
employer
personality
Too much emphasis on one’s IQ
Results from Butt’s study on twins
* genetic
* discredited in 1973
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36. USE ABBREVIATIONS: 1. To show relative importance of ideas
Large OR UPPER CASE LETTERS
underline key words
highlight for emphasis
Circle important ideas
2. To show connections between ideas
arrows
circles
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37. Abbreviations To identify information you did not understand
question marks ??
exclamation marks !!
spelling not known (sp)
look up later (lul)
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38. More Abbreviations
To condense notes and make notetaking more efficient
use words/phrases rather than complete sentences.
Use accepted abbreviations in general use, and those for your subject areas
eg for example ie that is
def definition w/o without
> increase = equal
< decrease & and
Devise your own abbreviations for commonly used words in your subject area
dept department strtg strategy
ref references diff difference
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39. How would you advise these students?
“His lectures are so boring I can’t keep awake.”
“It was only when I re-read my notes that her lecture made sense.”
“You were able to take notes – you must be joking!”
“I have never heard half of the terms before.”
“I didn’t realise she was giving a summary when she said ‘Now to recap’…”.
“He confused me with all those examples and stories. What was he on about?”
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