Learning Strategies

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Learning Strategies

• NOTE TAKING

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Purposes of Note taking Strategies To correctly
record information and use it at a later time, it
must be done in an organized manner. Note
taking strategies, then, are designed to improve
one's ability to take more accurate, more
complete, and more organized notes. Advantages
of Note taking Strategies Note taking skills
help one to pay better attention to an oral
presentation or written document because they
keep the individual active. In school, good
note taking skills aid in understanding of
material, effective preparation for exams, and
completion of assignments. They also improve
reading comprehension. Note taking strategies
are broadly applicable to a variety of tasks and
subjects. Once they are introduced and mastered,
the strategies often become "second nature" to
the individual and therefore don't require
repeated work to use, unlike some the memory
strategies
http//www.muskingum.edu/cal/database/general/not
etaking1.html
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Learning Problems and Note Taking
Learning Problems can impact note taking

• Methods to accommodate note taking problems might
  include
• Audio recorder
• Laptop computer and word processing program
• Volunteer note taker
• Notes supplied by professor

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Attention and Listening Good listening skills
are vital in class Good listening skills require
that one attend to basic health needs, eliminate
internal and external distractions, and maintain
a positive self-image.
Preparation Preparation before each note taking
task has many advantages. It makes the material
more familiar, so that one is not hearing or
seeing it for the first time. Familiarity, in
turn, aids in understanding and helps one pay
better attention. Preparation helps one identify
the most important points to be recorded and to
distinguish main ideas from supporting
details. It aids in retention of the new
material. Preparation can include completing
assigned readings, reviewing previous notes,
completing homework or lab problems, and bringing
the appropriate supplies.
Adapted from http//www.muskingum.edu/cal/databas
e/general/notetaking2.html
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Knowing What to Write
Key Words Key words signal that the information
itself or the information to follow is important
and should be recorded. Key words may be
content-related, directional, or clue words.
Content-related key words come directly from the
subject matter often appear in bold or italic
print in textbooks, and they may be listed in
the summary sections at the ends of chapters in
most textbooks. Directional key words are words
or statements that relate to specific things the
student is expected to do. They are often action
verbs. For example, the words "due" and "turn to"
are directional key words in the following
statements "The paper is due Thursday" and "Turn
to page 45 in the book." Clue words indicate
that important information is forthcoming.
Examples of clue words are above all, next, in
addition to, most importantly, advantages,
disadvantages, difference, similarities, reasons,
and types.
Adapted from http//www.muskingum.edu/cal/databas
e/general/notetaking2.html
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Knowing What to Write
Key Points There are several ways of identifying
main ideas or key points in a lecture. Assigned
readings and supplemental material provided by
the instructor offer two alternatives. The text
book is an excellent sources of ideas. The key
points in a lecture often correspond to the major
headings in a chapter. Bring a list of these
headings to class and listen for them during the
lecture. The first page of a chapter often
contains an outline of the material. Make a copy
of the outline and use it as a guideline for
taking notes. Review questions at the end of
each chapter encompass the main ideas of the
chapter. They may appear as key points in a
lecture. Some instructors write outlines for
each lecture on the board or overhead projector.
The key points of the lecture will appear as
major headings in the outline. Listen for that
material during the lecture.
Adapted from http//www.muskingum.edu/cal/databas
e/general/notetaking2.html
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Knowing What to Write
Cues and Clues Listening and looking for cues
and clues helps one to identify important
information that should be included in the
notes. The strategy aids in attending and
enhances the accuracy and completeness of
lecture or meeting notes. Listen for changes
in the instructor's voice. When important
information is being presented, the instructor's
voice often becomes higher in pitch and/or the
speed of speaking may increase. Gestural cues
are important indicators of the importance of
information. These might be walking closer to
the students, moving from behind the podium,
moving from behind the desk, eye contact with
students, leaning forward, or standing up from a
seated position. Writing on the board or
overhead projector are obvious clues.
Adapted from http//www.muskingum.edu/cal/databas
e/general/notetaking2.html
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Cornell Notetaking System
Record Question Recite Reflect Review Summarize
http//www.clt.cornell.edu/campus/learn/LSC20Reso
urces/cornellsystem.pdf
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Cornell Notetaking System
Documentation Write the following information at
the top of each page student name, course, date,
and page number. Record Notes During lecture,
record the main ideas and concepts on the right
side of the page. This is the notes column.
Rephrase the information in your own words
before writing it down. Skip one line between
ideas and several lines between topics. Avoid
writing in complete sentences use symbols and
abbreviations instead. The format or style of
the notes can vary, but avoid using a formal
outline. Suggestions for organizing the notes
are Paragraph Style For unstructured
information, record notes in paragraph style with
short, telegraphic sentences and phrases. Topic
and Ideas Style For expanded topic information,
record topics and ideas. Sentence Style For
ideas and concepts, record notes in short
sentences. Definition Style For main topics and
features, record definitions and explanations of
words in short phrases.
http//www.muskingum.edu/cal/database/general/not
etaking3.html
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Cornell Notetaking System
Review and Clarify As soon after class as
possible, review the notes in the right column
and clarify any ambiguous information. Compare
the information with the book and/or other
students' notes. Then pull the main ideas,
concepts, terms, places, dates, and people from
the right column and record them in the
left-hand recall column. Summarize Prepare a
summary of the lecture material and record it at
the end of the notes. The summary may be in
sentences or short phrases. It should include
only the main ideas from the lecture. Study Use
both sections of the notes to prepare for quizzes
and exams.
http//www.muskingum.edu/cal/database/general/not
etaking3.html
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Example 1 Cornell Note-Taking Format
Adapted from http//www.bucks.edu/specpop/Cornl-
ex.htm
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Example 2 Cornell Note-Taking Format
http//www.muskingum.edu/cal/database/general/not
etaking3.htmlNoteShrink