Good Advice for Notetakers: Difference between revisions
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{{nutshell|Always take thorough notes in all of your college classes. Consider them a necessary extension of your brain.<ref>Modified from {{cite journal |last1=Kiewra |first1=Kenneth A. |date=1984 |title=Acquiring Effective Notetaking Skills: An Alternative to Professional Note Taking |url= |journal=Journal of Reading |volume= |issue=January |pages= |doi= |access-date= }}</ref>}} | |||
[[File:Notetaker.jpg|thumb]] | [[File:Notetaker.jpg|thumb]]{{TOC right}} | ||
Students should keep thorough notes, from classroom lecture/discussion, individual reading, and research. Even if you are absent, you are held responsible for obtaining missed notes. Notes should not only reflect good listening skills, but individual interest in every topic discussed in class. You are encouraged to individually research topics discussed in class. Although notes will not receive a grade, they should be diligently kept in all classes. You should always endeavor to improve note-taking skills by following these suggestions. | Students should keep thorough notes, from classroom lecture/discussion, individual reading, and research. Even if you are absent, you are held responsible for obtaining missed notes. Notes should not only reflect good listening skills, but individual interest in every topic discussed in class. You are encouraged to individually research topics discussed in class. Although notes will not receive a grade, they should be diligently kept in all classes. You should always endeavor to improve note-taking skills by following these suggestions. | ||
==Go to Class== | ===Go to Class=== | ||
Even though you can get notes elsewhere, without hearing the lecture and participating in the discussion, you will probably not have the prior knowledge or cognitive framework necessary to assimilate the externally provided notes. As Kenneth Kiewra explains, taking notes will also stave off boredom and keep you engaged in the material.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Kiewra |first=Kenneth A. |date=September 4, 2019 |title=A seven-step guide to taking better notes |url=https://qz.com/1701631/how-to-take-better-notes/ |magazine=Quartz |pages= |access-date=2019-09-08 |ref=harv }}</ref> | Even though you can get notes elsewhere, without hearing the lecture and participating in the discussion, you will probably not have the prior knowledge or cognitive framework necessary to assimilate the externally provided notes. As Kenneth Kiewra explains, taking notes will also stave off boredom and keep you engaged in the material.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Kiewra |first=Kenneth A. |date=September 4, 2019 |title=A seven-step guide to taking better notes |url=https://qz.com/1701631/how-to-take-better-notes/ |magazine=Quartz |pages= |access-date=2019-09-08 |ref=harv }}</ref> | ||
==Take Many Notes== | ===Take Many Notes=== | ||
There is a significant relationship between note completion and achievement. Those not permitted to review notes will recall from 34–78% of any information they recorded, but only 5–34% of information they did not record. James Clear suggests organizing your notes in a searchable format, perhaps when revising.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://jamesclear.com/reading-comprehension-strategies |title=7 Ways to Retain More of Every Book You Read |last=Clear |first=James |date= |website=James Clear |publisher= |access-date=2018-12-28 |quote=}}</ref> | There is a significant relationship between note completion and achievement. Those not permitted to review notes will recall from 34–78% of any information they recorded, but only 5–34% of information they did not record. James Clear suggests organizing your notes in a searchable format, perhaps when revising.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://jamesclear.com/reading-comprehension-strategies |title=7 Ways to Retain More of Every Book You Read |last=Clear |first=James |date= |website=James Clear |publisher= |access-date=2018-12-28 |quote=}}</ref> | ||
==Take Paraphrases or Summaries== | ===Take Paraphrases or Summaries=== | ||
Paraphrases serve a reconstructive function because they help you to construct factual information that was originally not noted. They also help with actually learning the material; when you put what you read or hear in your own words, you tend to assimilate it better than just copying verbatim. Consider, then, taking notes by-hand rather than on a laptop.<ref>{{cite news |last=Doubek |first=James |date=April 17, 2016 |title=Attention, Students: Put Your Laptops Away |url=https://www.npr.org/2016/04/17/474525392/attention-students-put-your-laptops-away |work=NPR |location= |access-date=2018-12-27 }}</ref> | Paraphrases serve a reconstructive function because they help you to construct factual information that was originally not noted. They also help with actually learning the material; when you put what you read or hear in your own words, you tend to assimilate it better than just copying verbatim. Consider, then, taking notes by-hand rather than on a laptop.<ref>{{cite news |last=Doubek |first=James |date=April 17, 2016 |title=Attention, Students: Put Your Laptops Away |url=https://www.npr.org/2016/04/17/474525392/attention-students-put-your-laptops-away |work=NPR |location= |access-date=2018-12-27 }}</ref> | ||
==Revise Notes Following the Class== | ===Revise Notes Following the Class=== | ||
To fill in the omissions or gaps in notes and then personally integrating lecture content.{{sfn|Kiewra|2019|}} Active integration organizes ideas in memory and facilitates retrieval. Typing summaries and paraphrases of your class notes as soon as you can after the class will help you learn the content in your own way. Do not try to organize and process during class; wait until you have time to link similar ideas in to a cohesive whole. | To fill in the omissions or gaps in notes and then personally integrating lecture content.{{sfn|Kiewra|2019|}} Active integration organizes ideas in memory and facilitates retrieval. Typing summaries and paraphrases of your class notes as soon as you can after the class will help you learn the content in your own way. Do not try to organize and process during class; wait until you have time to link similar ideas in to a cohesive whole. | ||
==Consider Using Dead Trees and Ink Interface== | ===Consider Using Dead Trees and Ink Interface=== | ||
Increasingly, research suggests that devices in the classroom cause more problems than they solve, often leading to multitasking or distraction.{{sfn|Kiewra|2019|}} Consider leaving your device in your bag and take notes long-hand to potentially improve your grade.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Straumsheim |first=Carl |date=May 13, 2016 |title=Leave It in the Bag |url=https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2016/05/13/allowing-devices-classroom-hurts-academic-performance-study-finds |magazine=Inside Higher Ed |location= |publisher= |access-date=2018-12-28 }}</ref> | Increasingly, research suggests that devices in the classroom cause more problems than they solve, often leading to multitasking or distraction.{{sfn|Kiewra|2019|}} Consider leaving your device in your bag and take notes long-hand to potentially improve your grade.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Straumsheim |first=Carl |date=May 13, 2016 |title=Leave It in the Bag |url=https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2016/05/13/allowing-devices-classroom-hurts-academic-performance-study-finds |magazine=Inside Higher Ed |location= |publisher= |access-date=2018-12-28 }}</ref> | ||
===Notes=== | =====Notes===== | ||
{{Reflist}} | {{Reflist|20em}} | ||
{{Students}} | {{Students}} | ||
Revision as of 13:03, 24 July 2020
 | TL;DR: Always take thorough notes in all of your college classes. Consider them a necessary extension of your brain.[1] |
Students should keep thorough notes, from classroom lecture/discussion, individual reading, and research. Even if you are absent, you are held responsible for obtaining missed notes. Notes should not only reflect good listening skills, but individual interest in every topic discussed in class. You are encouraged to individually research topics discussed in class. Although notes will not receive a grade, they should be diligently kept in all classes. You should always endeavor to improve note-taking skills by following these suggestions.
Go to Class
Even though you can get notes elsewhere, without hearing the lecture and participating in the discussion, you will probably not have the prior knowledge or cognitive framework necessary to assimilate the externally provided notes. As Kenneth Kiewra explains, taking notes will also stave off boredom and keep you engaged in the material.[2]
Take Many Notes
There is a significant relationship between note completion and achievement. Those not permitted to review notes will recall from 34–78% of any information they recorded, but only 5–34% of information they did not record. James Clear suggests organizing your notes in a searchable format, perhaps when revising.[3]
Take Paraphrases or Summaries
Paraphrases serve a reconstructive function because they help you to construct factual information that was originally not noted. They also help with actually learning the material; when you put what you read or hear in your own words, you tend to assimilate it better than just copying verbatim. Consider, then, taking notes by-hand rather than on a laptop.[4]
Revise Notes Following the Class
To fill in the omissions or gaps in notes and then personally integrating lecture content.[5] Active integration organizes ideas in memory and facilitates retrieval. Typing summaries and paraphrases of your class notes as soon as you can after the class will help you learn the content in your own way. Do not try to organize and process during class; wait until you have time to link similar ideas in to a cohesive whole.
Consider Using Dead Trees and Ink Interface
Increasingly, research suggests that devices in the classroom cause more problems than they solve, often leading to multitasking or distraction.[5] Consider leaving your device in your bag and take notes long-hand to potentially improve your grade.[6]
Notes
- ↑ Modified from Kiewra, Kenneth A. (1984). "Acquiring Effective Notetaking Skills: An Alternative to Professional Note Taking". Journal of Reading (January).
- ↑ Kiewra, Kenneth A. (September 4, 2019). "A seven-step guide to taking better notes". Quartz. Retrieved 2019-09-08.
- ↑ Clear, James. "7 Ways to Retain More of Every Book You Read". James Clear. Retrieved 2018-12-28.
- ↑ Doubek, James (April 17, 2016). "Attention, Students: Put Your Laptops Away". NPR. Retrieved 2018-12-27.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Kiewra 2019.
- ↑ Straumsheim, Carl (May 13, 2016). "Leave It in the Bag". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved 2018-12-28.
