A SYSTEM FOR EFFECTIVE LISTENING AND NOTE-TAKING

1. A SYSTEM FOR EFFECTIVE LISTENING AND NOTE-TAKING • If you’re trying to quickly and accurately write down every single word on the screen right now, then you are wasting precious class time and not probably not listening to your instructor • STOP!!! • Listen—THINK—then write.

2. A SYSTEM FOR EFFECTIVE LISTENING AND NOTE-TAKING • NOTE-TAKING is one way to enhance listening • NOTE-TAKING is WRITING—the process of taking notes helps you learn.

3. BEFORE CLASS • Develop a mind-set geared toward listening. (Focus Silently!) • Test yourself over the previous lecture while waiting for the next one to begin. • Skim relevant reading assignments to acquaint yourself with main ideas, new technical terms, etc.

4. BEFORE CLASS • INTEND TO LISTEN.

5. DURING CLASS • Treat listening as a challenging mental task • Listening to an academic lecture is a mentally active event

6. DURING CLASS • Listen and LOOK for the structure and information in the lecture. • Pay attention to the speaker for verbal, postural, and visual clues to what's important.

7. DURING CLASS • Avoid distractions: • Don't let your mind wander • Avoid being distracted by the person shuffling papers near you.

8. DURING CLASS • Avoid emotional involvement • When you are too emotionally involved in listening, you tend to hear what you want to hear—not what is actually being said. • Try to remain objective and open-minded.

9. DURING CLASS • Ask questions if you don't understand. • Instead of closing your notebook early and getting ready to leave, listen carefully to information given toward the end of class; summary statements may be of particular value in highlighting main points; there may be possible quiz questions, etc.

10. DURING CLASS • Use the gap between the rate of speech and your rate of thought • You can think faster than the lecturer can talk. • That's one reason your mind may tend to wander. All the above suggestions will help you keep your mind occupied and focused on what being said.

11. DURING CLASS • You can actually begin to anticipate what the professor is going to say as a way to keep your mind from straying. • Your mind does have the capacity to listen, think, write and ponder at the same time, but it does take practice.

12. DURING CLASS • Stay active by asking mental questions • What key point is the professor making? • How does this fit with what I know from previous lectures? • How is this lecture organized? • How will I USE this information?

13. AFTER CLASS Every night! (7 nights a week) • Edit your notes • Look for the emergence of themes, main concepts, methods of presentation over the course of several lectures. • Make up and answer possible test questions. • REFLECT (connect ideas to your life!!!)

14. The Cornell Note Taking System

15. The 5 R's of note-taking: • Record • During the lecture, record in the main column as many relevant facts andideas as you can.

16. The 5 R's of note-taking: • Reduce • As soon after as possible, summarize these facts and ideas concisely in the Cue Column.

17. The 5 R's of note-taking: • Recite • Cover the Note Taking Area, using only your jottings in the Cue Column • Say over the facts and ideas of the lecture as fully as you can, not mechanically, but in your own words.

18. The 5 R's of note-taking: • Reflect • While skimming, THINK about YOUR: • Ideas • Opinions • Reactions • Predictions • Make CONNECTIONS to the materials as much as possible!

19. The 5 R's of note-taking: • Review • Spend 10 minutes every night in quick review of your notes, and you will retain most of what you have learned. • Spend 45-60 minutes a week to review ALL course notes for each class