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Note Taking. UCD Access & Lifelong Learning. Outline for today. Preparing for the Lecture Making the most of your notes Revisiting Your Notes Trying the Cornell Method of Note-Taking. Four Purposes For Note Taking. Effective note-taking is not recording or transcribing.
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Note Taking UCD Access & Lifelong Learning
Outline for today • Preparing for the Lecture • Making the most of your notes • Revisiting Your Notes • Trying the Cornell Method of Note-Taking
Four Purposes For Note Taking • Effective note-taking is not recording or transcribing. Provides a written record for review Forces you to pay attention Requires organisation, which involves active effort on your part You must condense and rephrase, which aids understanding
Preparation for Lectures and Classes • Module Specific Organisation • Get to know your module codes as well as names • Separate Folders/Notebooks • Keep all handouts together
Preparation for Lectures and Classes • Try using a specific colour for each of your 6 modules • Make sure you have all necessary equipment – pens, paper, calculator, recording device, laptop, highlighters etc.
Preparing for the Lecture • Complete notes before the day’s lecture. • Lecturers can post readings or notes before class. If you do the assigned reading before class, you’ll already know many of the background details. Then you can focus your note-taking on key concepts.
Preparing for the Lecture • Read through your notes from the last lecture. • This will help you get back up to speed on where you last left off in the class.
Check for online course materials and lecture outlines • Think of them as the frame for a house, which you will then complete and furnish with your note-taking. • Don’t just print off the lectures – use the handouts to structure your notes.
To write or to type? • Putting pen to paper prompts you to engage more • Writing things down by hand can help you achieve greater focus. • Typing can lead you to transcribe • But using a laptop can allow you format, save, edit, share, and read notes
Sit near the front of the room • … you will have fewer distractions. • You will be able to pay attention and take better notes. • Find a spot where you can see and hear the lecturer clearly. • Show up to class a little early to get a good seat
Supplies • Two pens - Ink easier to read than pencil. • Carry a spare • Wide-lined paper • Class date, and topic clearly labeled • Number the pages as you go
Making the most of your notes • Do Recommended Reading • Review previous week • Ask questions if you don’t understand something! Effective note-taking is not recording or transcribing.
How to Take Notes • What works for you?
Catch the introduction • Lectures often begin with a preview – • Do not miss the opening act!
Copy down the outline if there is one • Each lecture follows an outline or structure. This is the key – it will help you structure your notes
Follow the cues … • Your lecturer will give signals or cues to highlight the important material. They may pause, gesture, count out - • Signals which indicate an important or new idea include: • The significance of this is … • The impact is … • These are the reasons why • From this we can see…
Develop your own shorthand • Use abbreviations • Only record the key words, phrases • Paraphrase what you are hearing • Circle, underline or emphasise key points you want to go back to • Doodle, draw or map out the key messages
Write legibly and leave space • Make sure you can read your own writing • And leave space so that you can go back and write in the missing pieces
Finish with a flourish • Pay attention at the end – there may be a summary • This summary may help you go back over your notes and fill in the gaps • And then you can ask a question if you need to? Or ask after class.
Revisiting your notes • Revisit your notes as soon as possible – at least within 24 hours
Revise – just don’t rewrite • In-class notes are your draft – now revise them.
Cornell Note Taking • Two-Column Method (Cornell Method) • Take notes in two columns • First column for topic or question • Second column for description or answers
Use Apps to Organize Your Notes Onenote Evernote Web App Web App
Use Coggle on the Web See Coggle in Action - Click on the Mindmap
Mindmeister • Available on the Web • And on Your Smartphone Web App
Notetaking Apps Cogi Notability Web App Web App
Recording classes • Recording your classes – permission! • Recording group discussion – think about the privacy of your peers • Bookmark your recordings so you can listen back to specific sections • Listen back to fill in your written/typed notes