OR HOW TO “MAKE NOTES” 1

Do you want to look like this?

NO! You want to look like….

…this!

Why take notes? It’s one of the best ways to learn and retain information It’s a skill that will serve you well, even beyond your formal school years

How many of you take notes? Do any of you take notes for your on-line classes? How?  Hand-written?  Using technology?  Both?

Why take notes again? Whether you are a note-taking novice or an experienced veteran, following these suggestions on a consistent basis will help you:  Retain important information  Make your work easier  And most importantly, help you learn and problem solve!

Different types of note taking When reading from textbook or on-line text  Lessons in ODY and BVA courses When attending a virtual session  Recorded or “real-time” When doing research for a project or paper English II lesson from ODY Biology PowerPoint from virtual session

5 steps to taking hand-written notes 1. Get (or make) a “notebook” 2. Start a new page each day for each class 3. Take down key words and concepts, especially when a word is defined 4. Pay attention to and write down words that are repeated 5. Review your notes right after you have read the material or attended the virtual session

First step in taking hand-written notes 1. Have a “place” to create your notes!  Spiral bound notebook, etc.  Have it “at the ready” for when you sit down to read over a lesson or watch / attend a virtual session  Have other supplies ready  Pencil  Pen  Eraser  Highlighters

First step in taking hand-written notes Several different starting points a. Get smaller spiral bound notebooks for each class b. Get a large spiral bound notebook that’s already divided c. Get a large spiral bound notebook that you divide using post- it notes d. Get a binder, fill with loose leaf paper, and separate subjects by dividers a. b. c. d.

Second step in taking hand-written notes 2. Start a new page each day for each class  Date the top of the page  Put a title at the top of the page  Leave room in margins to make “after” notes  Fill in details you may remember after reviewing your notes  Fill in information after watching part of a recorded virtual session  Draw pictures

Third step in taking hand-written notes 3. Take down key words and concepts, especially when a word is defined  More than likely, words that are defined or are in bold will be new words to you  You don't necessarily have to write in complete sentences  Use shorthand when possible  e.g., “w/” = with, “&” = and

Fourth step in taking hand-written notes 4. Pay attention to and write down words that are repeated  For example, when reading your course pages or when attending/listening to virtual/recorded sessions  Know what these words mean and how they relate to what you are learning

Fifth step in taking hand-written notes 5. Review your notes right after you have read the material or attended the virtual session  Fill in any information that you remember that you may not have written down the first time  Take a little break (5-10 minutes), then review them again  THEN complete the assignment(s) that pertain to those notes

5 steps to taking hand-written notes 1. Get (or make) a “notebook” 2. Start a new page each day for each class o Date and title the top of the page 3. Take down key words and concepts, especially when a word is defined o You don't necessarily have to write in complete sentences 4. Pay attention to and write down words that are repeated o For example, when reading your course pages or when attending/listening to live/recorded lectures 5. Review your notes right after you have read the material or attended the live lecture o Fill in any information that you remember that you may not have written down the first time o Take a little break (5-10 minutes), then review them again o THEN complete the assignment(s) that pertain to those notes

What’s important? Commit to the time it will take “Interact” with the lessons or virtual sessions Feel free to get creative  Record yourself reading / singing / rapping definitions – play it back  Create flash cards and ask your parents to help  Draw pictures, graphs, etc.  Create a concept map  Find another student in the class and have a “study buddy”  Use Wikipedia, Google Images, etc. to get a general idea of a concept

Notes with a computer… Download PowerPoint slides from your course landing page Create a folder on your desktop Take screenshots and save PPT to the folder Print out slides and get out the pencil and highlighters!

Bibliography and resources help/323-take-great-notes.gs help/323-take-great-notes.gs ml ml notes.html notes.html _notes.html _notes.html Mrs. Brodsky’s virtual session on note-taking

Suggestions from your peers… What are some things you do to learn information?

Rewards!

Images of note taking supplies ml ml &wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3= &wl4= &wl5=pla&wl6= &veh=sem &wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3= &wl4= &wl5=pla&wl6= &veh=sem dividers/ dividers/