Developing Business Practice –302LON Critical thinking, reading and taking notes Unit: 4 Knowledgecast: 2

In this Knowledgecast, we will: Analyse a range of learning styles and the factors that influence successful study Evaluate current academic skills and present a plan for the development of academic skills Demonstrate a critical understanding of the importance of independence in learning and the need for a ‘growth’ mindset Module Learning Outcomes

Module Overview Unit 1Developing as a learner 2Working independently and with others 3Academic writing 4Critical thinking, reading and taking notes 5Using data in your studies 6Business and management research 7Career development strategies 8Effective self marketing tools 9Successful work experience 10Personal Development Planning

Source: Cameron (2009) Why Bother Taking Notes?

Improved concentration Enhanced understanding Increased retention and ‘deep learning’ More efficient reference Immediate revision tools Benefits of Effective Note Taking

Master Your Note Taking Note Taking AnnotationPrécis Diagrams & Mind Maps Discipline & Organisation Based on: Cameron (2009)

Image Source: Bucks County Community College (2010) Note Taking: Annotation

What is a Précis? Summary of key points from a text More concise than the original text Written using your own words Organised in consecutive points (even if the original is not clearly defined in this way) Note Taking: Précis

Source: Cameron (2009) Note Taking: Mind Maps

Start in the centre with your central idea Create a branch for each sub theme Divide a branch into further sub themes Use visuals for key words or actions Make it your own Source: Cameron (2009) Creating your Mind Map

1.Use words and diagrams 1.Organise your content 2.Improve your notes within 24 hours 3.File your notes systematically Note Taking: 4 Best Practices

Smith, J. (2006) Fantasy Discussion Forum. [16 May 2006] available from [4 October 2006] Blog Material World: Severn Barrage & Palaeopathology introduced by Quentin Cooper (2008). [Online]. BBC Radio 4. Thursday 15th May Available from: [19th May 2008] Podcast Potter, H. (2005) An Introduction to Human Anatomy [online] 4th edn. London: Adam Arnold. Available from [27 March 2006] eBook Referencing More Sources Based on: Coventry University Harvard Reference Style Guide (2009)

In our next Knowledgecast, we will look at: Evaluate current academic, self-marketing and personal skills and present a plan for developing skills Identify the key skills and competencies involved in designing and undertaking relevant business and management research What are we going to cover next?

In this Knowledgecast, we have looked at: Analyse a range of learning styles and the factors that influence successful study –How effective note taking can support deep learning Evaluate current academic skills and present a plan for the development of academic skills –Framework to follow to develop your own note taking strategy Demonstrate a critical understanding of the importance of independence in learning and the need for a ‘growth’ mindset –Taking responsibility for both what you learn and how you learn most efficiently Knowledgecast Summary

Seminar – Critical Thinking 4 Perspectives for Critical Thinking 1.Engaging with the content - What claims is the author making? - What concepts are being introduced? - What do they mean? - How might they be useful? 2. Relating to other sources - Does this text extend an existing theory or set of ideas? - Is it consistent with other sources? - In what ways is it different? And why? 3. Thinking about the context - When and where was the text written? - What was the purpose of the text? - What types of bias may be present? 4. Thinking about the assumptions - What assumptions does the author make? - Are they explicit? Are they implicit? - Do the assumptions make sense? How?

An introduction to Mind Maps Creating your own mind maps Seminar: Creative Note Taking

Source: Buzan, T. et al (2007) Group Activity – Creative Note Taking