Brian Brausch

Taking Notes  Involves 3 major tasks: Effective listening Effective observation Effective note taking

Effective Listening  Humans are poor listeners  FOCUS  Be alert, be aware  Active process which begins before class

Effective Listening: In Class  Find a good seat, comfortable  Pay attention purposefully  Listen for cues  Resist distractions  Don’t let your mind wander  Take notes while you listen  Be in the moment  Awareness Test Awareness Test

Are you easily distracted?  Arrive at each class prepared  Arrive on time  Sit near the front  Do not doodle  Stop daydreaming  Look at the teacher

Before Note Taking  Be positive – Attitude is everything  Find a style that fits you  Read  Prepare a list of questions  BE PREPARED!!! BEFORE

During Note Taking  Important ideas only  Listen and Look for cues (In other words…, Most importantly…)  Leave open spaces if you get behind  Use abbreviations  Record Questions

After Note Taking  Verbalize your understanding to another student  Compare with classmates  Revise notes as appropriate  Review your notes, clarify  Rehearse aloud  Highlight AFTERAFTER

Note Taking  Many methods, 5 outlined here: The Cornell Method The Outline Method The Mapping Method The Charting or PEPPS Method The Sentence Method

The Outlining Method  Main points on farthest left side, subsequent points follow indents  Example: Note Taking ○ 2 skills needed Effective listening Effective note taking ○ 5 methods Cornell Met., Outlining Met., Mapping Met., Outlining Met., Sentence Met.

The Mapping Method  A graphic representation of the lecture content

The Cornell Method  Draw a line down the page vertically 2 ½ inches from left hand side  Take notes on right side, leave few lines between each point  After class, write cues or questions in left margin  Review and test yourself by covering notes and leaving cues  Saves you having to rewrite your notes to study for exams

The Charting Method (PEPPS)  Good for history lectures  Draw columns/ categories and insert notes as necessary PERIODEVENTPLACEPEOPLESIGNIFICANCE WWIIEurope, West Pacific Hitler, Tojo FDR, Churchill, Mussolini Atom Bomb, Cold War, Holocaust

The Sentence Method  Write every new thought on separate line  Thought 2  Thought 3  Thought 4  Thought 5  Phrases are quicker than sentence form

Common Abbreviations  w/ - with  w/o – without  + or & - and  ppl.- people - at  Q - question  A – answer  ? – I’m lost  Ex – example  Imp- important  -> - leads to  Etc – and other things  Con’t- continued  Gov’t- government

Live Scribe Pen

Reading To Remember

Retaining Information  Short term vs. Long term  Ability to hold on to information.  SQ4R method Survey Question Read Recite Review Reflect

SQ4R: Step One  Survey and Question Improve reading speed and comprehension Skim or survey chapter (turning subtitles into questions) 5-minutes or less Warm up for the brain Creates advanced organizers Improves comprehension and concentration. Questioning is important – keeps you active and awake

SQ4R: Step 2  Read and Recite Read a section at a time Turn subheadings into questions and find the answers Underline the main idea (if important) When finished with section, look at subheading and see if you can recite or re-say the main point. Important for storing in long term memory

SQ4R: Step 3  Review and Reflect IMMEDIATELY after reading chapter, do quick review of what you learned. 5-minutes or less. Look at subheadings – recall main points Re-read points you highlighted. Reflect on how you can use the info, how does it relate?

Review and Reflection Points  What is important?  What is the significance?  How can I use the information?  What does it mean to me?  What do I think about the information?  How does this relate to what I already know?  Can I think of a good example for this?

More Useful Ideas  Unfamiliar word? Look up the definition, it will be on the exam!  You may need to re-read  Speed and comprehension improves with practice  Take notes – active involvement  Don’t understand? Talk with your teacher

 Read or skim material before class  Review periodically throughout semester  Learning disability? Albert Einstein Thomas Edison  Match learning style to reading style Auditory – read aloud Active – move around Introvert – quiet place Extrovert – group study

Additional Online Resources    strat strat  

Questions?