TAKING ORGANIZED AND EFFECTIVE NOTES READING TO REMEMBER

TAKING ORGANIZED AND EFFECTIVE NOTES & READING TO REMEMBER Brian Brausch

TAKING ORGANIZED AND EFFECTIVE NOTES

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

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!!! B E F O R E

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 D U R G I N

After Note Taking Verbalize your understanding to another student Compare with classmates Revise notes as appropriate Review your notes, clarify Rehearse aloud Highlight A F T E R

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 PERIOD EVENT PLACE 19391945 Europe, Hitler, Tojo Atom Bomb, West Pacific FDR, Cold War, Churchill, Holocaust Mussolini WWII PEOPLE SIGNIFICANCE

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. SQ 4 R method Survey Question Read Recite Review Reflect

SQ 4 R: 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

SQ 4 R: 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

SQ 4 R: 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 www. how-to-study. com www. studyhall. com www. d. umn. edu/kmc/student/loon/acad/ strat http: //frank. mtsu. edu/~studskl www. columbia. edu/cu/augustine/study

Questions?