Did you know..?
You can think about 4 times faster than a lecturer can speak!?!?
Effective LISTENING requires the expenditure of energy; to compensate for the rate of the presentation, you have to actively intend to listen. NOTETAKING is one way to enhance listening, and using a systematic approach to the taking and reviewing of your notes can add immeasurably to your understanding and remembering the content of lectures.
Before Class
- Develop a mind-set geared toward listening--prepare yourself to pay attention.
- Test yourself over the previous lecture while waiting for the next one to begin.
- Skim relevant reading assignments to acquaint yourself with main ideas.
- Do what you can to improve physical and mental alertness (fatigue, hunger, time of day, where you sit in the classroom all affect motivation).
- Choose notebooks that will enhance your notetaking: a separate notebook for each course.
- Decide that you will listen.
During Class
- Listen for the structure and information in the lecture.
- Avoid distractions, emotional reaction or boredom.
- Be consistent in your use of form, abbreviation, etc. in notetaking.
- Pay attention to the speaker for verbal, physical, and visual clues to what's important.
- Label important points and organizational clues: main points and examples.
- When possible, translate the lecture into your own words, but if you can't, don't let it worry you to inattention.
- If you feel you don't take enough notes, divide your page into 5 sections and try to fill each part every 10 minutes (or work out your own formula).
- Ask questions if you don't understand.
After Class
- Clear up any questions with either the teacher or a classmate.
- Fill in missing points or misunderstood terms from the text or other sources
- Edit your notes, labeling main points, adding clues and highlighting.
- Make note of your ideas and reflections in a different color ink than that of the speaker.
Periodically
- Review your notes: glance at your clues and see how much you can remember before rereading the notes.
- Make up and answer possible test questions.
