Train Students to Take Notes Better Notes.To get students to elaborate and extend their notes (and their understanding), ask them to write endings to sentences: "Another example of this might be." "The last time I saw a problem like this was." "I remember talking about this issue with." "This information might explain why." Such prompts encourage students to connect new material to what they already know, another step toward understanding and retention. They, ask them to write their paraphrased explanation in their notes. Suggest that they explain their notes to a student seated nearby. Pause from time to time and ask them to paraphrase what they have written in their notes - to rewrite definitions, to restate relationships, to retell an examples. You can help students by providing explicit instructions, at least in the first few classes, about what to include in class notes. Should they record examples, sample problems, the questions discussed in class? What about explanations of examples and solutions to problems? Is it necessary to record names, dates, and research cited? The answers to such questions differ from one course to another. For example:īoth patterns can help students contrast and compare the material for similarities and differences. On the other hand, if the information consists of types, parts, characteristics, components, or elements, you can classify it and present the information as a hierarchy. For example: infancy->childhood->adolescence->young adulthood Sequence is used to explain change, influence, or phases.įor example, if you're presenting information that illustrates time, space, or a process it's most likely a sequence "stages of development" suggests a process that can be illustrated with arrows. Most information can be organized into one of two frameworks: sequence or classification.
Effective note taking for college students how to#
If appropriate to your subject matter, give students a framework or schema for how to organize information. Last, use signaling phrases and transition statements such as "this is important," "you'll want to remember," "these differ in three important ways," "the second point is," or "next." Third, during the lecture, refer to your outline to highlight shifts in topic. Second, since studies show that students usually record what the instructor has written, be discriminating in your use of the board or transparencies. For example, write your lecture outline on the board. Be overt in the organization of your lecture, both orally and visually. In short, notetaking helps students to process information more deeply.Īs an instructor, you can do a number of things to help your students take and use their notes more effectively. Why is it important for your students to take notes? Studies find that notetaking helps students' focus attention, promotes more thorough elaboration of ideas, and encourages efforts to relate ideas and organize materials.