Effective Listening

Session 02

NOTE-TAKING
Effective note taking is as important as effective listening because a good note helps you
retain information. Taking notes in an organized manner will prove to be advantageous when
you study for an examination or try to build on the knowledge gained to tackle more complex
issues later.
You may prefer writing brief summaries or drawing maps or diagrams to turn your notes into
visual guides. Different individuals may follow different note taking methods and the method
may also depend on the content or the nature of the lecture/ speech.
This session familiarizes you with different note taking methods. What is important is to find
a note-taking strategy that works for you or even develop your own style based on these.

Mark the practices related to note taking you already follow.

( ) Writing in your own words instead of trying to copy the exact words used by the lecturer.
( ) Keeping the notes brief and focused rather than writing pages of notes.
( ) Focusing on the main ideas and concepts.
( ) Using signals and abbreviations instead of writing full words.
( ) Highlighting, underlining, or drawing arrows to provide visual cues
( ) Trying to identify the patterns in the content of the lecture you listen to
( ) Reviewing your notes soon after lecturers

Note taking methods

1. Cornell method
2. Charting method
3. Mind-mapping method
4. Sentence method
 5. Outline method

As you go through the description of each method, select the appropriate name from the
above list and write in the box given.

1. Name of the method:

This method allows you to prioritize the material by writing the key ideas to the left of the
page. Then the subordinate ideas are indented, and details of the subordinate ideas can be
indented further. You can organize your ideas by using the typical outlining numbering
scheme (starting with roman numerals for key ideas, moving to capital letters on the first
subordinate level, Arabic numbers for the next level, and lowercase letters following.)

Activity 01

Let’s start off with an easy task, you watched the short video on how viruses attack us in
session 1. Watch it again and complete the following note using the words/phrases given in
the box. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqfRaCp1UJA)

How Viruses Attack Us

1. …………………

A. Infectious agents

i. Infects cells to reproduce

B. Propagation

i. Water

ii. …………………

iii. …………………

iv. …………………

C. Composition

i. …………………
 ii. …………………

2. Viral Attacks

A. …………………- adhering to the outer membrane of cells

B. Penetration - …………………………………………..

C. …………………- releasing genetic information

3. Immunological strategy against viral attacks

A. Mobilizing phagocytes

B. ………………………….

C. ………………………….

2. Name of the method:

This method uses a two-column approach:

Notes column: The right column which is about two-thirds of the page.
used for taking notes during the lecture.
Cue/ recall column: The left column which takes up no more than a third of the page.
used to jot down main ideas, keywords, questions. This can be completed both during the
lecture or after the lecture by reviewing the notes
Finally, the box in the footer is used to write a summary of the lecture in your own words to
help you make sense of your notes in the future.

Activity 02
Watch the video, ‘The In-Space Refabricator’ while following the notes written on the ‘notes’
column. After watching, write cues that prompt each section of the notes. Finally, summarize
the content using your own words.

Cues Notes
● ……………………
…………..

● Refabricator – hybrid 3D printer

● In the ISS
● For recycling hard polymer plastic multiple times
● To create new items
● Size of dome room refrigerator
● Controlled from the Earth

● ……………………
…………..

● Recycling on Earth involves grinding plastic pellets

● Material shield created
● Reduced strength
● Difficult to reuse

● ……………………
…………..

● Refabricator – no griding
● Multiple recycling
● Helpful in long-term space exploration

● ……………………
…………..

● In deep space-

Resupply missions are not easy

Ability to make all parts needed is important
No space for a large stockpile of extra material
 ● Even the foam or plastic packing of items sent to ISS
can be loaded to the Re-fabricator 🡪 new items
(plastic syringe, eating utensil, custom-made wrench)
● Limits the back-up material needed for a long-term
expedition

Summary

3. Name of the method:

This is a graphic method to show relationships among ideas helping you understand complex
material at a glance. It also gives you the flexibility to move from one idea to another and
back easily.  

It involves putting the keyword, main point or learning outcome in the centre of the page and
making branches that go from this main point to sub-points, details etc. You can also use
arrows and lines to connect the various ideas.

Activity 03
The task below is also based on the video, ‘The In-Space Refabricator’. Add the following
points to expand the concept map beginning with the central idea, ‘In-space Refabricator
for recycling plastic’.

● Eliminates the necessity for re-supply missions

 ● Limits the stockpile of material
● Does not reduce the strength
● Size of a dome refrigerator
● Any item like a plastic syringe, eating utensil, custom-made wrench
● Material shield is not created
● Even the foam or plastic packing is turned into items

Small size

In-space
Creating Refabricator
No grinding
new items for recycling
plastic

Multiple
recycling

4. Name of the method:

This method involves using a table to make your notes. You can have separate columns for
main points, questions, details etc. Classifying or organizing your information in a table helps
you access it easily.

Activity 04
Now, watch the video on Lab Safety and complete the missing information in the following
note. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7VkIuiT1kU

Acceptable behaviour Reason Action in case of an

emergency
1. Never eat, drink, To avoid contaminating the -
chew gum or apply skin/ risk ingesting poisonous
make up chemicals

……………………………….

……………………………….
2. Never work alone To help each other in case of an -
emergency
3. Keep the lab -
uncluttered ……………………………….

……………………………….
4. Never place any - Check the safety data sheet
chemical bottles on the for appropriate response
floor
…………………………..

…………………………..
5. . Can easily be knocked off -
………………………

………………………
6. Never pick up broken
glass with bare hands ………………………………. ……………………………

………………………………. ……………………………

5. Name of the method:

This method involves simply writing down each topic/main idea as a sentence. This method
works well for fast paced lessons where a lot of information is being covered and also when it
is difficult to determine the exact structure of the content.
Activity 05

Watch the video on Lab Safety again and build your note using sentences/phrases.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7VkIuiT1kU

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

Using abbreviations in notetaking

You can use note-taking abbreviations to save time. These common shortened versions of
words are quick to write and easy to understand.

You can also develop your own type of shorthand to abbreviate your word/sentences

● ASAP - As soon as possible

● b/c - Because
● b/w - Between
● e.g. -  For example (from the Latin term, exempli gratia)
● esp. - Especially
● etc. - And so on (from the Latin term, et cetera)
● ex. - Example
 ● i.e. - In other words (from the Latin term, id est)
● indv. - Individual
● lrg. - Large
● max. - Maximum
● min. - Minimum or minute
● n/a - Not applicable
● re: - Regarding or about
● ref. - References needed or refer to
● sim. - Similar
● sm. - Small
● thru - Through
● vs. - Versus
● w/ - With
● wd. - Word
● w/o - Without
● yr. - Year or years

Activity 05

Further Practice

Watch the one of the following videos and take notes using an appropriate note taking
method you have learnt.

1. Football Physics- the impossible free kick https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=m57cimnJ7fc

2. The amazing ways plants defend themselves

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hja0SLs2kus

3. Can machines read your emotions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFk3e5PcK7s