2022

WEEK 2: Note Taking

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 OBJECTIVES

1. Why it is important to take

notes during lecture.

2. Describe the strategies

or tips for note taking.

3. Explain different methods

of note taking.
Why take notes?

- Helps in problem solving especially when students present their own views in readiness for presentation purposes/group work.

- It enhances a critical view or analysis: note taking is not about copying; you think as you put down your points.

- Assists in preparing for assignments; interviews assessments etc.

 Why take notes cont.
- Helps in organizing data and information.

- Helps in processing the notes (as you go through

them). Indeed, you may find yourself expanding
the points as you process them; interrogate them.

- Note taking ensures that you remain attentive in

class; may trigger your participation because as
you write, you are thinking about the point:
thinking occurs more quickly.

- Helps in reconstruction of points thereby avoiding

plagiarism.
 Note taking strategies/tips

1. Be organised/systematic and
selective:
Not the entire text is always
relevant;
ask yourself what your purpose
is.

2. Identify what the text is

about/purpose;
and function of the text:
-read the title and the abstract
-read the introduction/first
paragraph
-Read topic headings

Then ask yourself if the

information is useful and if so to
what degree.
 Note taking strategies/tips cont.
3. Discover how information is
developed/organised. Example, are there:

-past ideas to present ones?

-any steps/stages/process shown?
-some points more important than others? Note
accordingly by underlining etc.
-general points/ideas to specific points/ideas?

4. Write summaries of the most essential

material.
Note taking strategies/tips cont.
5. Look over your notes frequently.
- For most people/learners,
this is the most important
strategy and perhaps the
only way you might remember
what you’ve read.

- How come someone of little

education can remember
their 12-digit Moshupa bank
account number? By reciting
it many times. - --The same
strategy generally, applies to
many learners.

6. Be very attentive: Sometimes, a

lecturer might emphasise certain
areas and these must be given the
right attention.
Note taking strategies/tips cont.

7. Writing:
-Divide the page into two. 1/3 to the left and
2/3 to the right.
- The left side should only carry; questions;
high level critical thinking questions.
-Write a summary of the most important
information in the summary (2/3)section of
the page.
- The top of this page should contain, the
topic, period, date etc.

- Can you write a short quiz from the notes? If

you cannot do this and answer accordingly,
then you have not understood the text or
some parts of it.
Note taking strategies/tips cont.

8. Use abbreviations/acronyms/symbols,
e.g.:
+ plus
≤ less than or equal to
≥greater than or equal to
≠not equal to
- These are formal symbols; you may create
your own.
- HOWEVER, these symbols should be
appropriately applied in official schoolwork.
- Some students use @ in an essay. This
amounts to zero in their work!
 Note taking strategies/tips cont.

9. Where do you prefer to sit?

- Sit near the front whenever possible.
- Some learners prefer to sit at the back even
when space is available at the front in FFC.

10. What are some disadvantages of their

preferred location?
 Methods of note taking
- Taking notes is about summarising core
concepts as precisely as possible in your
own words.

-There are 4 best note-taking methods

for college students;

1.The Outline method:

- This method requires you to structure
your notes in form of an outline by using
bullet points to represent different topics
and their subtopics.

- Start writing main topics on

the far left of the page and add related
subtopic in bullet points below using
indents.
 Methods of note taking cont.

2. The Cornell Method:

- What differentiates this from other
methods is the page layout.
- The page is divided into three
or four sections starting from one
row at the top for title and date (optional)
and one at the bottom along with two
columns in the centre.
- 30% of width should be kept in the left column while
the remaining 70% for the right column.
- All notes from the class go into the main
note-taking column.
- The smaller column on the left side is
for comments, questions or hints about
the actual notes.
 Methods of note taking cont.

3.The Boxing Method:

- All notes that are related to each other
are grouped together in a box. A dedicated
box is assigned for each section of notes.

- Digital note-taking apps for the iPad

(like GoodNotes) are especially helpful for
this method because content on the page
can be reordered or resized subsequently.

- That way, you can just write down notes as

you would normally do and then reorder them
afterward to assign them to boxes.

- Digital note-taking also allows you to zoom

in on the page, which helps to focus on one
topic at a time during the review.
Methods of note taking cont.

4. The Charting Method:

- It is an ideal method for notes
that involve a lot of information
in the form of facts and statistics,
that need to be learned by heart.

-The information will be organized

in several columns, like a table
or spreadsheet.

- Each column represents a unique

category which makes the rows
easily comparable.

- It makes sense to use this method

when summarising whole lectures
as a preparation for exams or
during intensive study sessions.
Methods of note taking cont.

5. The Mapping Method:

- When the lecture content is intense,
the mapping method works best.

- It helps organize your notes by

dividing them into branches, enabling
you to establish relationships
between the topics.

- Start with writing the main topic at

the top of the map.

- Keep dividing it into subtopics on the

left and right as you go down.

- This technique works best when the

lecture content is heavy, and you need
to organize it in a structured and easy form.
So, which note-taking method will you use?

- Note-taking is a crucial part of every student’s life

and the way you do it can have a great impact on
your studies and results.

- If your notes are messy, it can be difficult to

review them and find important information before
tests and exams.

- Hope this article has helped you find the right

method for you!
 Tutorial

Research on Learning Styles individually

and present in class your preferred
leaning style.