Why take notes in lectures?
The lecture provides a good introduction to a subject in a short space of time and taking notes will help you take full advantage of this. For example, notes can be a useful as quick reminder of a logical approach to a subject when doing essays. Notes will also help your concentration in class because you are taking a more active approach to learning.
Notes will help your memory. By writing you will reinforce points and be forced to mentally process what is being said. According to one source if you do not write anything down you will forget 42% of the information in 20 minutes, 56% after 1 hour, 66% after 1 day, 75% after 1 week and 80% after 1 month (see: http://www.edison.k12.nj.us/cms/lib2/NJ01001623/…/1453/NoteTaking.ppt )
Note taking methods
There are three main approaches to taking notes:
Linear i.e. start at the beginning and go to the end
Visual / Map – create a picture of related ideas
Audio i.e. make an audio recording of the lecture (BUT make sure the lecturer allows this)
There seems to be no one method of writing notes that works for everyone – you have to experiment with what works for you. You can, for example, mix small diagrams in with your linear notes. Even if you record lectures you should also make written notes to help your concentration and learn more actively.
Note taking basics
Your notes:
identify and summarise the main ideas and concepts
record examples, references, definitions and theories
should be short enough to get an overview of the topic
should be long enough not to leave out important details
are a work in progress that you may need to add to later (so leave space on the page)
should be readable
Make sure you label your notes so that you can see exactly what they are for. Put the date, lecturer, title of the lecture and the module/course name at the beginning of your notes. Put page numbers on your notes.
Make sure taking notes does not stop you following the lecture. You must work out how much you can write and listen at the same time. Do not take notes word for word because you will not be actively engaged in thinking about what is being said.
Review and correct your notes after the lecture – when it is fresh in your mind
For emphasis use underlining and/or stars
If you have your own questions or points as you are making notes put them down but prefix them with “ME” so that you can quickly find your own ideas or ideas that need clarifying. e.g. [ME what does “public” mean?]
Note taking skills
To be successful at note taking, you need to be able to concentrate on listening, work on being able to summarize information and be aware of the structure of what is being said.
To improve your listening skills try to spot key words when the lecturer talks. You may also be able to use the points on PowerPoint slides to help you do this. All the while look out for what are the main topic headings, main arguments, theories, examples and references.
To summarize information you must be able to take a long point and make it briefly in your own words and perhaps combine the main point from several points being made. This skill of paraphrasing is an important one that you will use in your essays. Consider is the information important for you in your understanding – some points may be background that you already understand, for example.
To get at the structure you must pay attention to the logical steps being made in the lecture. This means analysing information at a fairly deep level. Many lectures will have a very explicit structure but this is not always the case and you will have to spot where a new point is being made and how this logically fits into the presentation. Sometimes information is signposted and broken down into clear headings. However sometimes the lecture “takes you on a journey” and only at the end do all the pieces come together in your own mind.
One way to remember all this is the “MIDAS” touch
M Main Ideas
I Identify supporting details
D Disregard unimportant information
A Analyse redundant information
S Simplify, categorize, and label important information
Note taking techniques
The main note-taking technique is to use abbreviates and symbols to make note taking take less time:
Experiment with omitting vowels (like txting)
Exprmnt wth omttng vwls
Use common abbreviations for your subject, e.g. jrn = journalism
Create a key for the abbreviations you use and put it at the top of your notes e.g. “md=media”
You can also use common short versions of words:
“1º” = primary etc.
“+” can mean “and”
“∴” means “therefore”
“th” means the
Read first
First you should read before the lecture. This will mean that you have some idea of the concepts before the lecture and then you are not hearing them for the first time and the lecture is easier to follow. You will then understand more subtle points and be less likely to miss something. The lecture can then also bring together and clarify ideas that you have already been thinking about. There will always be a set reading for a lecture.
Lectures have connected ideas so preparatory reading helps even if you don’t expect to do coursework based on that lecture. And bear in mind that you should be studying for knowledge not just to pass. This approach makes your work better and more stimulating and therefore more enjoyable.
Note taking and PowerPoint
Ask the lecturer to make the PowerPoint slides available online – don’t be shy about this they may have things you miss
If they are available still make notes – a PowerPoint is only a skeleton of an argument and does not relate to your own individual understanding.
Your questions
Use your notes to record questions you have from the lecture and ask them. Generally speaking if you don’t understand then others will have similar problems and the lecturer will welcome the question. This may be at the end but if the point is so basic that it stops you understanding then put your hand up and ask. You will find out which lecturers like this very quickly.
Further reading
Cottrell, S. (2008) The Study Skills Handbook, 3rd ed. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 122-127, 134-135
Neville, C. (2006) “Effective Note Making” [online] Available at: http://www.brad.ac.uk/acad/management/external/els/pdf/effectivenotemaking.pdf (Accessed 11 May 2011)