Note Taking Skills
- Don't try to write down everything the teacher says. Focus on the main ideas.
- When you're taking notes, use your own words.
- Keep your notes organized. They will be as important as the text book.
- Each night, review the notes you took that day. This will make things easier to remember when it comes time to study for the test.
- If the instructor writes something on the whiteboard/overhead or repeats an idea then it is usually a key point and you should write it down.
- Try to use a three-ring binder, it allows for more flexibility in rearranging your notes and any handouts that your may receive.
- Try to sit towards the front and center of the class where you'll be less distracted and can hear the professor the best and have a good angle on any visual aids that may be shown.
- Don't rely on someone else's notes, you may not understand everything that they write down and you'll learn the best by taking your own notes.
- Do reading assignments or homework questions before class, it is easier to take notes when you know what the instructor is talking about.
- Date your notes. Add titles and subtitles when you move onto a new topic for easy referencing.
- Write down any terminology along with the definition that the instructor may present.
- Make sure that you write legibly, if you can't read them later, they'll be useless. If you have sloppy handwriting it may be wise to type your notes so that they are easier to read.
- If you missed what the instructor said ask them to repeat it or go to the instructor after class and ask for clarification. If you are in a rush, ask the instructor at the beginning of the next class or try to find the answer from a frient or the text.
- Compare notes with a classmate to make sure you didn't miss any important points.