Taking Notes in the Classroom

I have often said before that the fine art of taking notes seemed to start its slow death right around the time PowerPoint came into being. Suddenly, students had a visual aid that their brains translated into: notes already taken. Pens and pencils were set down, paper was put away, and students were freed to lazily doze and/or passively listen to whatever the instructor was droning on about. This kind of passive action is the absolute best scenario if you want a future of performing poorly on quizzes and tests, not knowing your classmates and instructors, and earning an overall grade in the course that will make you terribly unhappy at the end of the semester.

So let’s take a look at some tips that may help you to take better notes in the classroom and thus perform better overall in your college classes:

·         Stay organized. I can’t say this often (or loudly) enough. One of the golden keys to a successful college experience is keeping all your classwork organized so you can find it when you need it. I recommend a three-ring binder for each class (if you want, have fun by labeling and decorating your binders!). You will want to keep the syllabus for each class at the front of each binder so you always have your instructor’s contact information and the course schedule at your fingertips. Then, keep your notes in chronological order so you can easily study and review.

·         Write the chapter/section number and the date at the beginning of each class. This will help you remember where you are in the book and help you to see what will be on the upcoming quiz or test.

·         Write legibly! You don’t have to worry about impeccable handwriting, but you do need to be able to read/decipher your own notes. Spelling and grammar do not count as no one will be reading your notes but you, so don’t feel like you have to stop to edit. In fact, don’t stop to edit – you need to use all your minutes wisely because the instructor will always be able to talk faster than you can write!

·         If the instructor writes something on the board, write it down. As an instructor, I can tell you that if I take the time to veer away from a PowerPoint slide to show an example or write out my own diagram it’s because I feel it is absolutely necessary. If I think it’s important, you should, too!

·         Bring your textbook and a printout of the slides (if applicable). There’s no need to rewrite the entire text or rewrite what has already been typed out on slides (assuming they are made available to you). What you can do is underline or highlight important passages in the textbook and make notes on your slide printouts. This minimizes the time you spend writing while maximizing the time you spend actively listening.

·         Use technology! Are you a speedy typist? Bring your laptop and type notes as your instructor talks! Our local community college even has laptops you can check out to use while you’re at school – what a great opportunity!

·         Ask questions! When I see a student put a huge question mark in their notes, I always feel a little bit frustrated. I am an expert on this subject and I have taught this course for 15 years – I know the answer to whatever question you have! Please ask your question so I can help you! The absolute worst is when students take their questions home and remain confused for almost a week until I see them next – these students have spent a week of their lives not understanding a concept I could have cleared up for them in minutes. Please ask! We’re here to help – it’s literally our job!

As always, the goal is to expend the least amount of energy necessary to get the most out of your classroom experience. Stay organized and use whatever tools you have to make learning as easy as possible!

Kelley