(My technical writing student, Vivinette K. Dietsche, submitted these tips for a project in 2000. –DGJ)
As an adult student, and mother of three college-aged children, experience has taught me the importance of good study skills and habits. Not only can a student “survive” college with these skills, they can actually do quite well. I took the opportunity to write this paper with my children in mind. Learning how to take lecture notes effectively is the first step college students need to make the transition from high school to college easier.
Few people realize how fast memory fades. Studies on memory have shown that, without review, 47% of what a person has just learned is forgotten in the first twenty minutes and 62% is forgotten after the first day. (University of Texas at Austin). Therefore, having good lecture notes to review can determine how well you are able to perform on exams.
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“Always have a plan and believe in it. Nothing good happens by accident.” — Chuck Knox, NFL football coach
“Learn how to listen and you will prosper even from those who talk badly.” — Plutarch (A.D. 46 – 120). Greek biographer and philosopher
“Learn, compare, collect the facts.” – Ivan Petrovic Pavlov (1849 – 1936), Russian physiologist.
Fine-tune the structure and organization of your notes to increase your note-taking speed and comprehension later.
“There is a great difference between knowing a thing and understanding it.” – Charles Kettering (1876 – 1958), American electrical engineer and inventor
Knowing what and how much to write down is sometimes difficult. Rely on some of the following tips for what to include in your notes.
“Ideas won’t keep; something must be done about them.” – Alfred North Whitehead (1861 – 1947), English mathematician and philosopher
Academic skills centers and other authorities on effective study skills consider reviewing and editing class notes to be the most important part of note-taking and essential to increasing learning capacity.
Note: For additional techniques for study and exam preparation, go to Tips for Effective Study (archived by the WayBack Machine) http://www.cod.edu/people/faculty/fancher/STUDY.HTM
To research this topic I reviewed several texts and on-line web sites that gave suggestions as to how students could become more effective learners and methods of study that could accomplish this. The importance of class note-taking was emphasized over and over. By looking at many different suggestions and note-taking guidelines, I compiled a list of top 5 tips for effective note-taking that will enhance students’ learning abilities and improve their college success.
Students sometimes have a hard time making the transition from high school to college. Students who did extremely well in high school may find themselves struggling in college. Part of this can be due to increased freedom and now having to structure their own time, rather than having it done for them. Also, many students don’t do as well because the style of teaching is so different. High school instructors rely more on textbook learning, whereas college professors rely more on lecture. Students find themselves inadequately prepared for this new style of teaching and have to rethink their study habits and skills in order to succeed.
A relatively easy way for students to improve their retention and comprehension is by learning how to effectively take notes. Several studies have been done on the importance of taking lecture notes in college and how doing so improves a student’s grades. First, it is important to understand why taking notes is so crucial. A person’s ability to remember material presented to them fades very quickly.
According to Walter Pauk (84), people lose their retention at the following rates:
Hence, having notes to fall back on for review is essential for attaining good grades.
Note-taking, in addition to helping retention, allows students to become effective learners. George Dudycha, a professor of psychology at Wittenberg College states, “The taking of notes facilitates learning. When one takes notes he attends to what is said and done; he analyzes and thinks rapidly about what he sees and hears; and finally he records his observations. Attending to, analyzing, and doing something about a class lecture means the student is actively engaged in those activities that are essential to effective learning.” He goes on to say that notes are “the cues that stimulate recall.” (179-180).
College academic and learning skill centers actively promote the use of note-taking in lectures to improve a student’s learning capabilities:
Taking notes consistently in a predetermined format allows a student to get the most out of class lectures. Something as simple as having the right materials and keeping up with the class reading assignments is the first step to effective note-taking.
The University of Texas at Austin Learning Skills Center encourages its students to have a positive attitude. “A positive attitude toward your course means assuming that the material is worth learning and not prejudging the material or the instructor. Rather than tuning out, encourage yourself with positive messages.”
Not everyone processes information the same way, so it is important for students to develop methods and strategies that work the best for them. Using a trial and error approach can help a student fine tune what type of structure and organization works best for them.
Students sometimes have a difficult time knowing what to write down during a lecture. Knowing some specific content items they should look for will help them. As they get more proficient at their note-taking, which will happen over time, it will be easier for them to weed out what is important and what is not.
Probably the most emphasized suggestion for effective note-taking is reviewing and editing one’s notes. Few students do this and it is considered by all academic skills centers and other authorities on effective study skills to be the most important part of effective note-taking and essential to increasing one’s learning capacity. Taking the time to review and edit one’s notes as soon as possible after a class will reap tremendous rewards later when it comes time to study for an exam.
Relatively few students know the importance of taking effective notes and how much it can improve their retention and comprehension of lecture material. By following a few simple guidelines on how to take notes effectively, a student can improve their college GPA, and relieve a lot of stress when it comes time to study for and take an exam.
Editor’s note: In the years since this page was first created, all the following links seem to have broken. You might try pasting the URL into the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine to find cached copies of these now-gone websites. –DGJ
12 Dec 2000 — submitted by Vivinette K. Dietsche
23 Feb 2001 — posted by Dennis G. Jerz
15 Aug 2019 — added note about broken links in references
About this Page |
Vivinette Dietsche, a technical writing student, compiled this excellent set of tips. I do wish that she had cited the page number for each specific citation of the printed sources, but nevertheless, this page is still very useful. –DGJ |
See Also |
Vivinette Dietsche Effective Notetaking- Improve Your GPAThe Onion Area Man Has No Idea Why He Wrote “Gazebo Convo–resolve/Tues (!?)” in Planner 6 Weeks Ago “I had absolutely no clue what it meant. I scanned the next several Tuesdays to see if there were any notes regarding the resolution of a gazebo convo–whatever that is–but there was nothing. I haven’t been able to think about anything else since.” |
Hey this is great tips you’re giving. Thank you very much, as i’m still a student i’ll use it in the future ;)
Thank you. I really needed good tips on note taking. I’m a new student, but this was very helpful. Once again Thank You…
This article is great. It tells about how to focus on the subject and taking notes in class. U can always pay attention to what the teacher is saying while taking notes.
These tips are very prparing. Im in the 5th grade and am learning how to take good notes in school. I’m showing these to my techer.
thanks, im using these notes for career management these might help me remember the lesson better.
Hey this is good lesson to be learn. I’ve take in this instruction to guild me in my note taking both in the Master Program and at work. I hope to have more lesson on note taking material to guild me well. Thanks again to the organizer of this lesson.
Professional regards
H.Clarke
View Comments
what a wonderful tips thank you
nice
Your point of views are very helpful.
The methods you use are time saving, as well as very effective.
Vivinette,
Thank you!!!!!!!
I am writing my Master's thesis on note taking as I read your "better than anything else" resource.
I dare not attempt to expand upon this subject, for you have developed note taking to a whole new level, better than previous academic experts!
Taking note of excellence,
Jane
Students use different methods to study but some common habits get you better grades
When I first started college I was just prepared. After several years in the work force and no school; provisions about concepts were iminent. I have looked at the whole picture for the puzzle! Pick up on what the proffesor is getting at. that is when you know if this class or classes is right for you, the student.
Thanks for writing this, i am a professional worker and found this article is very useful.
Great tips, I love it.
Thanks alot for such selfless knowladge on notes taking