Image courtesy of Rennett Snow
If you're a new college student, chances are you may be unsure about taking notes. You've been out of school awhile, so your skills are rusty. Your instructor may talk too fast. Maybe you're not sure which information to write down. Maybe you just don't know how to organize all that information. I'd like to offer some tips that may help you to find a note taking system that works for you.
Be Prepared
One thing that mya help quite a bit is to take a look at the chapter before coming to class. You may not necessarily have to read the entire thing, but at least familiarize yourself with the content a bit. This will make it easier to follow what the professor is talking about. You may find that you don't have to write as much down if you already have some idea about the material.
Get Involved
Take part in the conversation. Share what you know about the topic, and ask questions. Getting involved in the lesson personalizes the material, making it easier to understand and more relevant to you. Non-traditional students are known for their active participation, you know! Maybe the younger students will even open up a bit with you leading the way.
Look For Clues
Be aware of your professor's actions. If he seems to get excited about the material, it's likely you'll be seeing that information on the test. So write it down. Listen for words like "in conclusion", "the most important part":, or "the follwing factors". These kind of words clue you in to information that is important, so be sure to include the facts in your notes.
Organize Things
It's important to choose a format for organizing your notes. Choose one that resonates with you or something that seems to fit the course material. You may choose to structure your notes in paragraphs for subjects like history. Maybe each paragraph represents an event or time period. Don't, however, feel that you have to write complete sentences. There simply isn't enough time for that. Maybe you prefer an outline form. Outlining your notes helps to see how things go together and is a great way to recognize patterns.
Put It In Its Place
You may want to consider using a three-ring binder. This way, you can insert handouts from the instructor where they correspond in the lesson. You can also add notes of your own later without worrying about whether you'll be able to find which class notes your information goes with. I'd advise writing on only one side of the page and not being concerned with saving paper. Leave white space for adding sketches and diagrams that will help make things clear. Maybe taking notes on 3 x 5 cards will work for you. This way, the information can be organized the way you want it, and it's in a handy travel form for studying on the go. As an adult student, you'll need to sneak in study time wherever you can!
These are just a few ideas to get you started. Check out the College Board's article on note taking for more information. I defnitely like what they say about reiewing your notes. Doing this soon after class ends will help you to retain the information. What works for you with note taking? I"d love to hear about it!
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