Omar Thomas Civil Engineering Florida State University

    Redo your notes if needed. - Often times the notes you take in class may be sloppy, illogical, and incomprehensible. This may be due to poor note taking skills, professors that opt not to teach in any logical order, or even professors that talk so fast that you have to struggle just to write everything down. In any case, it may be beneficial to rewrite or retype your notes and put them in a clearer, more logical order. Color coding is another study aid that has come in handy many times. The material is always easier to learn if it is presented in a precise, logical form.

Matt Sellers

Master of Animal Science

Texas Tech University

    Taking detailed notes was one of the most important factors in my academic success. Ideally, I would take notes on my laptop. Barring that, I would record the lecture on a micro-cassette player (with the professor's permission), and at the earliest opportunity I would type the notes and print them out. This accomplished two things: it would give me a permanent record of the lecture and it would re-emphasize the information, which would enable me to retain more of it. I found that it is best not to rely solely on the recorder, though; I would also jot down the high points of the lecture in the event of a problem with the recording.

    If the professor objected to being recorded (which some did), I took notes by hand. I did not try to write everything word-for-word--most of my professors talked too fast for that. Instead, I developed my own form of shorthand--I would write only the most important words, leaving out articles, adjectives, and verbs. If the professor was lecturing from the book, I would highlight important information or make notes in the margin, such as an asterisk or brackets. I would then write the page number in the corresponding section of the notes for future reference. As with the recorded notes, I would type the handwritten notes as soon as possible after class, while the lecture was still somewhat fresh in my mind.

    Prior to the test, I would re-read the notes, usually several times. If the professor provided a study guide or review sheet, I would go through the notes and highlight areas that the professor had stressed. I often scanned the review/study guide into the computer and typed the answers in red. I would print them out and read them over and over, right up until time for the test.

Tina Marie Shelby Master of English Texas A&M University

Studying Techniques and Habits:

I use various types of study tools. I am also a creature of habit; I have created a designated place to study. Along with the designated place, I have created a designated schedule at the beginning of each semester for each class with an allotted time to work on lessons and to prepare for test. I mark on my calendar the due dates of papers, assignments, and test schedules. One of the most important tools I think a student can use is acquiring information from the teaching Professor if early submission of assignments is acceptable. When early submissions are acceptable, it will allow you extra time to study for upcoming test or to work on term papers that are due at the end of the semester.

I create a list of bold faced typed words out of the book I use for the class and define each one. Another important tool is outlining each chapter. This will allow you to read but also write the information acquired out of the chapter. When the professor goes over the information during the class time, you will be familiar with the topics that are spoken.

I also create a test for my self to take on the information that has been given during class. I study the material each week to keep my self familiar with the topics that are given during a semester.

Joyce Ann Wolfe

Master of Science in Counseling

Murray State University

Take clear, concise notes. You may have to abbreviate a lot because of a fast-speaking professor, but as long as you understand your notes that’s all that matters.
a. By the time you enter college, you may have developed a note-taking style; however, there’s always room for improvement.
b. You will need to learn to adjust your style according to the style of the professors and the way they present the material to the class.

Samantha Lynn Farris

Frostburg State University

    Always take notes while your reading! Even if they are only brief summaries. I write down quotes and page numbers as I go so that when I'm writing a paper I don't have to reread the article in order to discuss it. This is especially helpful when you are reading several pieces on a similar topic.

Kathryn Navickas

Master of Arts in English

SUNY Fredonia, and Binghamton University

    In taking note, I write down as much as possible and sort it out later at home, through highlighting. Next, I take what I feel is the most pertinent information and organize it in a concise manner on index cards. This is useful for me, as well as for anyone wanting to partner up and quiz me. I never have a test or assignment date approach without asking my professor specifics. Sometimes, I get lots of important information that way, and other times, professors prefer to be more general. Never miss your opportunity to narrow down what needs the most study! It does not hurt to ask, and most professors appreciate the involved student. Just as I try to arrive early to class, I strive to finish assignments and studies ahead of the target date whenever possible. This way, I have more time for review and reinforcement. Furthermore, if I get sick or an emergency arises, I ‘m pretty well prepared.

University of Massachusetts

    Learn how to take notes that best serve you. Ask other people to see their notes as well. This ties in with study groups. A neighbor may hear something or catch something you missed while writing your own notes. Also if you have to be absent make sure you find someone trust worthy to get notes from and be prompt with returning the notes.

Katherine Lea Anne Watson

Master of Arts in Choral Conducting

Mercer University

    Taking notes is critical in any course. There are times in which the notes or PowerPoint slides will be provided. When this occurs, I will still take notes in class. This helps me to better attend to what is being taught in class and follow along with the lecture and discussions. I have found that writing the notes by hand in class and then retyping them later is helpful. First, it is a good review as I retype the notes while ensuring that I go over the material again. It also allows me to change any short hand notes into notes that I will be able to read and understand at a later date. Having my notes typed and saved has provided a great resource when I have had to take comprehensive exams, graduation exams, or need information that is applicable to other courses or real life/on-the-job situations. After typing my notes, I will create flashcards to study. I hand write these flashcards in order to provide myself with yet another opportunity to go over the material before reviewing the flashcards. When I go over the flashcards to study, I create two piles: ones I don't know completely and ones that I do know. I continuously go over the flashcards until all of the cards in the pile that I know. I will review all of the cards one last time to ensure that I truly do know the cards. I have found that by writing the notes at least three times (once during the class, once by typing and once by creating flashcards), I am able to retrieve the information more quickly and I tend to spend less time studying the flashcards than if I just created the flashcards from the notes provided by the professor. I have used this method since high school and it has definitely helped on all types of tests. When I do not use this method, I tend to struggle more on tests and I am unable to retrieve the information as quickly at a later time. It definitely reflects on my grades, too!

Stacy Lynn Blattner

Masters, School Counseling

University of Texas

One major benefit on my study methods has been adding the dimension of creativity.

My improvement of my note taking skills has been adding color to my notes (about 4-10 different colors). I created a color coded system for both in class and my own notes that are not only easier to read, but have been helpful in breaking down information for improving long-term memory. Think of writing C++program where specific functions and operations are color coded because they have a separate purpose. Breaking down information with color sounded simple enough, but allowed me to break free from bad note taking habits.

Surveying information is perhaps the most important aspects of reading and taking notes, so a combination of quickly summarizing sections or aspects of my classes in my notes regularly, improved my reviewing stages for tests and learning overall.

Oscar Xavier Quint

MBA

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Note Taking

•Ask the instructor for his/her slide presentation (preferable prior to the class lecture). This will reduce the amount of writing you have to do so that you devote more time to listening.

•Develop a short hand form of note taking that you can understand and use it for every class. Write notes using these abbreviations so that you can get more thoughts onto your notes in a shorter period of time.

•If the instructor really stresses a point (or goes so far as to “suggest” you study it for an exam”), put a star by it, highlight, and make sure that you remember to study it often.

•Compare notes with classmates. Chances are that they caught something you missed and vice versa. Even choose a “note-taking partner.” Two people can get more information on paper than one!

Jamie Tidwell Master of Health Administration The University of Memphis

    No matter what your major is, you're going to have classes where you'll need to take notes. Good note-taking habits can lead to less stress over exams and better grades overall. The first step in good note-taking is to always be present for lectures. Otherwise, you're dependent on someone else's notes, and you may miss information or the instructor's emphasis on certain material. You can now buy class notes at some larger universities, but this should be used as a last alternative. Second, good note-taking means coming to class prepared. Bring paper and pens for taking notes, and textbooks and highlighters for emphasizing specific sections. Remember that highlighting in a textbook is always quicker than copying sentences, but don't get lazy and neglect the teacher's own material because you don't see it in the textbook. Third, if a teacher is covering material quickly, then don't worry about neatness. Just get all the information down, and the hieroglyphics can be deciphered later. If you can type faster than you can write, then consider using a laptop. But one needs to be aware that diagrams and figures cannot be easily or quickly drawn with a laptop unless it is a tablet PC. Lastly, when class is over, it is best to review the notes and identify any missing information that can be filled by classmates, teachers, or your short-term memory. Reviewing the notes will also reinforce them into your long-term memory, making exam studying a little easier when the time comes. Good note-taking skills are a prerequisite for success in college.

Jeffrey Gibson Master of Science in Electrical Engineering University of West Florida

    Good note taking is one of the best secrets to my success. First I love to use loose leaf paper, because then the pages can easily be rearranged in my note book according to date, topic or any other category I prefer. I always number and date each page to keep them very organized. Also I put the class and professor’s name on each page, to keep them separate from other classes. Next I underline each new topic as the professor introduces it in class. This way when I am studying I can quickly go to the topic I need. Good note taking in class saves time later, and makes studying much more efficient.

Jessica Lynn Taylor Master of Arts in World History East Tennessee State University

    I never realized how important note taking skills were until I entered the college world. While I have always been an auditory learner, I found that many of my professor’s lectures were forcing me to fall back on the old fashion skills of note taking. The best advice I can give when it comes to note taking is to not only take your own notes, but take your friend’s notes as well. Find a friend in class who takes notes, and at the end of each lecture make a copy of their notes. I have found that often times someone will hear something different than I did or catch something I missed. Plus it’s a great tool when it comes to studying because you get a double dose of the material. And an added bonus is your friend will appreciate the help too!

    Take excellent notes! Keep track of course information, professor contact information, assignment requirements, and due dates. While in lectures or discussions, it is a good rule of thumb to write down anything the professor writes on the board or seems to emphasize verbally. However, notes are not only for class, but should also be taken during your independent reading of course work, especially for noting questions about things you don’t understand. In both class and on your own, make note of themes, key words, dates, names, and page numbers from the course books—these will be helpful in studying for exams, while page numbers are particularly helpful when finding supporting quotes for essays. If you are intimidated by note-taking, do not give in to discouragement. Notes do not have to be a complete transcript of what the professor or other students say, merely an outline of important information. Do not feel foolish if you have to ask the professor to repeat certain phrases so that you can get your notes right. If you cannot write quickly, one simple tip is to stop dotting i’s and j’s, and use acronyms or abbreviations to help you keep up with what is being spoken.
 

Laura Catherine Strommen

University of Wisconsin

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     I have found that when taking notes, it is important to write the date on which you took the notes. That way, about a week before the exam you can easily plan out your study schedule. Each day, study a couple days worth of notes. For example, on your first day of reviewing your notes, go over the notes that you took the first three days of class. Not only does this help to keep your notes organized, but you also have an easy-made study schedule. Also, this helps to break up the material into more manageable segments. This will decrease your stress and sufficiently prepare you for test day.

Kristen Harris University of Tennessee

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Note Taking

When I was an undergrad student, note-taking in class was and exercise in exhaustion. No one used PowerPoint, they all used transparencies with the overhead projectors. I can remember many a class ending with my hand and fingers feeling very tired and cramped! Nowadays, pretty much everyone uses PowerPoint and students can print them out and have them handy during the lecture and this is a wonderful thing. Having good class notes will be invaluable for studying for tests. You need to do some pre and post class work to truly be a successful note-taker.

Before class, review your notes from the previous session so you will be refreshed on what was covered and to help you understand the new material being given to you. Complete all assigned readings before coming to class. I know this can be a tough one but it will really help to give you a more global perspective of the material being covered in class. Teachers do not assign readings just for the fun of it. They expect students to do the readings and they will use the information and build on it during their lectures. Make sure you have everything you need to take good notes (don't only have the one pen that is almost out of ink with you!!).

Now you are in class ready to begin. Keep your attention focused on what your teacher is saying. This is not the time to be text-messaging your friends about where you want to meet for lunch! Listen for key statements that will clue you in on what will be important for your notes and in test preparation. Some examples might be "The most important point..." and "Remember that...". If your teacher takes to time to write down or repeat information during the lecture, chances are you should make sure you've also got that information in your notes. Use abbreviations or your own version of shorthand so you can get all the important information down, but just remember to make sure you can understand what you wrote later when you are studying! Make notations or put question marks next to any information that is not clear and that you weren't able to clarify during class. You can always sidebar/email your teacher later about it.

After class, rewrite your notes to make them more complete. Use your textbooks or any other reference materials to clarify any muddy information. Check with your friends/study group members to make sure your notes are complete and accurate.

Karen Leary

Master of Science in Nursing

West Chester University

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When it comes to studying, use sticky notes for everything! Everyone has their own method of reviewing information or the memorization process. Sticky notes are a good way to post information around your room or office so that even when you are not engaged in the studying process, it is there for constant review. Label sticky notes with pages numbers from the book for quick reference, and use different colors for different subjects or courses. Also, sticky notes can be put on paper and photocopied thus reducing the need to make notecards in addition to other study preparations. This is a great method for keeping the information in the forefront and is especially useful in those classes that are cumulative in format.

Steven Kitowski

Master of Arts in Bilingual/ESL Literacy Education

Northern Illinois University

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When in class, you'll generally have a choice between taking notes by hand and taking notes on a laptop. Taking notes on a laptop is usually faster, allowing you to get more information down (and to edit it quickly). You can also be looking at Wikipedia or other resources during lecture, to help you understand better. But it is very difficult to copy down graphs, diagrams, and figures (though OneNote helps with this). So, in a science, math, or economics class, taking notes on paper may be your best bet, while in a humanities or social science class, your laptop might be a better call.

Alex Harris Harvard University

One of the major changes I experienced when I went to college was that almost all the professors used power point for presentations in class. At first I tried to copy down everything on the power point, but I quickly realized that not only could I get all the information down, but I wasn't listening. Most professors will post the power points online. I suggest printing the power point out before class with either four or six slides per page and bringing the power point with you to class. This way you can add in the points the professor makes that are not already noted on the slide. An alternative idea that also works is to do the same thing with a notebook. In the margin note the number of the slide and write down the important points that aren't already showing. Later when you study from the power point you can match your notes with the correct slide. I prefer the first method, but I know other students who prefer the second method and the second method is ideal if the professor refuses to post slides before class. Also, if you have a break between classes or time at the end of the day, review your notes and add in anything you didn't have time to write down in class. I find that statements that I didn't write down stick with me till the end of the day, but if I go back the next morning to fill in my notes I usually struggle to remember the details.

Rachel Beck

University of Virginia

Make sure to compare notes with a friend or classmate because in many cases, other people may have caught something said in lecture that you may have missed. I always get together with a reliable friend from class and we quiz each other before a test. This way, I get to understand the manner in which he studied the material, and I get to explain my understanding of it, as well. By explaining information on an upcoming exam to someone, I feel like I learn it better. So after you're done studying, try and see if any of your friends need help and check to see if you know the material as well a you think you do!

Paola Annoni Biology Georgetown University

I, Lyudmyla Petrenko, graduated from Bethany College with 3.98 GPA. Now, I am a graduate student and a Teaching Assistant at the Minnesota State University.

I still remember my first day as a freshman. I am only sixteen and my English language skills were not that great. I was an international student from Ukraine who received a full scholarship for four years (this included textbooks, airfare to go home, health insurance, etc).
It was a sociology class and a professor seemed very nice. Everything was going great expect for the fact that I understood only 30% of what he was saying. First, I was not used to such fancy words and it was hard for me to translate the new information into my native language as fast as the Sociology professor talked.

After the first class, learned that in order to comprehend new information better you need to take notes. During the second class all I did was jotting down everything I heard during the class. Afterwards, I went over all the notes, looked at the material in the book, and highlighted the most important information. It really helped me study for the tests later. I also noticed that when I took notes it was much easier to remember all the information. It may seem bothersome and stressful but it is worth it. If you want to get an “A” in any class, take notes!

Lyudmyla Petrenko Masters, Speech Communication Minnesota State University

    It is very important to take notes during lectures. Each person has their own style and that is why borrowing someone else's notes is rarely productive. Be sure and note anything that your professor emphasizes. He or she may not tell you how important it is, but there is usually a visual or auditory clue. Sometimes slower and deliberate speech might indicate that this is something you will need to know later! Be sure your notes are legible. If you have trouble writing everything down, tape the class and then go back over your notes while listening to the tape to be sure you got everything. If the professor uses a power point, note the main points on the slide. If any new terms or words are defined, be sure and note them as well. Cause and effect statements are generally important. Also note if the professor considers something to be definitive, the best, or the worst that is usually worth writing down. Be sure you review your notes soon after class so that if something is not clear you can ask a classmate or get clarification from your professor. Most importantly have an organized system for keeping your notes. Date them as you take them and keep all notes for each class together in a notebook or folder.

Cathy Hooper

Master of Arts in Educational Leadership

Texas A&M University

Good reading notes are absolutely essential, especially in courses that have a lot of reading to cover. The best reading notes are the ones that make sense to you. Your reading notes should cover main concepts/arguments and include some pertinent details. I often find phrases or pull quotes from the reading (and put them in my notes with a page number) that further jog my memory about key concepts.

Another technique I use with reading a lot of material is to use the colored post it strips. I use a different color to tag pages for each category (for example: orange for quotes I might use in a paper; yellow for a reference to something I might need/want to explore further; green for hard data (charts, graphs, statistics) I might need). This helps me quickly find information I need when putting a paper together.

Shauna Lee Manning

Master of Education in Instructional Design

University of Massachusetts Boston