Active Listening and Effective Notetaking : Active Listening and Effective Notetaking Make the most of your class time Murphy’s Laws : Murphy’s Laws Nothing is as easy as it looks.
Everything takes longer than you think.
If anything can go wrong, it will. Hurney’s Law : Hurney’s Law Half of the final exam questions will come from the notes you missed in lectures. Baxter’s Corollary The other half will come from the notes you cannot decipher. Tip #1 : Tip #1 Prepare to listen. Are hearing and listening the same thing? : Are hearing and listening the same thing? Hearing
seeking to understand
YOU ARE ACTIVELY INVOLVED! No Pre-Class Preparation : Pre-Class Preparation Complete assignments
Preview that day’s content
read or survey chapter
create a chapter map
survey, question, read, recite, review
Review the last day’s content In-Class Preparation : In-Class Preparation Take course materials to class
Arrive on time
Sit near the front of the class
(How far does the professor’s energy go?)
Have/get/create a purpose for listening
(It is costing you about 25.00/hour!)
Everything you do is a choice Tip #2 : Tip #2 Develop a notetaking system and format that works for you. What kind of system and format works for you? : What kind of system and format works for you? Formal Outline? Informal Outline? Cornell Format? Running Text? Another Format? Running Text : Running Text Notes on Notes:
This is an example of a running text system. Notes are used to help you identify major and minor points in a lecture.
A variety of notetaking styles include 1.) running text (looks like a paragraph) 2.) Formal outline,(Roman/Arabic numerals) 3.)informal outlines (symbols, indentions) There are also different formats to choose from, 1.)Cornell, and 2. Several others. Formal Outline : Formal Outline Notes on Notes: 9/14/98
I. Uses of Notes
A. identify major points in a lecture
B. identify minor points in a lecture
II. 3 different notetaking systems:
A. running text
B. formal outline
C. informal outline
III. Different Formats:
B. Other Informal Outline : Informal Outline Notes on Notes: 9/14/98
Uses of notes
identify major points in a lecture
identify minor points in a lecture
4 different notetaking systems:
2 kinds of format:
Other Cornell Note Format : Cornell Note Format Uses of notes
identify major points
identify minor points
There are 4 Kinds of Notes:
Cornell Note system Recall
Column: Notes on Taking Notes, 9/14/03 Reduce ideas and facts to concise summaries and cues for reciting, reviewing and reflecting over here. Other options for formats: : Other options for formats: Edit and summarize here Your reflections, ideas & questions here Class notes here Edit and summarize here Your reflections, ideas & questions here Class notes here For example, notes may look something like this: : For example, notes may look something like this: Tip #2 Pick a notetaking system/format:
- Running Text
- Formal Outline
- Informal Outline
AND.. Pick a Format:
- Other Slide 16: Tip #3 Communicate with your instructor. Professors can see you... : Professors can see you... …even in big lecture classes!
They tend to be warmest to those people who seem to be most communicative. Professors want you to be a thoughtful participant.
in class questions (see next slide)
out-of-class appointments Ask questions in class : Ask questions in class Avoid irrelevant questions
Maintain focus. Don’t ask a question about what was just said as if you weren’t paying attention
Give your instructor a place to start. Preface what you don’t understand by what you do understand.
Think of a question and ask it! Slide 19: Tip #4 Avoid Distractions! External Distractions : External Distractions windows/doors
other class members
noises Internal Distractions : Internal Distractions speaker’s delivery (mannerisms/opinions)
speaking rate vs. listening rate
worries (the opposite of worrying is solving)
negative self-talk Negative Mental Dialog : Negative Mental Dialog So, who cares?!
I’m never going to remember all of this.
I should have never taken this class.
I wonder what I will do after this class…
What a stupid question!
I wish I weren’t here. Positive/Constructive Mental Dialog : Positive/Constructive Mental Dialog I am curious about this lecture.
How does this relate to what I read for class?
How does this relate to the last lecture?
Why is this material in the lecture? Tip #5 : Tip #5 Make your notes efficient and effective and listen for the essence of the lecture. Effective Listeners & Ineffective Listeners : Effective Listeners & Ineffective Listeners Effective listeners. . .
actively look for something of interest
focus on content, not style
listen for main ideas & their organization
vary notetaking tools according to content
work hard; maintain active body posture Ineffective listeners. . .
tune out mentally
judge the delivery
listen for facts rather than main ideas/organization
do not vary tools based on content.
are passive mentally; give up easily What do you see? : What do you see? You create the cube in your mind.
You know it is there-
even though all you see is a pattern. Organizational Patterns : Organizational Patterns Introductory/Summary
Located at the beginning or end of lecture
Subject Development (definition/description)
There is no question I can ask that can connect the relationship. e.g.: Roger, went to the game, wears a hat… the only connection is Roger.
Enumeration/Sequence (lists/ordered lists)
Comparison/Contrast Instructor’s Signals : Instructor’s Signals writes on chalkboard
speaks more slowly
gives a definition
lists a number of points/steps
explains why or how things happen describes a sequence
refers to information as a test item
changes tone of voice
uses body language
uses visual aids
refers to specific text pages A Bad Example of Notes : A Bad Example of Notes A few tips...
Record lecture date
Do not cram space; use white space
Don’t fall asleep
Keep your personal thoughts separate
Keep other class notes separate
Do not use a spiral notebook History 1202 World War II
Pearl Harbor bombing on Dec. 4
U.S. declared war ?
US was not prepared after all but.. What are you doing tonight?
bla! I am so bored! Who cares!!! 1:00
2:00! I’m outa here! (2+4)-A =??? 2 duh More Tips for Good Notes : More Tips for Good Notes Use a consistent format.
Dvlp (develop) a key for symbols & abbreviations.
Group and label info to aid recall.
Record what is written on the board.
Write legibly on only the front side of the page.
Condense! Use shorthand NOT dictation.
Selectively attend to instructor cues
Look for patterns of organization
Try to sustain attention Notes : Notes taped (use to COMPLEMENT your notes. Set recorder at “0”, in your notes record #’s where you get lost.)
borrowed (reflect the writer’s background.)
commercial Reviewing Notes: A Research Finding : Reviewing Notes: A Research Finding Students who reviewed within 1 hour after class...
48 hours later!
(and you can maintain this kind of retention when you continue to review!) Tip #6 : Tip #6 Transform raw notes into a finished product. After-class Follow Through : After-class Follow Through Re-read notes ASAP
look for patterns
Fill in recall column with a word, phrase or question
Fill in portions that you had to speed through and highlight
Once/week review all your notes Slide 35: Self Knowledge
thoughts, values, emotions (focus of lecture)
(pg. 41-44) understanding what we are feeling.. What is emotionally healthy??
A B C ‘s - Albert Ellis
Activating Event, Belief (When you do something for someone, they owe you a “thank you”.), Emotional Consequence
Our reaction to event depends on our assessment (beliefs) of the event.
Life is like waves that keep rolling in
To handle problems we need to: recognize them, accept them, and respond appropriately 9/11
Psychology Class, Ch.3, repeated Example of Raw Notes: Slide 36: Self Knowledge
emotions (focus of lecture)
Albert Ellis- A B C ‘s of Emotion
A = Activating Event
B = Belief (When you do something for someone, they owe you a “thank you”.)
C = Emotional Consequence
The goal of life should NOT be waiting for problems to end. (waves example)
To handle problems we need to:
respond appropriately thoughts values Recopied Notes
Psych, Ch.3, 7/11/98 Example of Refined Notes: see pg. 41-44 Mapping : Mapping Notetaking Styles/Formats Running Text Formal Outline Modified Outline your own symbols Roman numerals paragraph A Story Map : A Story Map Title Settings Characters Plot Name Problem Complications Conclusion Traits
3. Another kind of map: : Another kind of map: Title Actor Action Scene of the Action Agency Purpose Make it memorable : Make it memorable Murder in the U.S. Economic Conditions Murder Rates: Geographical Area Chart Example : Chart Example Slide 42: Tip #7 Review frequently and take responsibility for your own success. Stop by any time… : Stop by any time… Student Support Services
425-5235 Slide 44: Congratulations! You have now completed the Listening and Note taking Workshop Please Print this Page and Bring it to Student Support Services Trailer A for documentation or e-mail firstname.lastname@example.org stating that you have completed this workshop