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It's only after doing the first year at university that I can now reflect on my performance and analyse. I have to say that note taking has been one of my strong points as I always try and get the important stuff down during boring lectures and I thought I would share some ideas with you! Picture this:
You are sat at the back of a lecture hall which is about a subject you don't particularly like the sound of with only a pad and pen. You notice some people have laptops with them and during this, your lecturer starts talking and you miss the very first thing he says. Because of this you have to scramble about getting the page ready and try to get down as much as possible. The lecturer is obviously talking way too fast though (as most of them do) and don't even acknowledge the fact everyone is scribbling at high speed and doesn't slow down. By the end of the lecture you've made notes on the things you thought were important but got a little bored and slowed down towards the end. Time to head home!
What can you see that's wrong??
To be honest, sometimes it's very difficult to stay up to speed when lecturers are just talking away with a power point slide show up so something is bound to suffer. However there are some things you can do to prevent forgetting/losing important bits during note taking which I hope you find useful!
1. Prepare before lecture.
Since starting university last year, most of the lecture notes have been posted on the internet to be printed beforehand or just to get a grip with what was going to be said. Find time to read or print these so you get a feel for the coming lecture. Highlight certain parts you think are important or even read up on these so you have a better understanding.
2. Make sure your attitude is right for note taking!
Listen to what is being said and pay attention. Sitting close to the front allows you to see everything clearly and stops any distractions.
3. In lecture: don't write down every single word.
By doing this you will only slow yourself down more and miss things later. One way I found useful was to abbreviate certain words which I knew I would remember. Highlight or underline bits you don't understand or aren't sure of to research later and make a note of this in your diary.
4. Try to use your own words when making notes.
This helps you to get a grip with the information and will mean you aren't copying information when it comes to the exam and prevents plagiarism. You are also more likely to understand it if you put it into your own words as copying isn't always the best way to learn.
1. Prepare before lecture.
Since starting university last year, most of the lecture notes have been posted on the internet to be printed beforehand or just to get a grip with what was going to be said. Find time to read or print these so you get a feel for the coming lecture. Highlight certain parts you think are important or even read up on these so you have a better understanding.
2. Make sure your attitude is right for note taking!
Listen to what is being said and pay attention. Sitting close to the front allows you to see everything clearly and stops any distractions.
3. In lecture: don't write down every single word.
By doing this you will only slow yourself down more and miss things later. One way I found useful was to abbreviate certain words which I knew I would remember. Highlight or underline bits you don't understand or aren't sure of to research later and make a note of this in your diary.
4. Try to use your own words when making notes.
This helps you to get a grip with the information and will mean you aren't copying information when it comes to the exam and prevents plagiarism. You are also more likely to understand it if you put it into your own words as copying isn't always the best way to learn.
5. Note the style of the lecture.
All your different lecturers will no doubt have different styles when presenting so it's best to know how they do it to make the most of it. Whether they present unsing powerpoint or just talk at you, make a note of how it's present it as a basis for your notes and organise them accordingly.
6. Make a note of any important websites/books/articles.
By doing this it gives you a whole host of sources of information which you may need when it comes to writing an assignment/revision of exams and will help you no end. Most of my lecturers gave a reference list at the end of their lectures and I used these to research topics I wasn't so sure on.
7. Organise your notes after lecture.
Make a note of the title and date on every single sheet so you can organise your notes as a sort of timeline. It's also best to go to the library and type your notes up so they are fresh in your mind and add any extra information you may want. Research the bits you weren't sure of and add this in now. It also helps to read through everything you took down in the next 24 hours as it has been proven you remember your notes better if read in this time frame.
I hope this has been useful! What are your ideas for writing better notes? Any horror stories?
All your different lecturers will no doubt have different styles when presenting so it's best to know how they do it to make the most of it. Whether they present unsing powerpoint or just talk at you, make a note of how it's present it as a basis for your notes and organise them accordingly.
6. Make a note of any important websites/books/articles.
By doing this it gives you a whole host of sources of information which you may need when it comes to writing an assignment/revision of exams and will help you no end. Most of my lecturers gave a reference list at the end of their lectures and I used these to research topics I wasn't so sure on.
7. Organise your notes after lecture.
Make a note of the title and date on every single sheet so you can organise your notes as a sort of timeline. It's also best to go to the library and type your notes up so they are fresh in your mind and add any extra information you may want. Research the bits you weren't sure of and add this in now. It also helps to read through everything you took down in the next 24 hours as it has been proven you remember your notes better if read in this time frame.
I hope this has been useful! What are your ideas for writing better notes? Any horror stories?
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