Having any of the following problems?

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Chapter 6

Listening Actively and Taking Good Notes

Having any of the following problems?

I drift or lose my concentration during a lecture.
My class notes are not organized well for studying.
I write too much when I take notes.
Or: I write too slowly & miss points.
What else?

Learning Outcomes

Develop active listening skills for the classroom.
Use the three-step process of effective notetaking.
Prepare study-ready notes by utilizing the outline or column formats for notetaking.

It’s not just for college!

Active listening & good notetaking skills will also serve you well throughout your career.
 How will you use active listening at your workplace?

Active Listening: Classroom Attitudes & Habits

Coming to class prepared with assignments completed.
Bringing questions or thoughts about the reading.
Sitting near the front of class, attentive & focused. (Communicates your interest.)
Using self-talk that says “I am interested, I want to learn, & I will stay focused”— Not: “This is boring!”
Concentrating, listening for clues to tests, & taking organized, study-ready notes.
Being determined & open about listening & learning.
 It’s not just for nerds!

The Importance of Notetaking

The process of thinking & writing while listening helps push information into your long-term memory.
You preserve the major points of the lecture in writing so you can study from them later.
Both important for remembering & performing well on exams.

Effective Notetaking  a 3-Step Process

Listening: interested, attentive, maintains a positive attitude about learning, in spite of distractions.
Thinking about the meaning of what is said so you can select the most important information to remember.
Writing down the most important information so you’ll be able to review & study it later.
 Sound easy?  You get better with practice!

Notetaking Tips

Use a 3-ring binder—better for organizing & adding.
OR set up your laptop/notebook so you can take organized notes.
Computers are great for reorganizing & inserting additional notes, but just in case, bring additional paper for diagrams & illustrations.
Have you found a good notetaking application that you would recommend?
Leave plenty of space for additional explanation, comments, or study clues.
Record definitions of technical terms exactly as given.
Copy the diagrams & drawings.

Notetaking Tips continued

Record your instructor’s examples.
Take notes during group discussions.

Group problem-solving questions often show up as essay questions on tests.

Take notes throughout class.
For speedier notetaking, leave out words— such as “a” and “the”—from your notes.

Notetaking Tips continued

Write phrases/names in full the first time & use initials thereafter.
Create headings to help you further learn & organize notes.
Fill in blanks & review notes as soon as possible after class.
Review frequently to solidify material in your mind.

To “lock in” material, briefly review all notes between exams on a daily basis—it only takes a few minutes & it’s worth it.

Notetaking Tips continued

13. Use the top margin to note assignments, course, date, and the page number.
Course: Social Science Assignment: Read chap 12
Date: May 2, 2017 complete all chap ques
Page: 1 Due: May 8

Notetaking Tips continued

Note the points your instructor stresses by placing a star or asterisk (*) in the margin next to the items emphasized.

15. Here are some of the ways your instructor verbally cues you on important points.

A major point . . .
Pay special attention
to . . .
Note this . . .
An important reason . . .
Don’t forget . . .
A chief cause . . .

What do you think is the reason for this?
This will probably be on the test . . .
Repeated statements
Numbered lists
The instructor’s voice slows down

To take speedier notes, use abbreviations & symbols that you can easily remember.

Examples
e.g. for example
= the same as
≠ not the same as
> greater than
< less than
w/ with
w/o without
betw between
X times
# number
/ per
promotes, produces, leads to
__ Other shortcuts?

Two Effective Notetaking Formats

Outline format
Column format

Effective notetaking formats will help you prepare study-ready notes.
Determine which style you prefer.

Outline Format

Course: Sociology of Aging Assignment: Read chap 6
Date: Sept. 16, 2016 complete all chap ques
Page: 1 Due: Sept. 23
Generational Diversity

Value system unique to a particular age group
Generations shaped by common experiences, memories, & lessons learned
Have own TV shows, music, styles, & expressions

Outline Format continued

Course: Sociology of Aging
Date: Sept. 16, 2016
Page: 2
The Four Generations & Dates of Birth

Veterans (Traditionalists)—1922–1943
Baby Boomers—1943–1960
Gen X—1960–1980
Gen Y (Millennials) —1980–2000

Outline Format continued

Course: Sociology of Aging
Date: Sept. 16, 2016
Page: 3
Value Systems Impact Work Styles  Key Behavior Styles
Veterans

Patience
Constancy

A sense of hierarchy
Loyalty
Baby Boomers
Relationship building
Commitment
Systematic perspective

Outline Format continued

Gen X’ers—key behavior styles
Flexibility
Loyalty
Independence
Gen Y’ers—key behavior styles
Independence
Collaboration
Persistence

Column Format

Course: Human Behavior Assignment: Read chap 12
Date: Sept. 16, 2016 complete all chap ques
Page: 1 Due: Sept. 23

Left Column Right Column
Terms Definitions
Main ideas Details
Illustrations Labels
Process description

Column Format (Terms & Definitions)

Ethnocentrism view that one’s own culture is superior to others.
Prejudice an opinion or learning
opposed to anything without just grounds or sufficient
knowledge.

Course: Human Behavior Assignment: Read chap 12
Date: Sept. 16, 2016 complete all chap ques
Page: 1 Due: Sept. 23

Column Format (Main Ideas & Details)

Course: Human Relationship Skills Assignment: Read chap 9
Date: Sept. 16, 2016 complete ques 9–18
Page: 4 Due: Sept. 23

3 behavior/ 1. Nonassertive
communication 2. Aggressive
styles 3. Assertive
Assertive Express thoughts, feelings,
communication beliefs in direct, honest, &
appropriate ways that
respect the rights of others.

Column Format (illustrations & labels)

Cell body
Nucleus
Dendrites (receivers)
Axon (the conducting fiber)
Myelin sheath (insulating fatty layer that speeds transmission)
Schwan’s Cells (they make myelin)
Axon terminals (transmitters)
Node of Ranvier

Course: Anatomy Assignment: Read chap 5
Date: Sept. 16, 2016 & prepare for quiz
Page: 1 Due: Sept. 23

Column Format (illustration & process)

Neurons transmit impulses along an axon & across the synapse to the dendrites of the neighboring cell.

Course: Anatomy
Date: Sept. 16, 2016
Page: 2

Important: Your preparation before class will help you take better notes.

Complete all writing & reading assignments
Review & test yourself on previous notes.
 This preparation will keep you sharp & give you the basic background for lectures.

Which notetaking format do you prefer?

Outline Format
or
Column Format
And why?

Key Chapter Points

Active listening & notetaking, like any other skills, will improve quickly with practice.
Both are useful tools for success in school, & will continue to be useful on your job.

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