Taking notes from lectures

It is not possible to write everything your teacher says. Taking notes from class or a lecture with help you get the most out of them because it will help you think and engage in what you are writing, making it easier to remember later. It will also give you a record for future reference to help you with exams, essays or research for your coursework.

Here are some tips to improve your note taking during lectures:

Be prepared: Before the lecture, find out the subject that is to be covered and do some background reading.  You will be less likely to be taken by surprise and miss things.

Consider using different note taking methods: For example a linear method is useful when the lecture is clearly structured and will allow to accommodate for reoccurring points. A non linear method is best when the lecture doesn’t have a clear structure

Look for verbal and visual signposts: Your teacher will use verbal ‘signposts’ that indicate something important is about to be said, for example by using phrases like: “There are four main aspects”, “This is important…” or “To sum up”. 

Use abbreviations where possible: It helps you to take notes quicker if you use a shorthand way of writing things down. There are symbols that are commonly used and  easy to remember, but you could create your own set of familiar abbreviations. 

Learn how to be a good listener:  Listen to key points to avoid unnecessary detail. If you try to write every single word your teacher says  you won’t be able to keep up with the lecture. You won’t be able to process any of the information either. 

To be able to take notes effectively you need to distinguish what is important enough to write down from what is not. This needs some practice to make it effective but here are some guidelines:

take notes when:

o   The instructor specifically says that a piece of information will be on a test or relevant to a project

o   The instructor writes a piece of information on the whiteboard or chalkboard, or includes it in a slideshow

o   Another student asks a question, or the instructor asks students questions about a particular topic

o   The instructor stresses a key concept

o   The instructor introduces an unfamiliar term or idea

o   You are unsure about a piece of information that’s being presented

Consider recording the lecture: you must get permission from your teacher to do this but it could save you time. However, remember that note taking improves retention as it involves understanding the content and putting it in your own words, so recording should be used with caution. It will take you time to listen to the lecture again to take out the important information, so it is more useful to get into the habit of developing a good note taking technique which will allow you to filter the information during the lecture.

A good alternative could be using the Dictate option in work or One Note to record when reviewing or summarising your notes. To find out more about Dictate click HERE.