How to Take Effective Lecture Notes

Note Taking - Lecture Notes

Lecture notes should be as specific and concrete as possible: be precise about the lecturer’s key ideas. It makes them easier to understand, remember, and apply.
Take selective notes. Don’t try to copy information verbatim. Write down ideas from the lecture that are most salient. If you get stuck or desperate, write down single “cue” words to help remind you of the topic, then go back and fill in the blanks later.
Pounce on lecture information that ties together or explains important themes. Use comparison and contrast to find relationships and to create “mental filing systems” to organize information.

Develop the intention to learn while you are in a lecture. You’ve made the effort and taken the time to show up. Make the most of your time by learning the information as you receive it. The more information you understand, the less you’ll have to memorize later.
Listen for clues. When the speaker takes a deep breath, changes her intonation, or puts down the chalk, big things are usually coming.

Get involved in the ideas and information being presented. Rather than thinking of yourself as “attending” (in the passive sense of “being at”) a lecture, think in terms of “participating in” the lecture (the way you would participate in a conversation).
Sit up front to hear better, see better, and avoid distractions. If it’s an online lecture, consider turning on your camera to create a greater sense of accountability and focus.
Compare notes with fellow students to get their strategies for good note taking.

Take a minute before class to anticipate what the instructor is likely to present based on:
1. the syllabus
2. what has been presented in the course thus far
3. a quick review of your notes from the last lecture
4. a quick glance at the readings assigned for the current class
What is the relationship between information presented in lecture and information presented in the readings, in section, in the written work, and/or in the problems assigned?
Anticipate the ways you may be tested on material presented in lecture. Give yourself a pretest to help you to identify areas of strength and diagnose areas of weakness.

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Note Taking - Lecture Notes

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