Taking Notes in Class

Sometimes, you take notes from readings, which can be incorporated into how you read for classes (and beyond). Other times, you need to take notes from classes—both from lectures and from videos. Though there are similarities in how you take notes, using a different strategy for notes from lectures or videos can help you create material that helps you remember what you’ve heard and retrieve it from your memory.

The purpose of the notes you take in class is to trigger your memory to recall what you heard, saw, experienced, and read. For this reason, your notes need to be:

• Short (avoid sentences)
• Only include keywords, statistics, or resources you can review on your own time
• Make sense to you

Taking effective notes:

By taking the right kind of notes, you can listen more attentively, think about what you are writing, and connect topics as you create something you can re-review after class. Taking notes is valuable- and reinforces your learning even if you do not review them later.

To take notes that support learning:

• Write down quick keywords, ideas, or details as you hear or see them
• Note ideas you want to read more about
• Write down other topics, resources to review, and questions you have (and note them as such)
• Connect ideas with arrows and lines

What are the “wrong” types of notes?

Not all notes are good, and many students take notes in a way that limits learning. For example, you:

• Could focus too much on taking notes and ignore what is said and happening around you
• Could write too much, requiring more concentration on writing and not enough on listening and learning

Sorting out the important parts of a lesson or lecture

A typical adult speaks about 100 to 150 words a minute.

In the classroom, most of those words are explanations. Since you will have heard that explanation, your notes should focus on keywords and ideas that will help you remember the lecture or discussion. Instead of writing down everything your instructor says, you can focus on noting keywords, ideas, and specific facts or statistics you need to know.

In a classroom, you’ll need to monitor how your instructor responds to the questions and statements from other students. Knowing what your classmates have said will help you to understand how your instructor replies- and what happens in these interactions that you are not directly a part of can be critical.

As you listen, consider:

• Who is speaking
• What you understand
• What you don’t understand
• What is familiar to you
• What is unfamiliar to you
• What contradicts what you believe
• What confirms what you believe

There are many formats for notes, including written phrases, outlines, charts, or drawings. There are also many structured formats for note-taking. What matters most, though, is that you find a way to take notes that enhances your learning in the classroom and after and works for you.

As you listen in class, pay attention to:

• Your understanding of the topic
• What your instructor says to the entire class
• How your instructor answers student questions
• Comments made by other students (and responses to those questions)

Steps

Before you start, prepare for notetaking

• Setup a notes page with the name of the class, the date, and room to write down the topic of the lecture or lesson
• Write down what materials the instructor used or discussed (be specific, including page numbers!)
• List the topics your instructor will talk about

During class, take notes actively

• Focus on writing down information that will remind you what you heard in the lesson/lecture, such as keywords, main ideas, or facts/names/statistics.
• Pay attention to things you have questions about or are curious about, and write those down.
• Write down any resources you should look at or refer to after class.
• Write a brief summary statement when your instructor moves to a new topic or the lecture is done.

Using your notes after class

• Read through your notes after class as soon as possible.
• Add in any missing information, revise your summary notes, and write down any questions or topics you want to review in more detail.
• Review your notes and reflect on the class lesson as you work through the week.
• Add to your notes as you work with the material from class.

Taking notes during class can be done by hand or on the computer, but the goal is to create something that works for you, to cue your memory, and guide any information-seeking you need to do. Notes do not replace lectures or lessons but help you stay focused and actively thinking during class and provide visuals to cue your memory.