Minimize distractionsĮffective note takers avoid classroom distractions.

This strategy will make classroom notes more thorough and precise. This is useful because your colleagues will frequently write down lecture details that you forgot or missed. To ensure your notes are as accurate and detailed as possible, compare them with the notes of other students after class is over. Students who review their notes from previous lectures (1) will have a better context for learning new topics presented in the next lecture and (2) can ask questions about confusing concepts they didn't quite understand from the previous lecture. Proper preparation includes completing assigned reading prior to class and reviewing notes from previous lectures. Students properly prepared for class usually take better notes than those who come unprepared. Additionally, since teachers frequently cover many topics during the course of their lectures, effective notes enable students to concentrate on specific topics that are most relevant. Students who keep accurate notes can review them later to review key points, recall necessary detail, solidify knowledge and study up on concepts they didn't fully comprehend during the lecture. Frequently, students comprehend the teacher's lecture and think they'll remember everything, so they neglect to jot down specific details only to find later that they can't recall what it was they needed to remember. Make sure to take legible and accurate notes since it is not uncommon to forget key details discussed during class after it has ended. These note taking strategies will help you to take better notes:

It is very difficult to remember specific details–event major concepts–from classroom lectures without good notes. Students should devote a considerable amount of time reviewing information discussed during classroom lectures. Improving Your Note Taking by Becton LovelessĮffective note taking is one of the keys to succeeding in school.

List format note taking