Learning from Lecture Notes: Part III - How to Extend and Complete the Learning Process

So far we have examined some strategies for taking effective notes in class and things you should do with the notes after class and before the next class.  The last strategies I discussed were to review your daily notes in logical chunks and to use recitation.  These strategies are sufficient for the immediate review, but you are far from done.

First of all you must review all of the notes that are going to be on the next exam at least once a week if not more.  You need constant repetition and review in order to completely master them.  Also, you need to use some different strategies with your notes above and beyond reviewing them and using recitation.

Here are some ideas:

• Do something with your notes that requires you to physically manipulate the information and reorganize it.  These could include making concept maps (mind maps), review charts, time lines or some other format.
• Add color if you find that enjoyable.
• Make study cards and take them with you for spur-of-the-moment study.
• Form a study group and compare notes, then teach each other the material or quiz each other.
• Make a practice test, put aside for a week or so, and then take it yourself.
• Make use of any study aids in the textbook or on-line – practice quizzes, terms to know, review questions, etc.
• Make use of any professor review sessions and Supplemental Instruction or walk-in tutoring offered by your institution.
• Finally – review, review, review and use recitation all the time.  You MUST be able to explain the information in your own words with complete recall for the exam!

Good luck! (But with good preparation you won’t need luck!!!)

Learning from Lecture Notes - Part II - After Class

One aspect of college that many students do not consider is that they are responsible for their own learning. Particularly in a lecture class, you are gathering information during class but the actual learning happens individually after class.  So...what should you do?  How can you learn all the information you wrote down during class?

Here are some ideas:

• Read over your notes as soon as possible after class
• Make any corrections
• Be sure they are clear – if you cannot understand something now the chance of understanding later is slim
• Identify any questions
• Check in the textbook for any information you can add to your notes
• Begin to learn the information: 
• Chuck into logical topics
• Use recitation – read each section, then look away and repeat in your own words what you just read
• At least once a week, review all of the notes that will be on the next exam, again using chunking and recitation.

Next week Part III – How to extend and complete the learning process.

Learning from Lecture Notes - Part I - In Class

When you are taking lecture notes, you are actually creating a new document that you will use to study and learn the class material.  Here are some suggestions to take notes that you will be able to learn from later:

• Go to every class – be on time – get a good seat as near as possible to the front.  (Sounds obvious, but it needs to be stated!)
• Read the textbook before class.  This helps you know what will be covered and to be familiar with the vocabulary the professor will be using.
• Leave spaces between topics or ideas.  This helps you see the organization of the material, gives your eyes some place to rest, and provides space to add more information if needed.
• Similarly, just write on one side of the paper.  It looks much neater and you have a blank corresponding page if you need to add more notes.
• Use abbreviations, but be consistent.  
• Write so that you will be able to understand what you wrote a year from now.  You think you will understand what you wrote a week later, but you won’t!
• Watch for clues from the professor about what he or she thinks is important.  If they write anything on the board, be sure to write that in your notes.
• Watch for signal words such as “three points” or “on the other hand.”
• Review the previous class notes right before class begins and follow along in those notes if the professor reviews the information before starting the new material.

Next week we will think about how to learn from that excellent set of notes you have just taken!

Three Keys to a Successful Semester

There are three simple things that you can do to be sure that you have a successful semester:

Go to class.

This is common sense, but it is easy to start to skip classes and then it becomes a habit.  If you find yourself skipping, print or write out your weekly schedule and cross off each class as you attend it.  Crossing off the class will be additional motivation to go and as you consistently attend you will feel more comfortable in class.

Review you notes after each class.

As soon as possible review your notes after class, definitely before the next class.  A future post will list various strategies you can use with your notes, but for now be sure to go over them several times a week.  At least once a week go over all of the notes that will be on the next exam.

Recitation

This means to restate in your own words from memory. Once you have reviewed your notes, close your notebook and explain what you learned in your own words.  Divide the notes into manageable, logical segments – don’t try to do this with 5 pages all at once.

Log on next week for multiple learning strategies that you can use when reviewing your notes.

First Week of the Semester - Start Strong

 Don’t be fooled by the laid back atmosphere of the first week of the semester.  Even though many professors start lecturing immediately, there doesn’t seem as if you have a lot to do. Everyone is getting settled, getting use to their semester schedule and catching up with friends they have not seen since last semester or making new friends.   This relaxed atmosphere will rapidly change, so be prepared. 

There are several things you should be doing:

• Be sure you have all the books and supplies that you need.
• Take some time to look through your books – how is the book organized, what study aids are included, what will make the book easy or difficult to learn from.
• Get your calendar and write in all of your major assignments, exams and papers.
• Look at your class schedule and plan when you will study, and then start to follow the plan!
• Set a goal for the semester – possibly a grade point average that you would like to attain – write the goal on a note card and post it where you will see it every day.
• Begin to study and learn now – review notes after each class, read ahead in your textbooks, create study guides.

 Before you know it, it will be the middle of the semester.  If you have started strong and stayed strong, things should be going well and you will be pleased with your grades and class performance.  Remember:

It is easier to keep up than to catch up!

Preparing for the Fall Semester

Here are some things to think about as the beginning of the fall semester rapidly approaches.

If you are a returning student:

• What did you do last semester that was successful and you want to repeat?
• What did you do that did not enhance your success and you want to eliminate?
• What are your goals for this semester? 
• What study strategies worked and you will use again?
• What study strategies will you add?
• Think about your classes – Which one will require the most study time?  What can you do from the very beginning of the semester to help yourself be successful?

If you are a first-semester freshman:

• How did you study in high school?  What strategies did you use?  What other study strategies are you familiar with?
• What challenges do you anticipate as you begin your academic career?  How will you handle them?
• What resources are available on your campus for help with studying, computers, and specific classes?

You can review the blog postings from the 2010-2011 academic year.  Also, check in each week for a new posting about your academic success.

Have a great semester!