Teaching Effective Note Taking

Adam Proctor

Nicolas Winkel

Instructional Strategies

Instructional Strategies

Instructional strategies are methods and procedures a teacher uses in the

classroom to generate a particular learning outcome from their students.

Instructional Strategies

“Weaving instructional strategies throughout the instructional day and into student learning nurtures and facilitates

further learning development”

(Nichols, Young, & Rickleman, 2007, p. 100)

The Challenge

“Not all students realize either the importance of [instructional strategies] or

are unable to draw upon them for comprehending and learning”

(Nichols, Young, & Rickleman, 2007, p. 100)

The Solution

“Student need to be taught when and under what circumstances they should apply particular

instructional strategies”

“In preparing their student to become more strategic, teachers need to be able to teach as well as

encourage their students to systematically use appropriate instructional strategies when

interacting with text”

(Nichols, Young, & Rickleman, 2007, pp. 101-102)

What are some popular instructional strategies?

When surveyed for a study on instructional strategy use in the classroom, “teachers report selecting Note-Taking, Graphic Organizers,

Brainstorming, Guided Reading, and 3-Minute Pause/Reflection more than the other

strategies found on the checklist” “Graphic Organizers, Note-Taking, and

Brainstorming were top-selected strategies in 4 of the 5 content areas”

(Nichols, Young, & Rickleman, 2007, pp. 109-110)

Focus on Note-Taking

Is Teaching Effective Note Taking Skills Important? RMS Survey

How important do you think it is for a student to know how to take effective notes? Why?

What method of note taking do you use in your classroom?

What are some benefits of the style of note taking that you use?

Did the students struggle with the concepts at first? If so, are they now taking effective notes?

Responses “ I think it is very important for students to know how to take

effective notes. At some point in their futures, all students will need to take notes or be able to write down their thoughts in a concise and organized manner.” 8th Grade Social Studies Teacher

“It’s one of my highest priorities early in the year. Many students have NO IDEA how to take notes, because previous teachers threw up overhead after overhead of paragraphs. Many students just copied every sentence down, and that was it. Students need to learn the organization of notes, and see the benefits of them.” 7th Grade Social Studies Teacher

“Effective note taking is extremely important because it helps a student organize the information in a logical way as well as create a resource for him/her later. Effective note taking does not just help the student create something to study with, but shows him/her the importance of being organized along with providing strategies for that organization.” Spanish Teacher

The importance of note-taking as an instructional strategy

“One major component of learning in content classes involves listening to lecture and

recording notes…teachers have ranked note-taking and listening skills as two of the top skills

that students should have in their classes”

(Boyle, 2010a, p.530)

The importance of note-taking as an instructional strategy

“Not only do…teacher lectures serve as the primary means of conveying content information to students,

but researchers have reported that teachers’ lectures were the major source of information upon

which test questions were based”

(Boyle, 2010a, p.531)

The importance of note-taking as an instructional strategy

“When students do not record notes, they perform more poorly on tests and quizzes (students’ scores

averaged 44%) than when they do record notes during lectures (students’ scores increased to an

average of 79%).”

(Boyle, 2010b, p.95)

The importance of note-taking as an instructional strategy

In addition to performing well on tests, there are other reasons why students need to be effective note-takers. The two most common are: note-taking aids student understanding of lecture

information and notes serve to preserve lecture information in the form of a written

document for later study.”

(Boyle, 2010a, p.531)

Note Taking

While taking lecture notes, students…

Listen to the lecture.Hold the information in their working

memory.Decide which important lecture points

are worth recording.Write the important points while simultaneously listen to new lecture

content.

Boyle, 2010a, p 531

21st Century Skills

Listening, information retention, identifying important information, and effective information recording serve as the foundation for the 21st

Century Skills.

Note-taking will be difficult for many students

Not all students possess the skills necessary to be an effective note-taker. So, as said before, as teachers, it is important that we take the time to teach our students how

to be effective note-takes and also help develop their note-taking skills.

Examples of note-taking methods

Five Methods of Note Taking

The Cornell Method The Outline Method The Mapping

Method The Charting

Method The Fill In The

Blank Method

The Cornell Method

General Facts How To Create Method Advantages Disadvantages When To Use

The Cornell Method : General Facts

Provides a systematic format for condensing and organizing notes

Preferred Note Taking Method by Riverwood Middle School teachers

The Cornell Method: How To Create

Grab a piece of paper and start on the first line of the paper. Place your ruler on the paper and measure 2 ½ inch margin on the left. Leave a 6 inch area on the right to take notes. Make a mark at the 2 ½ inch mark and draw a line straight down the paper

The left margin is for key words or phrases and the right margin is for facts

The Cornell Method: Method

Write the important information in the right margin as the teacher lectures. Write a key word in the left margin. When the teacher moves on to a new concept skip a line and do it again

To review, cover the right side of the paper exposing only the left keywords. Say the keywords and try to remember as much of the information you wrote down on the right side. Once you have said as much as you can, look at the right side. Repeat if necessary, but once you are able to remember the information and say it, you know it!!!!

The Cornell Method: Advantages

Organized and Systematic

Easy format for pulling out major concepts and ideas

Simple and Efficient Time Saving and Effort “Do It Right in the First

Place System”

The Cornell Method: Disadvantages

The Cornell Method: When To Use

In any lecture situation Can be used in multiple disciplines

The Outline Method

General Facts How To Create Advantages Disadvantages When To Use

The Outline Method: General Facts

Dash or intended outlining can be used in multiple classes

General information begins at the left while each specific group or facts intended with spaces to the right

Relationships between different parts are carried out through indenting

No numbers, letters, or Roman numerals needed

The Outline Method: How To Create

Place major points farthest to the left

Indent each specific point to the right

Levels of importance is dictated by the distance away from major points

The Outline Method: Advantages

Well-organized system, when done right Outlining records content as well as

relationships Reduces editing Easy to Review

Turning main points into questions

The Outline Method: Disadvantages

Requires more thought in the classroom for accurate organization

May not show relationships by sequence when needed

Can not be used if the lecture is too fast

The Outline Method: When To Use

The Outline format can be used if the lecture is presented in outline organization

Two Forms Deductive

Regular Outline

Inductive Reverse outline where minor points start building to a

major point

Used most effectively when note taking skills are super and sharp. Also can handle outlining regardless of the note taking situation

The Mapping Method

General Facts Advantages Disadvantages When To Use

The Mapping Method: General Facts

Uses Comprehension/concentration skills. Evolves in a note taking form which relates each fact or idea to every other fact or idea

Graphic representation of the content Maximizes active participation Affords immediate knowledge as to its

understanding Emphasized critical thinking

The Mapping Method: Advantages

Helps visually track lecture Relationships can easily be seen Easy to edit

Adding Numbers Marks Color Coding

Review causes student to restructure thought processes

Checks Understanding Review by covering lines for memory drills and

relationships Main points can be written on note cards and pieced

together into a table

The Mapping Method: Disadvantages

Might not be able to hear changes in content from major points to facts

The Mapping Method: When To Use

Lecture content is heavy and well organized Guest Lecturers

No idea how the lecture is going to be presented

The Charting Method

General Facts Method Advantages Disadvantage When To Uses

The Charting Method: General Facts

Used in lecture format if lecture is chronological

The Charting Method: Method

Determine Categories Set up paper in advance

Creating columns headed categories Record information into the appropriate

category

The Charting Method: Advantages

Tracks conversations and dialogues Reduces amount of writing Provides easy review mechanism

Memorization of facts Study of comparisons and relationships

The Charting Method: Disadvantages

Learning how to sue the system Locating the appropriate categories Know whats happening in the lecture

The Charting Method: When To Use

Can be used is most subjects

Fill In The Blank Method

General Facts Method Advantages Disadvantages When To Use

Fill In The Blank Method:General Facts Students are provided a template of the

notes FIB notes can follow the text book or

teachers notes Requires students to read the text or pay

attention to the lecture Effective for Exceptional Children

Fill In The Blank Method: Method

Students are provided a template of the notes. The notes can follow the book, which requires the students to read the textbook and find the keywords to fill in the blanks.

Requires the teacher to be organized and have lessons planned in advance

Fill In The Blank Method: Advantages

Students are required to find information Less time on writing notes Allows more time to elaborate on certain areas Great method for Exceptional Children Steers students in right direction

Students must find the words and phrases in the text

Students find the information that the teacher wants them to find

Fill In The Blank Method: Disadvantages Students rely on FIB notes Students can be confused if FIB notes don't

follow the book

Fill In The Blank Method: When To Use Can be used in every subject!!!!

Questions

Do you agree or disagree with what the research says about the importance of note-taking as an instructional strategy?

What note-taking method sounds the most appropriate for your class?

Should you require that all students in your class use the same note-taking method?

Is note-taking a timeless instructional strategy? How do you think technology will affect the note-

taking skills of future students?

Works Cited

Nichols, W. D., Young, C. A., & Rickelman, R. J. (2007). Improving middle school professional development by examining middle school teachers’ application of literacy strategies and instructional design. Reading Psychology, 28, 98-130.

Boyle, J. R. (2010) Note-taking skills of middle school students with and without learning disabilities. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 43, 530-540.

Boyle, J. R. (2010) Strategic note-taking skills for middle school students with learning disabilities in science class. Learning Disability Quarterly, 33, 93-109.

Hill, JDH, & Flynn, KMF. (2006). Classroom instruction that works with english language learners: chapter 7 summarizing and note taking. Retrieved from http://www.ascd.org/publications/books/106009/chapters/Summarizing-and-Note-Taking.aspx

Focus on effectivness. (2005). Retrieved from http://www.netc.org/focus/strategies/summ.php

Academic Skills Center, Initials. (n.d.). Note taking system. Unpublished manuscript, Academic Skills Center, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, California. Retrieved from http://gregteach.net/yahoo_site_admin/assets/docs/Notetaking_Methods.122194151.pdf