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
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