Transcript Document
Study Skills and Taking Notes: Tips and Tools Academic Success Seminar/Workshop College of Veterinary Medicine University of Minnesota Deb Wingert, Ph.D. Director of Educational Development Before we start....... All study differently! No magic bullet Techniques to gain a good edge Action needed A word to the wise.... Practice does not make perfect; Perfect practice makes perfect. Bob Kizlik, 1997 Schedule....develop one! Weekly Best time to study ____________ chunks Revisions ok Rested ______________ Check: course objectives _____________________ Location, Location, Location... Libraries Unused classrooms Lounges/private rooms Distraction-free Good lighting Comfortable, but...... Veer away from: Dorms Strategies: Effective Thinking Skills Ask yourself questions as you ______ Think about what the prof says _________ writing down notes in ________________ Strategies: The SQ3R Method Survey Before you study, get the overall picture (read summaries, headings, etc.) Recite Q_______________ Ask ‘what’ ‘where’ ‘when’ ‘how’ and especially, ‘why’ as you read/study Write in margins of text and notes. Read to answer questions Hunt for _________________ Try to say ____________, important concepts in your own words Connect info to what you already know Review Re-read to see what you have remembered Review (fine-tune) notes and check any questions at the end of your study time (NOT just before exams!) Strategies: Study Habits List what you need to study and do it! Begin studying __________ after a meal After studying_______ minutes, take a short break (5 minutes), and a 15 minute break after _________. Prepare for exam by studying questions not in order. Study in ____-hour blocks with ______ minute breaks. Stop studying ____________ before sleeping Strategies: Tips Use ____________ Take concise (NOT copious) notes! Take notes on what you don’t know! An hour of studying during the _____ is worth ________ at night! Study as early as possible in the day. Study your most challenging content daily....early in the day. Study ______.....ask yourself question, review notes regularly, discuss key concepts with peers, etc. Strategies for Group Study _______ each other _______ each other Compare notes Meet regularly Delegate group assignments Taking Notes and Listening: Tips and Tools How’s Your Listening?? Quiz: Call the class boring? Criticize the speaker? Over-stimulated by speaker’s words Listen mainly for facts Try to outline everything? Fake attention to speaker? Allow distractions? Avoid difficult material? Antagonized by emotionladen words? Any daydreaming? Usually/sometimes=1 Seldom/Almost never=5 Cuesta College, 2008 Habits of Good Listeners: Listen between the lines (anticipate what’s next!) Take good notes Sees lecture like a ________ Avoid __________ Judge content, not delivery “There is no such thing as an uninteresting subject; there are only uninterested people.” G.K. Chesterton Kishwaukee College, 2008 Good Listeners Do NOT: Interrupt (with a question, etc.) in the middle of an explanation. Share worthless info Believe that ___________________ ___________________ Avoid difficult explanations Find fault ___________ ___________________ Dismiss content as not interesting Show impatience Utah State University, 2008 Listening skills: Screen out distractions Background noise Language mistakes/accents Speaker habits Irrelevant info Daydreaming Organize info into ______ _____________________ Avoid hasty judgments Remain neutral (not emotional) Prune significant from insignificant Maintain alertness (eye contact with speaker) Ask _____________________ ______________________ Listen for central ideas (not facts) Write only important info Exercise mind with difficult material Utah State University, 2008 College of Saint Benedict, 2008 Listen Actively The more you think about what you hear, the more you will understand and remember Listen Actively (c’d): ____________ ____________ _____________ Mentally review what has been previously said Compare lecture to text Apply to your own experience Select most important Ignore the not important Taking Notes: Quiz Do you take notes, using complete sentences? Are your notes clear? Do you capture all main points and all sub-points? Do you use shortcuts/abbreviations? Using Laptops: A few considerations.... Pros Can connect to WebVista Cons Less paper! Tempting source of distraction Potentially cumbersome Tips to Finding Major Points.... Pauses before or after an idea Uses ______________________________ Uses introductory phrases to precede important info W__________________________________ arc.sbc.edu/notes.html, 2008 Remember...... The average speaker covers 125-140 words per minute and the average note-taker writes less than 25 words per minute. A few specifics.... Complete readings before class Attend specifically to lecture info not covered in text Ask questions Review notes right after lecture....fill in examples etc. Immediate review increases retention Underline key statements Use margins for coordinating text notes Virgina Tech, 2008 A few specifics.... Use margins to: coordinate lecture notes with text notes J_____________________________ Jot down short summary of page Virgina Tech, 2008 A few specifics.... Use key words & phrases, not sentences If you miss something, leave a space and check with peer later I________________________________________ T________________________________________ arc.sbc.edu/notes.html, 2008 Shortcuts..... Use symbols: + plus & and - minus # number > greater than < less than W/ with W/I within W/o without / per --> leads to <-- comes from Abbreviate: approp appropriate lrg large arc.sbc.edu/notes.html, 2008 Formats..... Outlining: I. Topic/Main idea A. Major points 1. Details a. supporting details II. Topic/Main idea A. Major points 1. Details a. supporting details arc.sbc.edu/notes.html, 2008 Formats.....Concept Mapping A visual way to organize information Candy Chips Junk Foods Cookies Pop The Cornell System: Step One: Write notes during class in a The Cornell System: Step Two: _________ Column After class, reduce ideas into a few words and place them in a __________ The Cornell System: Step Three: Review and connect Review notes after lecture. Connect main concepts in left (recall) column with details in the right (record) column. The Cornell System: Step Four: Summarize In the bottom summary section, jot a few sentences , summarizing all main points and why this is important. Students are _____% more likely to remember content by doing this step! Questions? Thank you!! Deborah A. Wingert, Ph.D. Director of Educational Development College of Veterinary Medicine (108 Pomeroy) Preparing Future Faculty Program Coordinator Early Career Program Facilitator Center for Teaching and Learning University of Minnesota 315 Science Classroom Building 222 Pleasant St. S.E. Minneapolis, MN 55455 Phone: (612/626-2995 at Pomeroy) or (612/625-3405 at CTL) Email: [email protected]