As
a student, I am very organized and structured when it comes to class work and
studying. Taking notes is the key to
succeeding and I have always believed this to be true. Yet, I have never thought of note taking as a
skill that can be taught. According to chapter
7, teaching students why their notes can be useful to them later on is
important so that they will not see it as a waste of time. I guess this was just interesting to me
because I have always seen “taking notes” as important and useful but it is
idea to remember that not all students think the same way. As a teacher, I can do my part in assisting
the students in taking and using good notes effectively. Teachers should set their lessons up in an
organized way that allows students to create notes.
In all
my years of taking notes in class, I never knew there was a difference in note
taking and note making. Note taking
refers to students’ written notes from a lecture or class discussion and note
making refers to recording notes from printed materials. While both improve comprehension and
retention of material, they have their differences. Note taking can be effective in all subjects
across the curriculum. It is important
to teach students how to set up their notes in an organized way that will be
easy to refer back to. It is the responsibility
of the teacher to demonstrate the most effective way to take notes in each
subject area and remind them to do so each time.
Looking
back on my days in high school, I can remember my teachers using a lot of blank
graphic organizers for us to take notes on during lectures or videos. I am pleased to say that I was always an
effective note taker and I still depend on taking notes to succeed in
class. I plan to teach this same
strategy to my students one day in hopes that they will find it as beneficial
as I have.
What is the best age to begin teaching students how to
take notes?
Why hasn’t note taking and making been taught more
frequently in the public school system if it is so beneficial?
I agree, Brittany! You mention that your teachers encouraged the use of graphic organizers. Do you currently use this approach or do you tend to take notes using another strategy? When you take notes and study them afterwards (for a test or such), do you feel you retain the information after the test (a week, month, semester, or years down the road)? Is the information being stored in your short-term memory or long-term memory? Also, while you and I both take good notes and use them for their benefits, we must remember how many students tend to not open their book or notebook outside of our classes. They may either cram right before the test or ask a peer to give them a run-down of the important information. Therefore, I think it is extremely important that our classrooms be conducive to LEARNING. We must strive to engage our students in activities that promote learning and retention. This does not always mean merely taking notes. Simply, I suppose students, including myself, are much more likely to remember a particular activity or classroom experience much more longer than we are to remember a phrase we wrote down in our notes. While note-taking may support learning, it alone does not ensure students are successful. Just some food for thought!
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