You can think about 4 TIMES FASTER than a lecturer can speak. Effective LISTENING requires the expenditure of energy; to compensate for the rate of presentation, you have to actively intend to listen. NOTE-TAKING is one way to enhance listening, and using a systematic approach to the taking and reviewing of your notes can add immeasurably to your understanding and remembering the content of lectures.

BEFORE CLASS

Develop a mind-set geared toward listening.
Test yourself over the previous lecture while waiting for the next one to begin.
Skim relevant reading assignments to acquaint yourself with main ideas, new technical terms, etc.
Enhance your physical and mental alertness: eat a snack before class, sit in the front and/or center of the room, focus your attention on the speaker.
Choose notebooks that will enhance your systematic note-taking: a separate notebook with full-sized pages is recommended for each course. You might wish to mark off the pages into one of the formats shown on the reverse of this sheet.
INTEND TO LISTEN.

DURING CLASS

Listen for the structure and information in the lecture.
Resist distractions, emotional reactions or boredom.
Pay attention to the speaker for verbal, postural, and visual clues to what's important.
Label important points and organizational clues: main points, examples.
If your lecturer has an accent you find hard to understand or has mannerisms you find distracting, relax and attend even more carefully to the content of the lecture.
When possible, translate the lecture into your own words, but if you can't, don't let it worry you into inattention!
Be consistent in your use of form, abbreviation, etc.
If you feel you don't take enough notes, divide your page into 5 sections and try to fill each part every 10 minutes (or work out your own formula).
Ask questions if you don't understand.
Instead of closing your notebook early and getting ready to leave, listen carefully to information given toward the end of class; summary statements may be of particular value in highlight main points; there may be possible quiz questions, etc.

AFTER CLASS

Clear up any questions raised from the lecture by asking either the teacher or classmates.
Fill in missing points or misunderstood terms from text or other sources.
Edit your notes, label main points, add recall clues and questions to be answered. Key points in the notes can be highlighted with different colors of ink.
Make note of your ideas and reflections, keeping them separate from those of the speaker.

PERIODICALLY

Review your notes: glance at your recall clues and see how much you can remember before rereading the notes.
Look for the emergence of themes, main concepts, methods of presentation over the course of several lectures.
Make up and answer possible test questions.

EXAMPLE

From Pauk, Walter, "How to Study in College"

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