Lecture Notes

Guide

Lecture Notes use organized and nested note taking techniques to force the active processing of information and provide a study tool for future reference and activities. Lecture Notes utilize various types of shorthand and symbol use and are formatted to most appropriately use the thought processes that occur during active listening.

Rationale: Teachers often use lecture to convey information to students. Surveys reveal that successful students take notes, keep them organized, and review them. Most students use lecture notes as a primary study tool. Research demonstrates that taking notes and summarizing them increases understanding and retention.

Instructions: Using blank paper, actively listen to lecture or an audio/video presentation and paraphrase information, using abbreviations, shorthand, and symbols to maximize efficiency. Use the right margin to jot questions, keywords, and vocabulary for later use. Use the left margin to rank your understanding according to the following scale:

5	Absolute comprehension and retention
4	Full comprehension and retention
3	Near complete comprehension and retention
2	Relative comprehension, information missing
1	Partial comprehension, information missing
0	Unable to respond without clues

General Guidelines

· Title and date your notes, as well as apply page numbers

· Actively practice abbreviations, shorthand, and symbol use

· Leave space for headings and write them retrospectively

· Actively practice bulleting and nesting

· Write the paraphrasing of information within the margins and use the left and right margin for other processes

· Rate your understanding of the subject matter retrospectively utilize

Lecture Notes Rubric

#	possible points		expectations	points earned
1.	3	Clarity	Details Title, Name, Date, and broader topic; page numbers
2.			Stays within Margins
3.			Uses spacing effectively
4.	2	Organization	Employs bulleting
5.			Employs nesting (indents)
6.	3	Efficiency	Concise word choices
7.			Utilizes abbreviations
8.			Utilizes Symbols
9.	2	Utility	Questions, vocabulary in right margin
10.			Rates understanding in left margin
11.	N/A	Thoroughness	Thoroughly records covered material
12.			Completely records covered material
	10		total

Lecture Notes Model

Name:		Date:	Course:
Title:		Unit or broader topic:
Rate your under-standing here	Bulleted and Nested, Paraphrased and Abbreviated Notes using a Key of Symbols here			Questions, Vocabulary, Notes for Further Inquiry

Lecture Notes Student Example

Lecture Notes Example