


Handout online



Complete outside reading assignments beforehand
ZZZZzzzzzz

Damn! I got out of bed for this….

Glance over last class’s notes beforehand

Bring the right materials :
Use loose leaf paper
-Use only one side of the paper
-Rule a 2" margin on the left for the recall column:

PAPER is NOT the place to save $$$$$

recall column
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________

Consider sitting front and center
You!

door
AVERAGE &
LATECOMERS
POORER STUDENTS
AVERAGE
STUDENTS
BETTER STUDENTS
“A” STUDENTS
PROFESSOR

SITTING front and center:
 the best view and sound
 notice from the prof
 least distractions
 most incentive to stay alert



 Identify the date (and lecturer)
 Identify the lecture topic
 Number the pages

Follow the structure of the lecture as closely as possible

Use indentation to show the relative importance of each idea

Use a separate line for each new fact or idea

Skip lines when the topics and subtopics change

Use headings and subheadings
(can be edited in later)

Use "telegraphic"
(condensed) sentences rather than copying word for word

II. If l ecturer talks too fast
1. More prep time before class
2. Choose what to keep
find key points
- revise/ fill in afterwards
3. Pair up w/ someone
4. Leave blank spaces
5. Tape record
6. Outline reading ahead
7. Shorthand
8. Ask to slow down

Make notes complete by including
ALL main ideas

I.
How to know what’s important
1. pauses
2. repeats
3. voice volume
4. states major ideas
5. chalkboard
6. non-verbal clues
- face
- gestures
- body language

Provide ENOUGH details and examples to support the main ideas

“enough”: The “Goldilocks”
Problem:
NOT TOO MUCH… not too little…

Use abbreviations & symbols
(  ,  ,

,  ,  ,?,b/c)

Make handwriting legible
(at least to you)

Point #1
Detail
Lecture topic
Point #2
Detail
Detail
Diagramming notes by
“mind map”

T-Note Style
Topic above
Explanation to the right
Key recall on the left



Make
(handwriting, spelling)

(from another student, the text, or the professor)




A checklist:
Evaluating Your
Notetaking
Handout online

The
MORE you do this, the better:
 1. I avoided writing the same point down 2 or
 7. I left room to expand on an idea or detail
 11. I used the left-hand margin for recall
3 times complete a point or cues.
 13. When I went over my notes, their meaning was entirely clear to me.

The
LESS you do this, the better:
 16. I included redundant material
 17. I took “skeleton” notes (too little…)
 18. I tried to get everything down verbatim
 19. I wrote more or less continuously (too much…)

The Recall Column

The doubled margin becomes the
“recall column”
• Recall column is filled in
AFTER the lecture
• The cues don’t give away the answers
• The cues are kept very short

Filled in after the lecture recall column
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________

6 clues to what’s important
I.
How to know
- prof. pauses
- prof. repeats
-
-
8 helps for fast talker
II. Prof talks too fast

Keep cues brief & select : memory triggers or test questions

Cue ALL

Cue ONLY major ideas , not details, examples

Construct a recall column that would be a good study guide later on…

Recite the answers from memory

Professors have their own style just like students do

When a professor wants your opinion, s he’ll give it to you!”

PROFESSORS’
2 TEACHING STYLES
“INDEPENDENT” “INTERACTIVE”
Handout online

• Formal and businesslike
• Informal and casual

• competition • cooperation

DURING CLASS
• Mostly lectures
• Mostly holds class discussion

STRESSES
IMPORTANCE OF
• Individual effort
• Group effort

• uses often
• uses rarely

STUDENT
PARTICIPATION
• Calls on students
• Asks for volunteers

“Participation”

How to define “participation”

STUDENT
INDEPENDENCE
• Expects students to ask for help
• Guides students step by step

• Mainly sticks to facts
• Often shares personal experience

• “Tells” what to do
• “Shows” what to do

the FACULTY as your the “sales staff” gets evaluated

CUA’s old Course Evaluation asked students to “grade” a professor:
1. Increased my interest in the course material
2. Speaks clearly and can be understood without difficulty
3. Lecture gives viewpoints and insights which the texts don’t have

4. Readings and lectures were wellintegrated
5. Is available outside of class
6. Is enthusiastic and interested in the subject
7. Rate of covering material
(too fast or too slow)
8. Is available outside of class for consultation

“desirable lecture styles”
• 4. Digressions – stories told for the sake of storytelling- are kept to a minimum
• 7. Distracting gestures or movements are kept to a minimum
• 9. If humor is used, it helps the listener’s concentration on the topic instead of detracting from it

All American University professors were evaluated on points like:
• Instructor was stimulating
• Instructor seemed knowledgeable about the subject matter
• Instructor evaluated student work carefully , impartially , objectively , and in a timely manner

http:/www.ratemyprofessors.com
Select Catholic University – 460 professors rated
Deborah Clawson's Scorecard (Psychology):
•No. of Ratings:
11
•Average Easiness: 2.9
•Average Helpfulness: 4.6
•Average Clarity: 4.7
•Hotness Total: 0
•Overall Quality: 4.6
•Best teacher at CUA.
•Psy322 5 5 5 5 I had her for Memory and Stats. I was not particularly interested in either course on its own
•but she makes everything interesting and she knows how to teach in away that helps you remember.
•She is also sweet and caring and very corny.
• PSY351 2 5 5 3 Great teacher. She knows what she is talking about and if you go to class and take good notes
•and do the homework, you'll be just fine.
•Stats101 3 5 5 2 I took Dr. Clawson for Intro to Stats and Psychology of Memory. She is the best teacher
•that the psychology department has to offer. I went into both of these classes apprehensive about the material.
•She made the material so easy to understand and is extremely helpful when you do not understand the material.
•PSY322 4 5 5 4 Extremely energetic and easy to follow. She doesn't have an attendance policy, but going to class pays off!
•She gives out easy to follow handouts and simplifies everything. She is very clear concerning what she expects from you in the class. All tests are open book, open note, which is awesome!
Rating Key: