Study Skills, Notetaking Study Skills, Notetaking and Technologyand Technology

Fall 2013Fall 2013

Overview of sessionOverview of session

Study techniquesStudy techniques Learning from lectureLearning from lecture ReadingReading MemorizingMemorizing What types of technology can I useWhat types of technology can I use

To be successful,To be successful,You need to be organizedYou need to be organized

In order to be able to study, you need to In order to be able to study, you need to be able to locate your notes, books, be able to locate your notes, books, handouts, etc easily. handouts, etc easily.

Develop a system to get and stay Develop a system to get and stay organized! Be ready to study and take organized! Be ready to study and take advantage of free time that may come upadvantage of free time that may come up

Plan to take time before and after class to Plan to take time before and after class to review notes and readingsreview notes and readings

Establishing a study routineEstablishing a study routine

Schedule time to study each daySchedule time to study each day If you don’t have a planner or organizational If you don’t have a planner or organizational

system, get one!system, get one! Make good use of your time before and Make good use of your time before and

after class-this is the best time to studyafter class-this is the best time to study Plan a time each week to review what you Plan a time each week to review what you

have studied in each subject areahave studied in each subject area Try to study at the same time each day-Try to study at the same time each day-

establish a routineestablish a routine

How to make the most of your How to make the most of your study timestudy time

Have a good study environmentHave a good study environment Is it noisy? If you are distracted by the TV or Is it noisy? If you are distracted by the TV or

conversations, you should find a different conversations, you should find a different place to goplace to go

Are you going to be interrupted? Make sure Are you going to be interrupted? Make sure your family and friends know you are your family and friends know you are studying. Turn your phone off-no texting studying. Turn your phone off-no texting either…either…

What is the lighting like? It should not be too What is the lighting like? It should not be too bright or too dimbright or too dim

Is it too hot or cold? Either extreme will cause Is it too hot or cold? Either extreme will cause problems. Find a temperature that will work problems. Find a temperature that will work for youfor you

Are you comfortable there? Is the chair okay-Are you comfortable there? Is the chair okay-don’t get too comfortable or you may fall don’t get too comfortable or you may fall asleep. Are there distractions there-pictures asleep. Are there distractions there-pictures to look at, laundry to do, etc?to look at, laundry to do, etc?

Does it have the equipment you need? Don’t Does it have the equipment you need? Don’t give yourself an excuse to get up and walk give yourself an excuse to get up and walk away.away.

Tips on getting startedTips on getting started

Can’t get motivated? Set a timer for 10 Can’t get motivated? Set a timer for 10 minutes and start studying. You probably minutes and start studying. You probably won’t want to stop after you get startedwon’t want to stop after you get started

Study for the class that is most difficult for Study for the class that is most difficult for you first-don’t procrastinate!you first-don’t procrastinate!

Research shows that studying in 60-90 Research shows that studying in 60-90 minute blocks is best. Once you reach minute blocks is best. Once you reach that time, take a break, then hit the books that time, take a break, then hit the books again. again.

Know when you study bestKnow when you study best

Take a look at how you use your time right Take a look at how you use your time right now? Are you a morning person or now? Are you a morning person or evening person? When are you most evening person? When are you most alert? When are you best able to focus? alert? When are you best able to focus? By analyzing what you are doing now, you By analyzing what you are doing now, you can make good choices about how to use can make good choices about how to use your time in the future. your time in the future.

Learning from lecturesLearning from lectures

Taking notes is very important. In order to Taking notes is very important. In order to take good notes, you have to be a good take good notes, you have to be a good listener.listener.

Be prepared. If you know what the lecture is Be prepared. If you know what the lecture is going to be on, it will be easier for you to take going to be on, it will be easier for you to take notes. Read chapters, review hand outs etc.notes. Read chapters, review hand outs etc.

Sit in the front of the class. You will take Sit in the front of the class. You will take better notes when you are able to pay better notes when you are able to pay attention and follow the lectureattention and follow the lecture

Learning from lectures (cont)Learning from lectures (cont)

Copy down everything on the board if Copy down everything on the board if possible. If not, try to focus on the possible. If not, try to focus on the following:following: What is the overview/beginning of the lectureWhat is the overview/beginning of the lecture What questions are asked of you during the What questions are asked of you during the

lecture “What do you feel the most important.”lecture “What do you feel the most important.” Talks about terms and definitionsTalks about terms and definitions Information that is repeated or emphasizedInformation that is repeated or emphasized

When writing down notes, keep When writing down notes, keep these things in mind…these things in mind…

Develop short hand abbreviations-remove Develop short hand abbreviations-remove vowels (sty sklls)vowels (sty sklls)

Use a half page systemUse a half page system Lecture notes on the leftLecture notes on the left Comments and revisions on the rightComments and revisions on the right

Rewrite and condense notes after class. If Rewrite and condense notes after class. If possible spend 15 minutes before and possible spend 15 minutes before and after class reviewing your notes.after class reviewing your notes.

Leave spaces as you write notes, so you Leave spaces as you write notes, so you can go back through and fill in the gapscan go back through and fill in the gaps

Do notes taken in an outline form work for Do notes taken in an outline form work for you?you?

Read and review notes daily! Reviewing Read and review notes daily! Reviewing works much better than crammingworks much better than cramming

Create flash cards from the lecturesCreate flash cards from the lectures Talk with classmates and instructors about Talk with classmates and instructors about

anything you missedanything you missed

Organizing your notesOrganizing your notes

Three ring bindersThree ring binders NotebooksNotebooks Color codingColor coding Trapper KeepersTrapper Keepers Note taking appsNote taking apps For more tips, check out GPS LifePlan:For more tips, check out GPS LifePlan:

GPS LifePlan:GPS LifePlan: http://http://

www.gpslifeplan.org/ridgewater/education/index.php?link=studyskill-learning-online#2

ReadingReading

Reading is not running your eyes over the Reading is not running your eyes over the material-read activelymaterial-read actively

Make sure you read everything-even the Make sure you read everything-even the charts and graphs!charts and graphs!

Text books are all written differentlyText books are all written differently Some are well organized and some are notSome are well organized and some are not Different types of books require different types Different types of books require different types

of reading. Biology textbooks will take longer of reading. Biology textbooks will take longer to read than some othersto read than some others

ReadingReading You will want to time yourself each semester to You will want to time yourself each semester to

see how long it takes to read a page in each see how long it takes to read a page in each book in each class. This will allow you schedule book in each class. This will allow you schedule enough time to read for each classenough time to read for each class

Choose a moderate amount of reading material Choose a moderate amount of reading material (50-90 minutes of sitting time)(50-90 minutes of sitting time)

If the chapter has a summary, read it first-get an If the chapter has a summary, read it first-get an idea of what it is aboutidea of what it is about

Look up words you don’t understandLook up words you don’t understand Read the whole chapterRead the whole chapter

Reading contReading cont

Try the SQ3R method (taken from Try the SQ3R method (taken from www.studygs.net/texred2.htm)www.studygs.net/texred2.htm) Survey the chapterSurvey the chapter QuestionQuestion ReadRead ReciteRecite ReviewReview

More on reading….More on reading….

Periodically stop reading and try to Periodically stop reading and try to connect the concepts to understand the connect the concepts to understand the materialmaterial

Write notes or outline the chapterWrite notes or outline the chapter Re-read the chapter if don’t understand Re-read the chapter if don’t understand

the materialthe material If the material is still challenging, talk with If the material is still challenging, talk with

your teacher or someone in the academic your teacher or someone in the academic support centersupport center

For more tips on reading, check out GPS For more tips on reading, check out GPS LifePlan: LifePlan: http://www.gpslifeplan.org/ridgewater/education/index.php?link=studyskill-reading

MemorizingMemorizing

You can only remember things you You can only remember things you understandunderstand

Make-up your own examples-don’t just Make-up your own examples-don’t just use the ones mentioned in classuse the ones mentioned in class

Take learning to the next step-don’t just Take learning to the next step-don’t just memorize, apply itmemorize, apply it

Think in colors-picture it in your mindThink in colors-picture it in your mind Use mnemonics-rhymesUse mnemonics-rhymes Repetition-review, review, reviewRepetition-review, review, review

Apps for Note TakingApps for Note Taking

Evernote:Evernote: Can create notes and keep them organizedCan create notes and keep them organized Text notes, audio recording, photos and web Text notes, audio recording, photos and web

clipsclips Can sync contents across all versions: Can sync contents across all versions:

desktop, iPhone and web portaldesktop, iPhone and web portal Does not have drawing input abilityDoes not have drawing input ability Free!Free!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6su8egZWNw

NotabilityNotability Text, images, audio recordings and also a Text, images, audio recordings and also a

sketch padsketch pad Many fonts, text sizes, colors and optionsMany fonts, text sizes, colors and options Can sketch on items you up-load-images, Can sketch on items you up-load-images,

web clips and clip artweb clips and clip art $.99$.99 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvulN3LSu

08:

Note Taker HDNote Taker HD Many note taking options within the programMany note taking options within the program Can choose options such as: variable line Can choose options such as: variable line

thickness, color, typeface, point size, finger thickness, color, typeface, point size, finger drawingdrawing

Import PDF’s and insert and crop photosImport PDF’s and insert and crop photos $4.99$4.99 http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=FdGDnUKZcMM&feature=plcpv=FdGDnUKZcMM&feature=plcp

PaperPorts NotesPaperPorts Notes Includes speech to text dictation softwareIncludes speech to text dictation software Support dropbox and box.netSupport dropbox and box.net Free!Free! http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=axgo_0GoA98

PenultimatePenultimate You can email a sketch or notebook without You can email a sketch or notebook without

leaving the appleaving the app Touch basedTouch based $.99$.99 http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=waIi5LlG8n0

ReferencesReferences ____. “Effective Memory Strategies”. Retrieved September 25, 2006 from ____. “Effective Memory Strategies”. Retrieved September 25, 2006 from

www.sdc.uwo.ca/learning/memory.html.www.sdc.uwo.ca/learning/memory.html. Pegg, Bruce. (October 4, 1995). “Note Taking”. Colgate University Writing Pegg, Bruce. (October 4, 1995). “Note Taking”. Colgate University Writing

Center. Retrieved October 5, 2006 from Center. Retrieved October 5, 2006 from Departments.colgate.edu/diw/notetaking.html.Departments.colgate.edu/diw/notetaking.html.

____. (July 1, 1994). “Study Skills Self Help Information”. Retrieved ____. (July 1, 1994). “Study Skills Self Help Information”. Retrieved September 13, 2006 from http://www.ucc.vt.edu/stdyhlp/html.September 13, 2006 from http://www.ucc.vt.edu/stdyhlp/html.

www3.aukron.edu/schlcommwww3.aukron.edu/schlcomm Landsberger, Joe. (June 2, 2006). “”Study Skills”. Retrieved October 5, Landsberger, Joe. (June 2, 2006). “”Study Skills”. Retrieved October 5,

2006 from www.studygs.net2006 from www.studygs.net ____”Test Anxiety Self-help Brochure”. Retrieved September 26, 2006 from ____”Test Anxiety Self-help Brochure”. Retrieved September 26, 2006 from www.counse.uiuc.edu.brochures/testanx.htm.www.counse.uiuc.edu.brochures/testanx.htm. www.howtostudeny.org/resourceswww.howtostudeny.org/resources ____. “Test Taking and Test Anxiety”. Retrieved November 27, 2006 from ____. “Test Taking and Test Anxiety”. Retrieved November 27, 2006 from

http://www.uiowa.edu/web/advisingcenterhttp://www.uiowa.edu/web/advisingcenter Duffy, Jill. Note-Taking Apps for the Apple iPad. www.pcmag.com.

April 26, 2012.