How do you take notes for class, anyway?

allthingsbright · Aug 6, 2006

Oh, and I am searching the web and here is what I have found so far about note taking:

Cornell system (this looks good):

http://www.dartmouth.edu/~acskills/docs/cornell_note_taking.doc

This is a good extensive site:

http://elc.polyu.edu.hk/elsc/material/Listening/note-taking.html

Here is an good template for note taking to print out and write on:

http://www.mc3.edu/aa/lal/workshops/Cornell.pdf#search='note%20template'

I also read a site that said you can use index cards for your reading notes and store them in the book, until after lecture, then file them after you have added any important stuff to your lecture notes from them. This sounds like a good idea??

TexasPediRN · Aug 6, 2006

I always took notes in class, then went home after class and re-wrote my notes, and added important information that wasnt discussed in class from the book, to my notes. This way my notes were very clear, and easy to understand, plus I had all the information I needed.

Re-writing my notes also helped me when it came time to test taking, as I could just study my notes since they contained all the information I needed.

There is nothing wrong with bringing your laptop to class- nobody in my nursing class did so, but a few people did in other classes. If your handwriting gets so sloppy that you cant read it, why not type your notes?

Good luck with nursing school :)

allthingsbright · Aug 6, 2006

I always took notes in class, then went home after class and re-wrote my notes, and added important information that wasnt discussed in class from the book, to my notes. This way my notes were very clear, and easy to understand, plus I had all the information I needed.
Re-writing my notes also helped me when it came time to test taking, as I could just study my notes since they contained all the information I needed.
There is nothing wrong with bringing your laptop to class- nobody in my nursing class did so, but a few people did in other classes. If your handwriting gets so sloppy that you cant read it, why not type your notes?
Good luck with nursing school :)

Yep, I def need to devote the time to rewriting my notes...

I guess the laptop thing just seems cumbersome--I'd have to cart it around on breaks and everything cuz I go to a VERY urban school (LOTS of stealing). And on Tues I have lecture from 10-3--lots of breaks to the potty/cafeteria/my car, etc with my laptop?? Prob. wouldnt work...It would work better to handwrite then type up later. It would be a good review too.

Thanks for the imput!! :)

cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN · Aug 6, 2006

I was the queen of 3x5 cards! My handwriting sucks as well, but taking the time to write is slowly on a small cards really helps you learn it. I would always have my book open to where the teacher was teaching from, and I would highlight the book if the teacher quoted it. At the end of the week, I would transfer all the highlighted notes and PP/class notes to cards and study those.

My friend brought her laptop to school. Everyday, even to orientation. We got our notes on PowerPoint on CD, so she would just add to them during class. Then she would print out the pages and study those. The teachers really liked how organized she was, and it's always good to have teachers like you!

S.N. Visit, BSN, RN · Aug 6, 2006

I record all my lectures, then download them to my computer (Olympus digital recorder) so I can listen to them when I'm home cooking dinner, folding laundry & cleaning up. That way I don't have to mess with writing, I'd rather listen than write anyway.

NaomieRN · Aug 6, 2006

I would take notes and also tape all the lectures with my Olympus ws100 digital recorder. Within 24-48 hours of every class, I would download the lecture to my laptop. While I listened to the lecture, I typed the notes. I type close to 60 words a minute, so it worked for me. I would also use the book as a reference, just in case something was not clear. My classmates loved my typed notes.

bsunurse · Aug 6, 2006

I don't write my notes until after lecture. I read the info in the book once and highlight as I read in one color. I then go to lecture and have the book open to the area that the instructor is teaching and highlight in another color. If the teacher adds anything that I can't find in the book right away I just write a lil note in the book. I then go home write my notes. This makes me reread the areas that I thought was important and the areas that the instructor pointed out so I understand it so I can write the notes. I found reading these areas twice has helped me. I will usually mark what the instructor said with a highlighter in my notes just so I know that when I study for the test. I also found it very very helpful to take the time and make a pathophysiology sheet on every disease/diagnosis that we are studying. I will include meds, patho, labs, nursing diagnosis, physiology, signs and symptoms. I hope this helps you a bit!! Good luck!

BTW: I then file all the pathophysiology sheets in alphabetical order in a three ring binder so I can use them at clinicals and will not have to rewrite them if I have a patient with one of those diagnoses.

allthingsbright · Aug 6, 2006

I don't write my notes until after lecture. I read the info in the book once and highlight as I read in one color. I then go to lecture and have the book open to the area that the instructor is teaching and highlight in another color. If the teacher adds anything that I can't find in the book right away I just write a lil note in the book. I then go home write my notes. This makes me reread the areas that I thought was important and the areas that the instructor pointed out so I understand it so I can write the notes. I found reading these areas twice has helped me. I will usually mark what the instructor said with a highlighter in my notes just so I know that when I study for the test. I also found it very very helpful to take the time and make a pathophysiology sheet on every disease/diagnosis that we are studying. I will include meds, patho, labs, nursing diagnosis, physiology, signs and symptoms. I hope this helps you a bit!! Good luck!
BTW: I then file all the pathophysiology sheets in alphabetical order in a three ring binder so I can use them at clinicals and will not have to rewrite them if I have a patient with one of those diagnoses.

The patho sheets is brilliant--I am absolutely going to do tha-t! Thanks for the idea!

truern · Aug 6, 2006

We always had print outs for lecture....anything the instructor repeated I'd highlight..anything she said a third time I'd put a star beside because it was always test material. I'd reference any charts, diagrams, etc that she'd mention from the book as well on the print out.

I'd try to put each semester's work in a single notebook (although I did remove each section as we finished it, but I'd put it all back at the end of the semester) and file it away. That way I could find things easily when the instructor would say, "Tonight I want you to review the lab handout about chest tubes from last semester." At least I had some idea of where to find that lab handout :)

Angel 3 · Aug 7, 2006

I don't write my notes until after lecture. I read the info in the book once and highlight as I read in one color. I then go to lecture and have the book open to the area that the instructor is teaching and highlight in another color. If the teacher adds anything that I can't find in the book right away I just write a lil note in the book. I then go home write my notes. This makes me reread the areas that I thought was important and the areas that the instructor pointed out so I understand it so I can write the notes. I found reading these areas twice has helped me. I will usually mark what the instructor said with a highlighter in my notes just so I know that when I study for the test. I also found it very very helpful to take the time and make a pathophysiology sheet on every disease/diagnosis that we are studying. I will include meds, patho, labs, nursing diagnosis, physiology, signs and symptoms. I hope this helps you a bit!! Good luck!
BTW: I then file all the pathophysiology sheets in alphabetical order in a three ring binder so I can use them at clinicals and will not have to rewrite them if I have a patient with one of those diagnoses.

This will help me tremendously!!! Thanks for the great idea. I probably wouldn't have thought of this, but REALLY need to be this organized. :lol2:

Bala Shark · Aug 7, 2006

The best way to take notes and to absorb the whole lecture is tape recording the class. If your instructors allow tape recording, then that is the best way to take notes..If the lecture is on tape, you can always stop the tape and write down important concepts on paper.. Also, you would not ever get lost during a lecture or be confused because the book is there and the lecture is there..It always helped me through college..One time, I had an instructor who made exams solely on what he lectured on in class..All I had to do was listen to the tape again for studying..