Note taking question

Futurenurse86 · Jan 16, 2008

have any of you ever have a teacher that instead doing notes on the board just writing key terms on the board and speaking the rest of the notes? i'm in a microbiology class right now that is like that. and i'm having a real hard time keeping up with taking the notes. i've even tried using a voice recorder and still i'm having trouble. does anybody have some good note taking tips for me that might help me to keep up with writing them down??

dont worry about writing down everything he or she says. write down the term and listen to the lecture....then later use your text to get the def.

Iwannabeababynurse · Jan 17, 2008

Dont worry about writing down everything he or she says. Write down the term and listen to the lecture....then later use your text to get the def.

We are suppose to listen to what she is saying and write down what she is saying and that is where I'm having trouble keeping up with. Plus write the key terms that she is writing on the board.

Annieee · Jan 17, 2008

When I have difficulties with teachers like that, I usually read the chapter before going to that lecture or visit them during their office hours, that way I can have one on one time with them. I tell then my situation and ask them how I can improve. Your teacher knows best since they're the one that's grading you.

I probably drove my teachers crazy last semester because I asked them so many questions, but it paid off and I got all good grades :)

Also; my school offers free tutoring for up to 1 hour per week. Maybe you could see someone about that too?

Good luck!

SusanKathleen, RN · Jan 17, 2008

...I usually read the chapter before going to that lecture

This is exactly the answer to your question. Reading the text/materials BEFORE you go to class each time is standard procedure for many college courses. The reason you are given a syllabus is so you can prepare for class.

Gurmo · Jan 17, 2008

I usually read the chapter before going to that lecture or visit them during their office hours

Those are probably the best two things you can do. By reading ahead it shows that you are preparing before hand and by visiting your professor during her office hours it shows that you actually care.

Also, I love my digital voice recorder. What about it do you not like? I found that if I transfer my recordings to my PC and use a media player like WinAmp I can catch everything my professors say. Last semester it didn't really help me but the previous semester and this current semester it is a savior.

Iwannabeababynurse · Jan 17, 2008

Those are probably the best two things you can do. By reading ahead it shows that you are preparing before hand and by visiting your professor during her office hours it shows that you actually care.
Also, I love my digital voice recorder. What about it do you not like? I found that if I transfer my recordings to my PC and use a media player like WinAmp I can catch everything my professors say. Last semester it didn't really help me but the previous semester and this current semester it is a savior.

Its not that I don't like my voice recorder I do it is helping me. The thing is that I'm having trouble writing the notes down as she is speaking them she goes to fast and I don't know if I need to write everything she is saying. Thank you for all the good tips I appreciate everyones help alot!!!!!!:tku:

Gurmo · Jan 17, 2008

Its not that I don't like my voice recorder I do it is helping me. The thing is that I'm having trouble writing the notes down as she is speaking them she goes to fast and I don't know if I need to write everything she is saying. Thank you for all the good tips I appreciate everyones help alot!!!!!!:tku:

Hey here is another tip I do with my DVR: I set my watch to stop watch mode and start the DVR and my watch at the same time. That way while I'm taking notes, I write down the time that my professor says something that I want to track in the margins that I may have missed. Sometimes I write myself notes with the time of the recording instead of what the prof said like "Good point at 5:34" or "Great recap at 24:33". What I do later is rewrite my notes (which is another great tip, rewriting of notes to make them more legible and understandable and I also instert or reorder them to as well - helps with studying).

Good luck!

nurz2be · Jan 18, 2008

We are suppose to listen to what she is saying and write down what she is saying and that is where I'm having trouble keeping up with. Plus write the key terms that she is writing on the board.

Something you could consider doing, if you have someone you can trust in class, is take turns taking notes. Like, you take the first thing the instructor writes, your class mates writes the second, and so on and so on. Another person in the group draws all the diagrams the instructor makes, those are copied and passed among our group. There have always been 4-5 people in any study group I was a part of. In the end you swap info and you both have a full set of notes. I ALWAYS have a study group and we do this religiously. We each pull our weight so no one person is doing more than any other. It works really well for us all. It actually is good in building study relationships with people in class. Once you get into the actual "nursing" classes you will see just how important having study buddies is.

GOOD LUCK TO YOU.

PadawanLearner · Jan 19, 2008

A voice recorder is a great asset. Be mindful of anything that an instructor says more than once. If she/he says something and then says the same thing again or in a different way, that's a hint. When I took A&P years ago (have to re-take it due to how much time's gone by), I'd take notes in class and record the lecture then review my notes while listening to the lecture at home and flesh out my notes as well as underscore or highlight anything that's repeated.