Sometimes while you are taking notes in class you think you are doing a good job and getting all the important information down. Then later when you go to use your notes you can’t read them, or understand them, or the information you need is not even there.
One way to help prevent this from happening is by following a few note taking strategies. The strategies that can help you improve your note taking include: only writing down the main ideas, include helpful quotes or examples, needed references, and questions you may have. You could also prepare for the lecture by setting up a chart or note taking outline that helps organize the ideas more clearly.
To be able to take better notes you also need to be an active listener. While it is easy to check social networking sites or shop online during class, this does negatively impact your notes even if you think you are listening. To be an active listener you need to: prepare for the lecture, observe the speaker, focus on what they are saying, actually think about what they are saying, write your notes in your own words in a way that you will understand later on, respond to questions and directions, and show your interest by keeping eye contact and sitting up straight in your chair.