Blair DiGiovanni, instructional specialist in the Learning Center said, “My purpose was to present effective note taking skills for students in any course. So that they can get one new strategy to try. that way they will remember the course material.”

The Effective Note Taking Skills workshop was held on Wednesday, Feb. 10

One key point of the presentation was to review notes immediately after class and before the next one. Otherwise you risk losing 80% of the information.

It is important to be prepared beforehand by reading the assignments and turning the topics into questions to be answered by the professor.

One of the most important parts of note-taking is being an active listener.

You have to watch for body language (including changes in volume or pace, and gestures that show that what they are saying is important). You have to listen for key words.

Before starting her lecture, DiGiovanni passed out literature to guide through finding new ways to take notes to the twelve students who attended.

Included in this literature was a note taking self assessment which asked questions such as:

• “Do you read and take notes on the week’s reading assignment before class?”

• “Do you find yourself able to participate in class and take notes at the same time?”

• “Do you review your notes even when there is NOT an upcoming test?”

After the students were done with this self assessment DiGiovanni went through and explained why each habit of studying was important for retaining an optimal amount of knowledge.

“You want to take notes on the most important parts and not everything the professor says is important. Make sure you come to class focused and prepared.

“Have your materials and don’t sit in a place that will distract you such as a next to a window or a loud person. Read ahead of time for background information. What you learn in class builds on what you already know.

She continued, “Knowledge collects.”

Carina Rodriguez, undecided major expressed how this event impacted her, “There are a couple things I’m going to change, one of them being prepared before class.

“I really didn’t think much of that one. But I think it helps develop knowledge. I was here because I needed to learn to take better notes.”

She went on, “I’m more of an auditory learner. Paying attention in class is important. Learning your method of remembering and taking notes (some are auditory learners, some are visual learners, some are kinesiologic learners).”

She paused and added: “I think a lot of people learned a couple things today.”