Study Skills – Listening and making notes

Summary

This video offers practical tips for effective listening and note-taking. It emphasizes the importance of preparation, focusing on main points instead of trying to catch every word, and using tools like abbreviations and symbols to save time. The video also suggests organizing information visually with mind maps or flow charts, leaving white space for further notes, and distinguishing between facts and opinions. After the session, it advises reviewing and rewriting notes to enhance retention, and suggests using handouts as a base for your notes to add personal insights. The strategies aim to improve listening skills and note-taking efficiency.

Takeaways

• 😀 Don't try to write everything down. Focus on the main points and abbreviate to save time and space.
• 😀 Use symbols (like arrows and equals signs) to represent relationships and ideas quickly and clearly.
• 😀 Prepare before the lesson by reviewing relevant materials and key phrases to anticipate content.
• 😀 If you miss something, don’t dwell on it. Keep listening and focus on the next point.
• 😀 Pause and replay difficult sections in audio or video lessons to ensure understanding.
• 😀 Take shortened notes. Only write down what's useful and leave out unnecessary details.
• 😀 Consider using mind maps or flow charts to visualize relationships and concepts.
• 😀 Leave white space in your notes to add thoughts or clarify things later on.
• 😀 Highlight opinions and facts in your notes to differentiate them clearly.
• 😀 Review and rewrite your notes soon after taking them to reinforce learning and memory.
• 😀 Use handouts as a base for your notes, but add your own thoughts and insights instead of copying directly.

Q & A

Why should you not try to write down everything when taking notes?

Trying to write everything down can overwhelm you and cause you to miss key points. It’s more effective to focus on the main ideas and take abbreviated notes.

What is the benefit of using abbreviations in note-taking?

Abbreviations save time and space, allowing you to take faster notes while keeping the content concise and focused.

How can symbols improve the clarity of your notes?

Symbols like arrows and equals signs can quickly show relationships between ideas, helping you understand and organize the information more effectively.

What should you do if you miss something while taking notes?

Don’t dwell on the missed information. It’s better to continue focusing on the main points, as going back to think about it will cause you to miss even more.

What should you do if you are listening to a video or audio and find a section difficult?

Pause and replay the difficult section to ensure you fully understand it before continuing.

What is the first tip for taking better notes before you begin listening?

Gather information beforehand by reviewing relevant materials, researching key words, and anticipating what will be discussed.

Why is it important to leave some white space in your notes?

Leaving white space allows you to add clarifications or thoughts later, making your notes more comprehensive and organized.

How can you differentiate between facts and opinions in your notes?

When noting an opinion or a quote from someone else, make it clear by marking it differently, ensuring you can distinguish it from factual information.

What is the benefit of using a handout in your note-taking process?

A handout can serve as a base for your notes, providing structure. You can add your own thoughts and clarifications instead of copying the material verbatim.

What should you do after you finish taking your notes in order to retain the information better?

Reread your notes to reinforce the material and rewrite them soon after taking them to help commit the information to memory.