Taking notes in lectures

The most important thing to remember when you take lecture notes is that lectures are not an dictation exercise. Not everything your lecturer says has the same degree of significance.

If you devote all of your attention to writing down everything your lecturer says you will quickly fall behind and often miss key information.

There is no ‘best’ way to take notes in lectures but there are several proven techniques which can help you make lecture notes that support revision or writing projects.

It doesn’t matter whether you use electronic methods to take your notes or the traditional pen and notebook. However, all good lecture notes depend on three things:

• Using some or all of the active listening skills outlined earlier
• Making notes in a way that suits your particular learning style and which work best for you
• Being able understand what is in your notes at a later date