Get Good Grades With Effective Listening and Note Taking Skills
What happens in the classroom is a central part to making good grades and learning the material. From attendance to practicing good listening skills to great note taking, the discipline practiced and learned here will make studying for exams much easier. Many students make the mistake of assuming the teacher simply lectures from the textbook and that they can study the book and get all the materials. A good teacher will use the text as an alternate source and will build lectures around supplemental materials, designing the course to give a broader overview than that found in one text. Therefore, the student who does well must read, listen, and participate in class discussions to get a good handle on course materials, and ensure better note taking.
Showing up is half the battle
Class attendance is vital if you want to do well. While secondary classes are mandated, college attendance is, many times, voluntary. Most college students interpret this to mean they can sleep in at will. As many discover too late, missing class is a fatal error. Even if an absence is valid, many teachers cover materials not in textbooks or other sources, and it is the student's responsibility to get the notes. Many college classes count attendance as part of the grade, and the successful student works to earn every point possible. 10-15 points of a 100 point scale are no small percentage. It might make the difference between a good and a mediocre grade, not to mention attendance assures you have all the material for study.
Reading as a key to understanding class lectures
Many classes have reading assignments designed to be completed prior to the lecture. This background material informs on the lecture topics, and, is invaluable to understanding your subject. Too many try to wait until their review for an exam to read the supplemental materials. This invites disaster because, at that point, too much material has accumulated for the student to effectively read everything and prepare for the test. Besides, not reading the materials in preparation for the class lecture means the student has missed the additional re-enforcement the materials provide. An adage you will encounter repeatedly through this course is that in order to remember material you will learn it three times for it to become permanently fixed in your long term memory. Learn it-forget it-learn it-forget it- learn it-you've got it! The readings are one of the three important steps in the learning process.
Listening is an important discipline
Another important step in the process is listening. Listening must be of a particular type to be effective. Active listening is the best kind for assuring success in the classroom. Active listening attempts to engage the senses in the listening process. It is a disciple whose practice and engagement will help you time and again. ve listening involves certain steps to make it more effective. First, if possible sit in the front of the class to ensure you are away from distractions. A student must learn to practice this type of structured listening, enabling his/her notes to reflect accurately what the teacher is saying. Active participation in the class with questions or pertinent comments gleaned from previous readings ensures you have a clear understanding of the materials, and re-enforces the learning process. Participation grades are also points that can cause a change in the final grade. Developing your listening skills makes the class and material more interesting and increases the learning process.
Improve your note taking
Note taking from active listening means you should have better notes to take into your study time. Notes are a reflective exercise in which you listen and then write down what you hear, or what you think you hear. The better your notes reflect your teacher's intention, the better you will be able to prepare for tests. When you ask questions or make comments related to the lecture, reflect your notes back to the teacher to ensure you have accurate information. A good set of notes is invaluable to test preparation.
Several physical considerations for note taking are important. At the beginning of the term set up dedicated places for notes for each class. Have a notebook for each subject with enough space to collect notes for the entire semester or term. Using a pen rather than a pencil will ensure legibility and will not fade as will graphite. Learn to write legibly and quickly. Pace yourself to ensure you get everything worthwhile. Learn to write concisely, not necessarily writing every word spoken, but enough to be able to recreate the teacher's statement. Well written notes mean a great deal come study time.
Beware of taking notes on a computer. If you insist on taking notes via computer be sure to set up your files for each class before hand and safe often. If something happens to the computer your notes are difficult to replace. Make hard copies as soon as possible and always back up to an alternate source.
Conclusion
What you do in the class room is vital if you are to do well in a class. It is not the teacher's responsibility to ensure you have good notes. That job belongs to you as a student. Pick your seat carefully on the first day to ensure you have uninterrupted contact with the teacher. Train yourself to listen carefully, and give full attention to the lecturer. Carefully, but quickly write down the main points of the lecture. Ask questions about things you do not understand, reflecting back your understanding of the teacher's words. Make sure you clearly understand any items that are vague and unclear.
Showing up is half the battle
Class attendance is vital if you want to do well. While secondary classes are mandated, college attendance is, many times, voluntary. Most college students interpret this to mean they can sleep in at will. As many discover too late, missing class is a fatal error. Even if an absence is valid, many teachers cover materials not in textbooks or other sources, and it is the student's responsibility to get the notes. Many college classes count attendance as part of the grade, and the successful student works to earn every point possible. 10-15 points of a 100 point scale are no small percentage. It might make the difference between a good and a mediocre grade, not to mention attendance assures you have all the material for study.
Reading as a key to understanding class lectures
Many classes have reading assignments designed to be completed prior to the lecture. This background material informs on the lecture topics, and, is invaluable to understanding your subject. Too many try to wait until their review for an exam to read the supplemental materials. This invites disaster because, at that point, too much material has accumulated for the student to effectively read everything and prepare for the test. Besides, not reading the materials in preparation for the class lecture means the student has missed the additional re-enforcement the materials provide. An adage you will encounter repeatedly through this course is that in order to remember material you will learn it three times for it to become permanently fixed in your long term memory. Learn it-forget it-learn it-forget it- learn it-you've got it! The readings are one of the three important steps in the learning process.
Listening is an important discipline
Another important step in the process is listening. Listening must be of a particular type to be effective. Active listening is the best kind for assuring success in the classroom. Active listening attempts to engage the senses in the listening process. It is a disciple whose practice and engagement will help you time and again. ve listening involves certain steps to make it more effective. First, if possible sit in the front of the class to ensure you are away from distractions. A student must learn to practice this type of structured listening, enabling his/her notes to reflect accurately what the teacher is saying. Active participation in the class with questions or pertinent comments gleaned from previous readings ensures you have a clear understanding of the materials, and re-enforces the learning process. Participation grades are also points that can cause a change in the final grade. Developing your listening skills makes the class and material more interesting and increases the learning process.
Improve your note taking
Note taking from active listening means you should have better notes to take into your study time. Notes are a reflective exercise in which you listen and then write down what you hear, or what you think you hear. The better your notes reflect your teacher's intention, the better you will be able to prepare for tests. When you ask questions or make comments related to the lecture, reflect your notes back to the teacher to ensure you have accurate information. A good set of notes is invaluable to test preparation.
Several physical considerations for note taking are important. At the beginning of the term set up dedicated places for notes for each class. Have a notebook for each subject with enough space to collect notes for the entire semester or term. Using a pen rather than a pencil will ensure legibility and will not fade as will graphite. Learn to write legibly and quickly. Pace yourself to ensure you get everything worthwhile. Learn to write concisely, not necessarily writing every word spoken, but enough to be able to recreate the teacher's statement. Well written notes mean a great deal come study time.
Beware of taking notes on a computer. If you insist on taking notes via computer be sure to set up your files for each class before hand and safe often. If something happens to the computer your notes are difficult to replace. Make hard copies as soon as possible and always back up to an alternate source.
Conclusion
What you do in the class room is vital if you are to do well in a class. It is not the teacher's responsibility to ensure you have good notes. That job belongs to you as a student. Pick your seat carefully on the first day to ensure you have uninterrupted contact with the teacher. Train yourself to listen carefully, and give full attention to the lecturer. Carefully, but quickly write down the main points of the lecture. Ask questions about things you do not understand, reflecting back your understanding of the teacher's words. Make sure you clearly understand any items that are vague and unclear.
Dr M Smith is a master's student in History at Clemson University, also a writer, teacher, mentor, an experienced technical writer, author, counsellor and pastor. He regularly contributes articles on various topics like study skills, career coaching, life coaching. At studyskills.articlesrhere.com
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