Making The Most Of Lectures: Student Learning Centre

STUDENT SUPPORT AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICE

Student Learning Centre

Making the Most of Lectures Maria Graal

www.le.ac.uk/slc

Session Outline

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The purpose of lectures and note-making

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The challenges of making notes in lectures

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Strategies for making the most of lectures

The purpose of a lecture

A lecture can provide the overview or ‘big picture’ of a subject

You have to do additional reading to research the detail within the overview according to your own study goals

The purpose of a lecture

A lecture can provide a detailed study of a specific area within the subject

You have to do additional reading to research the broader context according to your study goals

Why are you making notes in lectures?

• What do you want your notes to achieve? • Do they need to serve more than one purpose? • Does the purpose change for different lectures?

Reasons for note-making in lectures They help with…

They also help to…

• concentration

• record information

• understanding

• prompt questions

• recall

• highlight areas of interest

Note-making isn’t just about having something to refer to later – it’s part of the learning process itself

Lectures and note-making • What’s difficult about making notes in lectures?

Strategies for making the most of lectures

Preview & Review

Identify your focus

Listen for structure

Choose the best layout

Leave space

Team up

Preview and Review

Preview

Pre-lecture reading will help you to understand and engage with the lecture

During

Review

Make notes according to your study goal

Follow up work will help you reinforce your understanding and aid recall



Identify your focus

 Understanding

is your

priority  You make brief keyword notes  You follow up the lecture by making detailed notes on your selected area

Identify your focus

 Collecting

the information is the priority  You make detailed notes  You follow up the lecture by reviewing your understanding of the content 

Listen for structure • I shall now discuss….

• An example of this is….

• My next point is….

• This can be seen when….

• Finally….

• Evidence for this can be found….

• On the other hand….

• Alternatively….

• Others have argued….

• In conclusion….

• Turning now to….

• To summarise….



Choose the best layout

What?

Who?

When?

Headings

colour

Sub-headings Space

1. numbered lists • bulleted lists abbreviations Page no.

Choose the best layout

Lecture X



Leave space 2 columns (or doublespaced) Diagrams/ charts

THING 1

THING 2

THING 3

Own words

Questions & thoughts 

Team up Collaborating with friends in lectures is useful for: • comparing notes to fill in any gaps • discussing the content to clarify your understanding • identifying how the lecture relates to the rest of the module



Summary •

Be prepared - get to know the course structure and do pre-lecture reading.

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Be organised - have a system for storing notes and take a selection of pens and pencils to the lecture.

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Listen for structure - watch out for signposts that help you follow the lecture.

•

Choose your focus – balance listening with making notes according to your study goals

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Make note taking an active process - summarise in your own words, make good use of space, colour, symbols and images.

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Leave gaps - if you miss a point, don't get further behind by panicking about it, just leave a space and check it out with another student.

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Actively review your notes after the lecture, making additions and corrections as you read.

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Use the Student Learning Centre for further advice and information.