Note Taking Skills

Learning Styles

Working with your learning style instead of against it will make note taking less of a chore.

Take this quick learning style survey developed by the Learning Center to find out how you learn.

Visual Learners

• Visual learners need to make their notes visually memorable.
• Use color pens or highlighters, drawings, graphs, or charts.
• Flash cards can be an effective study tool for visual learners.

Auditory Learners

• Auditory learners can remember the spoken words when they are retrieving information.
• Listen carefully during lectures and focus more on what the instructor is saying than on writing down every detail.
• Read and repeat key information out loud.

Kinesthetic Learners

• Kinesthetic learners engage with learning through activity.
• Focus on note taking. The writing itself is an activity that helps process information.
• Kinesthetic learners need to be active during study time. Some ways to do this include drawing diagrams or illustrations while reviewing notes.

Tactile Learners

• Tactile learners associate information with touch.
• They learn best when they incorporate different textures or shapes into their studying. This allows the learner to associate information with sensation.

Multimodal Learners

• Multimodal learners may be visual and kinesthetic learners, or tactile and auditory learners, for example.
• Experiment with and blend techniques for each learning style to find a method that works best.

Active Listening and Critical Thinking

Active listening

• Active listening techniques are the best way to capture important information while note taking.
• Instructors are the best source for identifying important information.
• Listening for verbal cues such as, “To start…”, “First, second…”,  “This will be on the test”, or a change in speaking pace can help you identify critical information.
• Ask questions to better understand the material.
• Take notes while actively listening.

Critical thinking

• Critical thinking techniques can also make it easier to identify important information.
• Identifying important ideas, premises, and conclusions:
• Synthesize facts
• Provide context for the information presented in class
• Support the process of drawing conclusions
• Analyzing and clarifying information:
• Determine if the idea, premise, or conclusion is reasonable
• Decide if necessary information has been omitted
• Test ideas against relevant information

Evaluating Information

• Determine if the information is accurate and factual
• Check reliable sources for verification (NOTE: Wikipedia is not reliable)
• Drawing logical conclusions about information:
• Understand the implications of the information
• Identify potential bias
• Determine relevance

Organizing Notes

In order to be useful, notes need to have a structure that is compatible with your learning style. Below are a few examples of note organizing methods.

Download the note taking abbreviation handout.

Cornell Method

• With the Cornell Method, the page is structured into zones.
• During lecture, notes are taken in the large center section.
• After class, review and revise your notes.
• Important topics and vocabulary words go in the left column.
• Compose a summary at the bottom of the page.
• Example

Outline Method

• The outline method can be as simple as a series of indents, or you can use bullet points, letters, or numbers.
• The main topic starts at the left margin, and you indent for sub-topics.
• It can be helpful to leave extra space in your outline in case the instructor comes back to the same topic later.
• Example

Charting Method

• The charting method works well in classes where the lecture is highly structured.
• It provides a visual format that makes it easy to take down information and skim your notes.
• This method can also be used as a tool for summarizing notes after class, and may be helpful for taking notes from your textbook.
• Example

Mapping Method

• This method is visual and brief.  
• It is useful for non-linear thinkers and those who do not need to take down a lot of detail to remember what was said.
• It can also help to organize lecture material from instructors who are not linear thinkers.
• Example

Where can I go to Learn More or Get Support?

The Learning Center

• Academic coaching is a free support service available to all PSU students. Students work with coaches to create measurable plans to meet their academic goals, note taking, including time management, and study skills.
• The Learning Center also offers tutoring services in a number of subject areas.

Disability Resource Center

You can schedule a Student Success meeting  wth our  Interns.

Adaptive Technology

Adaptive technology can play an important role in note taking and support learning.

• The DRC has developed a webpage that provides an overview of Adaptive Technology for note taking and organization.
• The full workshop video is also available for you to view.
• To learn more about adaptive technology for note taking, you can email adaptivetech@pdx.edu to schedule a one-on-one appointment.

Complete Note Taking Skills Workshop

NOTE: Most of the handout material referenced in this workshop is available on this webpage.

Before watching the video, you can take this quick learning style survey developed by the Learning Center, or you can follow along with the learning style survey in the video.

Download the note taking abbreviation handout.

If you have questions about the information on this page, please contact the Disability Resource Center.

Access Services Coordinator
For Note Taking Services
Email: drcnotes@pdx.edu
Phone: 503-725-6504

Check our home page for our hours and contact information.