#1 The Science of Taking Great Notes: Natural Observation

Learn proven and easily applicable methods of being motivated to take great notes from various genres.

Created by: Jay Thomas Fox
Author, Trauma Counselor, Educator, Retired CEO

What Will I Learn?

• This is a four-part Lesson: Part 1, Students will create a Noteboard, fashion a system of abbreviations and symbols, adapt the T.A.P. method, learn the importance on gathering good information and organization, the art of note-making, and learn how to take notes from a book chapter; Part 2 will be methods of note taking, notes from lectures, presentation of book chapter summary, discovering the antagonist and the protagonist in stories, how to take notes while watching a movie, creating a “Rockin Study Space,” and taking notes from radio or podcast; Part 3 Students will review notes from lecture and video, learn how to take notes while doing natural observation, and look at websites; Part 4 will be how to take notes from journals and articles, tips on memory retention, how to do in-text citations, and close with doing a bibliography.
• In this Lesson, Students will learn proven and easily applicable methods of being motivated to take great notes from various genres: videos, websites, journals, audio, books, lectures and more. In this four-part course, Student will learn how to take great notes, and the consequences of not doing so, and learning how to make your notes “stick.” A 'Noteboard' will be created and used as a template for all note taking exercises, and sixteen motivational tips will help guide the Student towards good habits, better all-around performance, and the end product of taking great notes.

Requirements

• No prerequisite courses are required for this Lesson. NOTE: I strongly suggest that the Student(s) not use the Study Notes provided when first watching a video lecture(s). Learning how to take notes is vital in many areas of school and life. Student(s) should use Study Notes to check accuracy and content with rough notes for Lesson #1.
• Your valued Student(s) will need the following for class today: several blank sheets of paper, pen or pencil, a ruler, and a quiet place to place to plug-in mentally while in class, a personal computer, tablet, or smart phone to watch videos, and note taking ability (or help if needed).
• No other resources are needed for this Lesson. A dictionary/thesaurus is recommended to look up meanings of words to help expand your vocabulary.

Target audience

• Students from age 8 to 18 as well as adult Students yearning for competence-based courses that build skills and master concepts of taking great notes from multiple genres. Students are taken on a step-by-step journey, engaging the material, performing activities, learning to think critically while gaining a better understanding of the subject, learning tools, tips, and tricks to produce the best practices possible, arriving at a final product the Student can be proud of.