Student Profile with Introduction
Dillon Watts, 19
History major
Sacramento State University
Taking notes should never be a substitute for paying attention and understanding the deeper elements of lectures and verbal discourse. 
Dillon Watts grew up in Sacramento, California. After graduating from high school, he attended Sacramento City College for one year and then transferred to Sacramento State University. In reflecting on his experience in college classes so far, he says, “Most of the time the questions you have are questions that will help the whole class. Everyone in the class benefits from an instructor’s answer.” He points out, however, that no one appreciates a student asking questions just for the participation points or to show off. “I always try to be direct and simple when asking questions so that the class can get direct and simple answers,” Dillon says.
This same no-nonsense attitude is also present in the way he prepares for class. He explains, “I just make sure to be there on time, every time, and to stay until the class is over. I make an effort to pay attention, and I’m careful to write down key points of the lecture. I also do all the assigned reading, and I find it pretty easy to maintain good grades.
“In a class with lots of information, I take notes really well. Sometimes it makes it harder to actually pay attention to concepts, but it certainly pays off for tests and such. In less formal classes such as speech or ethics, which are very idea-heavy, I tend to not take notes that much or even at all. Taking notes should never be a substitute for paying attention and understanding the deeper elements of lectures and verbal discourse,” he says.
Dillon plans to get a master’s degree at Stanford, Berkeley, or another California school. In ten years he hopes to be a journalist or a philosophy or history instructor. He also hopes to put his class-participation skills to good use. “It is my dream to take part in debates and public speeches,” he says. His advice to other first-year students: “Do your best. Try to get as much as you can out of your classes and to do your best, whether or not you feel like it. It always pays off in the end.”
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Dillon’s advice is sound when you consider that in order to earn high grades in any college class you take, you’ll need to master certain skills such as listening, taking notes, and being engaged in learning. Engagement in learning means that you take an active role in your classes by attending, listening critically, asking questions, contributing to discussions, and providing answers. These active-learning behaviors will enhance your ability to understand abstract ideas, find new possibilities, organize those ideas, and recall the material once the class is over, resulting in strong performance on exams, as many exam questions are based on material covered in class lectures and discussions.
This chapter shows you several note-taking methods. Choose the one that works best for you. Because writing down everything the instructor says is probably not possible and because you might need some help to determine which are the most important ideas presented, ask questions in class and become comfortable reviewing your notes with your instructor, either after class or during office hours. You might consider making an audio recording of the lecture and discussion, if you have the instructor’s permission. Reviewing your notes with a tutor, someone from your campus learning center, a friend from class, or in a study group can also help you clarify your understanding of a lecture’s most important points.
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assess your strengths Students who are engaged in college life, both in and out of class, practice many of the behaviors that are reviewed in this chapter. What about you? Were you engaged in classes and activities in high school? Which were your favorites and why? Most students find that engagement makes them more enthusiastic and actually increases their learning. As you begin to read this chapter, consider your strengths in the area of engagement. |
set goals What are your most important objectives in learning the material in this chapter? Do you have a good method of note taking? Do you devote time and energy to academic work by attending class and studying out of class? Use this chapter to help you develop strategies and goals that relate to engagement in learning. Do all the assigned reading and warm up for each class session so you can see how being prepared for class makes a difference. Consider scheduling visits with your instructors during their office hours to show them your notes from recent classes and ensure that you are writing down the most important points. |