Student Profile with Introduction
PROFILE
Dillon Watts, 19
History Major, San Bernardino Valley College
Dillon Watts grew up in San Bernardino, California. He left high school after his junior year and obtained his GED. The benefits of participating in class and being engaged in learning are obvious to Dillon. “Most of the time the questions you have are questions that will help the whole class,” Dillon says. “Everyone in the class benefits from an instructor’s answer.” He points out, however, that no one appreciates a student asking questions just to earn participation points or to show off. “I try to be direct and simple when asking questions, so the class can get direct and simple answers,” Dillon says.
This same attitude is also present in the way Dillon prepares for class. He explains: “I just make sure to be there on time, every time, and to try to stay until the class is over. I’m not a great note-taker. I find myself distracted as much as the next guy. But as long as I make an effort to pay attention and write down key points and read the chapter sections in books I’m supposed to read, I find it pretty easy to maintain good grades.”
“Taking notes should never be a substitute for paying attention and understanding the lectures better.”
Dillon uses different note-taking techniques in different classes. “In a class with lots of information, I take notes really well. It makes it harder to actually pay attention to concepts, but it certainly pays off for tests and such,” he says. “In less formal classes such as speech, which are full of ideas, I do not take notes that much, or even at all. Taking notes should never be a substitute for paying attention and understanding the lectures better.”
Dillon plans to transfer to Stanford, Berkeley, or another four-year California school. In ten years he hopes to be a journalist or history teacher. 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: “Try to get as much as you can out of your classes, and try to do your best, whether or not you feel like it. It always pays off in the end.”
4.1Become Engaged in Learning
4.2Engage before Class
4.3Participate in Class
4.4Take Effective Notes
Dillon’s advice is sound when you consider that to earn high grades in college, you’ll need to take an active role in your classes by listening carefully, taking notes, asking questions, contributing to discussions, and providing answers. These active learning behaviors will improve your ability to understand complex ideas, find new possibilities, organize those ideas, and better remember the material once the class is over.
Many of the questions on college exams will be drawn from class lectures and discussions. Therefore, you need to attend each class and be actively involved. In addition to taking notes, you might consider recording the lecture and discussion, if you have the instructor’s permission. If you don’t understand some points, take the time to meet with the instructor after class or during office hours. Another strategy to increase your learning is to meet with a study group to compare your understanding of course material with that of your classmates.
This chapter reviews several note-taking methods. Choose the one that works best for you. Because writing down everything the instructor says is probably not possible, and you might not be sure what is most important, ask questions in class. This will ensure that you clearly understand your notes. Reviewing your notes with a tutor, someone from your campus learning center, or a friend from class can also help you clarify your understanding of the most important points.
Most of all, be sure to speak up. When you have a question to ask or a comment to share, don’t let embarrassment or shyness stop you. You will be more likely to remember what happens in class if you are an active participant.
YOUR TURN > ON YOUR OWN
If you have saved any of your high school notebooks, look at the way you took notes and think about whether this method works for you now. If not, try taking notes while watching the news on TV or reading news online and see how you do.