002 - Note Taking and Synthesising Information
Aim
To have knowledge of various ways to take notes, read for understanding and to create a productive space.
Approaches to Learning
Communication Skills - The skills needed to use aids (such as notes, schemes, maps) to produce, present or understand complex tasks in written or oral form (speeches, conversations, instructions, interviews, debates, etc).
Activity One - Note Taking
This is very dependent on the subject, the way a teacher gives out information and how you wish to organise your class notes. My classes are often discussion led with some sort of prompt followed by specific questions to answer. BUT that doesn't mean that 'free' reading and general notes aren't taking place, hopefully. So lets have a look at a few examples of how we can make effective and organised notes. You will then answer the following questions directly onto the worksheet.
Which method of note taking are you going to try in the next two weeks?
Why do you think that method will work for you? What interests you about it?
Outline
This is when you use bullets and a structure. It is highly structured, logical and easy to follow. There are often four steps:
Write down a main point to the left of the page.
Indent to the right, and note any supporting ideas below it.
Whenever you need to elaborate on a point, indent to the right and start adding new points below.
Repeat.
This was all taken from Goodnotes.
Sketch Notes
This is very similar to using outline notes but you are using lots of images instead of text. Colour could be used quite successfully here as well.
Cornell
This is when you divide your page into four clear sections. You have a title at the top, in a column you have the key questions/aims of the lesson, the main section is for the key ideas and there is a summary section at the bottom.
Mind Map
You have all used a mind map at some point in your academic career. They aren't just for taking notes on a 5 minute discussion or YouTube clip (although it can be) they can also be used for a whole lesson's notes. Put the aim/learning point in the middle and then you can have the biggest ideas coming from that central point and further ideas off of them.
Nothing is Perfect!
Handwriting engages working memory, you listen better, you can draw but you may miss things.
Typing may mean you can write more down but it has been proven that it doesn't engage your working memory.
Activity Two - Reading for Understanding
You will never really get away from the fact that you need to read to learn more about the subject content you are dealing with. Some of the reading is going to be a must and others are going to be more on the recommended or 'it would be nice' list. Ultimately, whatever you read the important thing is that you are making purposeful notes - as suggested above. But there is another option - SQ3R. Yes, I had to look it up to!
S - Skim - skim read the text and headings (or images).
Q - Question - write questions which need to be answered.
3Rs - Read, Recite, Review - Read the text, make notes or summarise what you have read. Speak your ideas. Review the big ideas.
Useful Resources
3Q3R - How to study effectively
Cajun Koi Academy
3Q3R
Jeff Snider - Weebly
Activity Three - AI - Can it Help?
There has been a lot of talk about AI in the last year. Some people embrace it and use it, some push it away, but is there a purpose for us? Maybe and it is a big MAYBE?
Current Stumbling Blocks
At the moment you can not put in a URL link for the AI to read the article or book. You need to copy and paste the text into the dialogue box.
Some news sites are beginning to block you from copying their text, for example, The Times of India.
You may have to pay for the service.
Can it help?
Yes, it can help to summarise text. The school is not there yet to use Google's Bard as it is a commercial endeavour. Therefore it hasn't passed the same security features as a regular app in the usual Google G Suite. If you go down the path of using AI Chat GTP currently works out of our domain.
If you use Chat GTP create an account using your school email.
Copy the text you want to summarise.
Paste it in the dialogue box.
Press enter.
The issue at the moment is that you haven't told it what you want to get out of the article and therefore you might get a good summary but it won't focus on what you want. It can't read your mind. Prompts will make what you are trying to summarise focused for you. Ultimately, you still have to do some work and it won't learn it for you! You still need to put in the hard graft. Mr. Allaway has suggested using the APE Process. You will need new prompts fo each new article.
Example
A - Summarise the article.
P - You are an IB DP Geographer
E - I want seven bullet points, each with a fact or figure from the article. Make the bullet points specific about flood mitigation.
Do remember that it is a chat, so you can reprompt if you don't get what you want the first time.