OAE Online Workshops

Note-taking — INTERACTIVE NOTES

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The Interactive note-taking style can be useful for taking notes in discussion-based classes. Set up three columns, side by side:

  • Left side: Questions/topics presented by professor
  • Center: Professor’s points/questions/comments
  • Right side: Student comments

Maintain a running summary of the “big picture” of the course

  • AFTER each class (as soon as possible, same-day), add the day’s major points/concepts to this running list
  • AFTER this (within a couple of days), match your summary material with any other course material that may be relevant, and create potential test questions
  • Schedule study time within a week to practice answering these questions as fully as possible

Sample Interactive Notes