Two experiments, involving 195 undergraduates, investigated how different note-taking formats influenced student note taking. Results reconfirmed that a flexible outline framework in which the order of subtopics corresponds to the order of lecture presentation produces more note taking than a collapsed matrix framework presenting fewer subtopics.…

The study compared the use of guided notes alone and guided notes with supervised review time with six students with learning disabilities integrated into a regular high school science class. The guided notes with supervised review time strategy produced significant academic gains across all participants. (Author/DB)

Describes a study in New South Wales (Australia) that used cable-linked notebook computers as a notetaking system for hearing-impaired students. The Phones for the Deaf Program is explained, and benefits of the notebook computer system are discussed, including greater efficiency, less intrusiveness, and more complete classroom participation. (LRW)

Analyzes how sixth graders' untrained summarization ability relates to studying and recall of important text information in a more demanding task. Finds that neither summarization ability nor notetaking skill individually predicted better recall. Suggests instructional guidelines and caveats. (RS)

Defines a stage director's rehearsal note as a written reminder to tell an actor (or technical person) something seen during a rehearsal when there was no time to stop the action. Finds a note can contain a suggestion, a correction, or a compliment. Presents examples from play rehearsals of when a note was needed. (PA)

A study of three adolescents with mental retardation found that six-picture matching was more accurate when a written list was available at the time the participant selected the comparison pictures than on trials in which a list was written, read, or both, but was not available during comparison selection. (CR)

Describes a community-college-level developmental reading skills course that was revised to decrease the number of skills in which students needed to show competency to make room for a notetaking skills unit. (RS)

Previous research has shown that providing written organizational lecture cues boosts notetaking and that boosting notetaking raises achievement. Lecture learning literature, however, is silent on whether spoken organizational lecture cues boost notetaking and achievement. To find out, participants listened to a lecture that contained or did not…

Note taking and note reviewing are essential college student learning activities. A large number of carefully controlled studies have evaluated student effectiveness in implementing each of these skills and have found that both can be improved by providing instructor notes. While the Internet now offers a practical method for providing notes, some…

Lectures can present barriers to learning for many students and although online multimedia materials have become technically easier to create and offer many benefits for learning and teaching, they can be difficult to access, manage, and exploit. This article considers how research on interacting with multimedia can inform developments in using…

Students who honestly try the SQ3R (Survey, Question, Read, Review, Recite) approach to studying almost universally find it successful. Students should first set a time and a place for their study. When reading a chapter, students should: (1) survey chapter titles, headings, illustrations, etc.; (2) figure out what the chapter is really concerned…

Observing children is a task teachers and caregivers perform to understand the unique characteristics of each child. Observation alone can be helpful, but in combination with record keeping it becomes a valuable aid to understanding child development and can be used as a basis for making decisions about appropriate experiences to foster each…

Emma Dearborn originated the Speedwriting Alphabetic Shorthand in 1924. The system became well known in 1928 when it became the first shorthand system publicized for dual use in verbatim recording and selected notetaking. For the next 50 years, speedwriting was marketed in a franchise arrangement with proprietary schools. It became available to…

Researchers have long debated on whether note-taking results in improved student performance on tests. Over the years, researchers have tried to verify that note-taking helps students "encode" the information involved and that notes are valuable as materials for review. C. C. Crawford's 1925 study concluded that taking notes was better…

Described are five techniques to improve student learning during lectures: (1) separating listening from recording and requiring note-taking to be undertaken from memory; (2) using active review during the lecture; (3) using structured discussion; (4) using instant questionnaires; and (5) having students summarize important things from the…