Taking Notes in a Course

As a Penn State student, it’s important to think about how you'll take notes for your classes. Previously, you may have taken notes in a business meeting, in a lecture, or even in a high-school class. If you are in online classes, you will not be attending a lecture. Instead, you may take notes as you read a chapter from your textbook, listen to a video posted by your instructor, or explore a webpage. If you are in an in-person class, you will need to take notes in the lecture, and possibly notes for a textbook and other resources as well. 

In this module you will:  

• Learn about how to take notes in a course, whether it is online or in-person.  
• Discover strategies to organize your notes. 
• Explore different styles of notetaking. 
• Consider how to use your notes to prepare for exams essays, and quizzes.  

As you begin this module, consider these questions. How do you see yourself organizing your notes? Do you think you’ll prefer to take notes on paper or on a computer? Keep these questions in mind so that you can decide what notetaking strategies work for you!