Notetaking...Note Making...

     I know that when I am reading anything that I will need to know the details of later, taking notes greatly helps in more than one way.  Not only does it let me review before a quiz or a test quickly, but the process of taking the time to write the information down also helps me remember it better.  I dont like having to look through a text book as the main source of studying before a test.   Whether it is from my notes I took from the lecture (notetaking) or my personal notes from reading the chapter (note making), I would much rather be looking at the summary of everything on lined notebook paper in my handwriting. 
     My note making skill is very detailed oriented.  It may take me a while to read through a chapter, but I feel that I have a better understanding and will remember it longer, if I take notes.  It also gives me a summary of the whole chapter in less pages.  I remember in my 7th grade social studies class that my teacher would simply tell us to read the chapter during class and take notes (while he sat at his desk).  He would then check to see if we did it.  I had a hard time deciding what was the important information that needed to go in my notes because he never told us what type of information we were supposed to be recording besides "anything that you think would be on the test."  Well to me that was not a purpose to our taking notes, so I had no idea what to focus on.  Everyone else would finish earlier, but I was always trying to write ANYTHING that I thought would be on the test.  This was very frustrating to me because I was good at taking notes in my other classes.  In our textbook, it discusses that their needs to be a clear purpose when making or taking notes.  I totally agree.  I feel that this was one reason I was decent at taking notes in other classes and was so frustrated in that social studies class.
    When I am in class notetaking, I sometimes do a good job, while other times, I do not.  I remember taking History 102.  The teacher continuously talked, and no matter how fast I wrote or typed, I never managed to get all the information down.  I was not even trying to write down everything she said.  I was just trying to write enough so I could go home and read on what the topics she discussed.  She never used phrases to signal what was important.  To her, anything she said in class was fair game for being on the test.  My least favorite subject is history already.  Then, with feeling of being so lost on what to write down, it was hard to even try in that class.  Writing is one way that I learn the information.  My favorite way for notetaking is when the teacher gives me enough time to write by pausing at certain times. This allows me to process the information, and not walk away wondering if the teacher was even speaking English. 
     Our textbook discussed that writing notes is an essential skill that needs to be taught in schools.  I really liked the example of the art teacher taking the time to teach note taking because he knew it would not only help his students in his class, but in all of their classes.  I also really liked idea of dictoglos.  Having the students trying to have a verbatim copy of the text by the end of the activity, made the students repeatedly talk about the text.  This will help them connect to the text and dive into deeper meaning.  I loved the idea of combining the DR-TA (DNA) with computer-assisted outlining.  The teacher was sure to incorporate the students' questions and input which made them more confident with themselves.  I see the benefit of using multiple writing surfaces in the room (Ex: interactive board, overhead, flipchart).  One would be that it might help the students stay focused because they must move back and forth between them.  My concern is would it be to much movement which would lose students?  They would not know where they needed to be looking.  I feel that this could work, but the teacher must be very organized and have a wonderful procedure to follow (which in the example, she did).
     There are many different ways to take notes.  I have found the way the best fits me, but I will remember that each learner is different.  Therefore in my classroom, I will teach the skill of taking notes (both notetaking and note making), but I will encourage my students to find their method of taking notes that benefits them the most.