Assignment Planning/Note Taking

Are you ready to turn this in?

No matter what course you are taking, you have things you will need to complete.

Have you completed all the steps required?

How do you know when you are done, and if you've done it right?

◔̯◔ The process that comes to mind to accomplish a task is:

"GET READY -- DO -- DONE"

We gather our materials and prepare for the task.
We do all of the necessary steps.
We complete the task, and it's DONE.

This is the wrong way to get things done!

Suppose you were a baker and your chef asked you to make a Mustikkapiirakka.

Would you proceed by: 1. grabbing some ingredients, 2. do some mixing and baking, and 3. present your finished dessert?

No. You would first want to know what this dessert actually is. What does it look like?

Next, you would use a recipe to found out how it is made.

Only after that, would you gather the ingredients and tools required to complete the steps.

🎯 In order to do a job completely and correctly, you have to process the task backward. You can't get somewhere unless you know where you are going . Likewise, knowing the steps helps streamline the process of preparing to do the task.

At this point, you can proceed in a forward direction to complete the task. So the real process should be:

"DONE -- DO -- GET READY -- DO -- DONE"

NOTES:

📌 In the "Get Ready" stage, consider not only the materials you'll need, but consider WHERE you will be completing the task and what MINDSET you will need to be successful.

📌In the "DO" stage, consider how long each step should take. You may find that you are taking way too long to accomplish a task. Be sure to include a plan for where you can get help if you need it.

📌 If your instructor gives you a rubric for a project, be sure you include all of the required specifications within the DO steps.

Note Taking

Taking notes is a necessary skill for college.

Being able to take usable notes will help you on tests and homework.

If you have a method for taking notes that you've used successfully in the past.... then GREAT, use it!

But if you're lacking in note taking ability, here's some tips that might help.

5 Methods for Note Taking

This video will show you various ways to take notes.

The trick is to find a method that works for you.

📜 You can print this Cornell Note Template if you like to use this method.

More Tips for Note Taking

Add Headings and Titles

Give your notes a title and add the date so it’s easier to search for specific notes.

2. Use Your Favorite Style

Outline Method
Cornell Method
Mind Maps
Flow Method
Write on Slides Method

3. Prepare Yourself

Find the subject of the lecture, then look at the textbook to get an idea of what you’ll be learning.
Decide what would be the best way to take notes for that subject.
Have several pencils/pens/highlighters and a notebook or laptop.

4. Think!

Don’t just mindlessly write the notes. Try to think about what you’re learning and write down your interpretation of the information.

5. Neatness Counts

Write legibly so you can read it later.
Use headings and skip lines between sections to keep it looking nice.
Leave a blank space or underline (like this ?__________) for questions or information that you missed.

6. Be Concise

Don’t write down every word, just the important information.
You should use short or half sentences, leaving out all of the unimportant words.
Use abbreviations (that you’ll remember when you read it again) and → arrows ← and such.

7. Highlight Key Points

Make keywords and subject headings stand out.
Use colored pens, highlighters, or post-it notes to emphasize important points or code your notes.

8. Utilize the 3 R's

Review your notes: Make sure they make sense and correct wrong information.
Rewrite your notes: Try reinterpreting the information into language that means something to you.
Retype your notes: DO NOT just recopy them. Clean them up and leave out the unimportant stuff.

9. Ask Questions

If possible, ask your professor to clarify information that is not clear.
Ask classmates if they have information that you missed (or just compare notes).
See if your professor has office hours and ask for clarification one-on-one.