Physics Lessons: Guided Notes

Description: The student is given a copy of notes summarizing content from a class lecture or assigned reading. Blanks are inserted in the notes where key facts or concepts should appear. As information is covered during lecture or in a reading assignment, the student writes missing content into blanks to complete the guided notes.

Purpose:  Guided notes promote active engagement during lecture or independent reading, provide full and accurate notes for use as a study guide, and help students to identify the most important information covered (Heward, 2001).

1.     A set of notes is prepared that contains the essential information to be covered in the lecture content or assigned reading.

2.     The instructor reviews the notes and highlights or underlines the key facts, concepts, or information that the student will be responsible for writing into the final version of the guided notes.

3.     Using a word processor, the instructor replaces the segments of notes identified in the previous step with blanks.

4.     Prior to handing out copies of the guided notes in class, the instructor ensures that students understand their responsibility to attend to content covered in the lecture or the reading and to fill in each of the blanks in the guided notes with the appropriate concepts, definitions, or other content.

5.     During lecture or while reviewing assigned readings in class, the instructor displays the guided notes (via overhead projector, computer projector, or smart board) and fills in blanks with appropriate facts or concepts as they are presented.

6. Students are expected to use the Cornell Note Taking System. Information regarding the benefits of using this technique can be found by going to the following link: ( https://shp.utmb.edu/asa/Forms/cornell%20note%20taking%20system.pdf)