Focused Note-Taking

Focused Note-Taking: Cornell Notes Introduction

In 1949, Dr. Walter Pauk realized the frustration his law students at Cornell University were having in the area of producing effective notes in his class. Despite their copious notes, they still were having difficulty in performing well on his tests. In order to help them take more focused and efficient notes, he developed Cornell Notes. While the form and structure of the notes has evolved since then, the basic principle remains the same: When students process their notes in multiple ways, they will retain the information at a higher level. The Cornell Way focused note‐taking system, which is covered in this chapter, provides a systematic process for students to take notes and then process those notes numerous times. The process also covers how students and teachers can work to make sure that students are constantly growing as note-takers. It should be noted that, because mastery of Cornell note‐taking skills does require so much time and practice, schools often implement this system as a school wide program. When students are using these skills throughout the school day and at home, they certainly learn quicker and better. In fact, Cornell notes can become part of a school’s culture and viewed by students, teachers, and parents as an expected standard to which all students should aspire. For this reason, this chapter includes strategies that can be used in all types of learning environments, including those where student performance does not include traditional note‐taking activities. As you work through the 10 steps of this process, be thinking, “What will this process look like in my classroom and my school? How can my students leave my classroom not only knowing my content, but also being better prepared and ready for college success?”