MY TAKEAWAYS
(Student-Created Notes)

My Takeaways should be recorded after a thinking task / activity / learning experience where students have explored a concept or applied a concept.

EARLY IN THE COURSE:

• facilitate a whole class discussion about the concept (learning goal) of a particular activity

• decide as a class what important information should be included in the appropriate section of the My Takeaways skeleton:

  • key vocabulary

  • worked examples

  • reminders

  • connections / descriptions

• refer to groups' thinking around the room on vertical surfaces

• model the process of recording "reminders to our future forgetful selves" by completing the spaces

LATER IN THE COURSE:

• invite groups to create their own "draft" takeaway on vertical surfaces

• discuss as a class key elements everyone wants to include in their Takeaways

EVEN LATER IN THE COURSE:

• invite students to make their own reminders, circulating to provide feedback, asking students to check with others for feedback on what they have decided to include

Students have ownership in what they choose to record.

It is also important that they are perceived as needed. Rather than answering students' questions, when appropriate, encourage students to refer to their Takeaways instead.

Whenever they need them: all the time.

Encourage students to refer to their takeaways when they need to during collaborative problem-solving, independent practice and assessments/evaluations. 

These takeaways are meant to be a record of students' growing understanding of concepts and should be included as a possible tool to use to help solve any problem.