Academic Support Center
Tutor Links

Link to Tutor home page
Link to Types of Tutoring
Link to Tutor Overview and Goals
Link to Tutor Study Skills Resources
Link to Other Resources

Link to Frequently Asked Questions about the Tutor Program

 

ASC

Link to the Library pages

Link to the Open Computer Lab
Link to the Testing Center
Link to Project RISE/Student Support Services
 

Study Skills Handout
Cornell Note Taking System

The handout below is just one of the many study skills handouts available through the Tutoring Center. If you are having trouble with study skills of any kind, or if you have questions about study skills that are not addressed here, stop in the Student Commons Building, Room 1300, at the Normal campus and talk to a tutor. He/she can provide additional handouts, help you recognize your strengths and weaknesses and help you formulate a plan to develop effective study strategies. Find out when tutors for various courses are available in Pontiac or Lincoln by contacting the receptionist in Pontiac (815-842-6777) or Lincoln (217-735-1731).

Cornell Note Taking System

Do you find that your notes are not useful to you in studying for tests? Do you seem to forget major points and remember minor details? Do you seem to have trouble understanding what you have written down? If so, try the five steps of the Cornell system of note taking to help make your notes clear and to aid in remembering and recalling facts.

Recall Column: In this column, reduce ideas into a few words after class. Record Column: In this column, record as much information as possible during the lecture.
Record during class. RECORD. During the lecture, write as many facts as you can in the Record Column. Use abbreviations to get as much information as possible. Leave spaces between ideas so you can fill in more later.
Reduce after class. REDUCE. As soon after class as possible, summarize the ideas and facts you wrote in the Record Column. From your summary, identify key words or phrases and write them in the Recall Column. This helps show relationships between points and strengthens memory. It also prepares you for exams gradually and well ahead of time.
Recite from Recall Column. RECITE. Now cover the Record Column. Using only the words in the Recall Column, rehearse the facts as fully as you can IN YOUR OWN WORDS. Then, uncover your notes and CHECK what you have said against the facts. This step helps transfer ideas to your long-term memory.
Reflect on possible test questions and mark unclear points. REFLECT. Thinking aids in making sense out of the notes by finding relationships and order in the material. Try to put ideas into categories and tie old material to the new. Also, think about which points will appear on tests and highlight any unclear points so you can ask questions about them BEFORE the next lecture.
Review to improve memory. REVIEW. If you spend 10 minutes every week reviewing your old notes, you will retain most of what you have learned and you will relate the facts and ideas to present lectures or readings.



<< View other Study Skills Handouts


Copyright © 2002, Heartland Community College
All rights reserved

  

Heartland Community College logo
Tutor Program
Heartland Community College
Main Campus:1500 W. Raab Rd.
Normal, IL 61761

Main Campus Phone: (309) 268-8230
Lincoln Campus Phone: (217) 735-1731
Pontiac Campus Phone: (815) 842-6777
E-mail: lisa.cole@heartland.edu