Summarizing and Note Taking

Texas A&M University – Commerce
Master’s of Education in Secondary Education – MED
MISD & A&M – Commerce Partnership Cohort 2010
SED 513 Secondary School Curriculum
Carlos Soliz

Summarizing and Note Taking

What?

I opted to use the Cornell Notes in my class because I had never used them in my classroom before. I have had my students take notes during lectures and during videos that we use in class but they have struggled through this. I wanted to use a method I had not used before and the Cornell Notes fit well.

So What?

The first thing that I did was ask the students who had used this type of note taking before, to my surprise almost half the class had already used this style. I took the time to explain how to take notes using the Cornell method to the students who were not familiar with these type of notes. The notes that I got from my students were beyond anything that I was expecting because of the work that I had seen turned in before. I really like the Cornell method and will continue to use it. I don’t think that I will do anything differently next time.

Now What?

Like I said above I continue to use the Cornell method of note taking. It makes it easier for my students to get information written down and for them to decipher the information that they need. I like it especially with the instructional videos that we use in class for them to get the information. The Cornell method has also helped me when I do lecture to make sure that I am getting the information to the students that they really need.