by Erin Blubaugh

Created on: July 30, 2010

For a new college student, taking notes can be an intimidating process, particularly when adding technology to the mix.  Should you type up every word or only get the main idea?  If you miss something, will it affect your grade?  What if your laptop’s battery fails?  Relax!  With a little preparation and dedication, everything should be fine.

Preparation

It probably goes without saying that a laptop is only as useful as the battery life remaining.  This is why it’s important to take a few precautions to keep your investment running during each lecture.  First, consider buying a spare battery.  Keeping a spare charged and ready provides enormous relief should your main battery die, especially if you have no time to plug your laptop in between classes.  Just make sure to switch out the battery between classes to avoid missing any part of the lecture.

Another way to prevent power problems is to get to class five or ten minutes early.  This allows you to find a seat near an outlet, and preferably near the front where it is easiest to hear and see your professor. 

If your instructor has provided one, read your course outline.  Look over the topics of each lecture so you will already know what is happening before class begins.  This will also allow you to set up folders for each class, something you absolutely must do to keep your notes easily accessible.  In addition, make sure to title your notes.  You may title them based on the dates of the lecture and/or topics.  For classes that meet once a week, you may even title your files by week (e.g., “Week1” in folder “English 188”).

During Class

If you arrive to a class and find notes on the whiteboard, go ahead and get them down before class even starts.  Some instructors, fortunately not many, will write volumes on the board before class even begins.  If this describes your professor, save yourself some anxiety and start typing! 

If your teacher provides a handout, briefly gloss over it so that you are already familiar with the main points that will be covered.  Remember, lectures are often delivered in a format similar to textbooks.  You will have a general topic, several main points, and examples for each main point.  You do not need to type every word your professor utters, nor do you have to write in complete sentences.  Just get down the important points in enough

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