Taking Notes: The Cornell Method

Brian Sztabnik of the Talks with Teachers podcast says note taking can have a positive effect on how our students process information.

• Research suggests that students recall more lecture material if they record it in their notes (Bligh, 2000). That is because when they take notes purposefully, they are actively engage with the material and are better able to comprehend it.
• Students who take notes score higher on both immediate and delayed tests of recall and synthesis than students who do not take notes (Kiewra et al., 1991).
• The more a student records, the more they remember and the better they perform on exams (Johnstone & Su, 1994).

One of the most popular note-taking methods is the Cornell method. Watch this short video.

Time to practice. Gather your supplies (notebook paper and writing utensil).

Watch the following video on college move-in day advice. Take notes using the Cornell method at the same time as you watch the video. 

When the video is over, complete the notes as best as you can.

Compare the notes you took with a neighbor and reflect on how you did. What did you miss? What did you do well? What would you like to do differently next time?

Let's do some more practice. Flip over your notebook paper or get a fresh sheet. The next video is about the history of Dallas. It contains dates, names, and facts. Take notes using the Cornell method at the same time as you watch the video. 

Compare the notes you took with a neighbor and reflect on how you did. What did you miss? What did you do well? What would you like to do differently next time?