<p>I am starting college in two days now. I am taking 12 hours: History, College Algebra, English and Intro to Communication Disorders. I have a MacBook Pro...I bought a little recording app for lectures. I am getting Microsoft Office soon. And I have a five section notebook and am probably going to use a binder or two. I don't want to put my laptop on my desk and record on there during lecture, take notes during lecture on paper...and then have my laptop fall on the floor or something. That's my problem. I keep being paranoid about that. So how should I take notes? Any suggestions? :)</p>
<p>Maybe write the notes during lecture on paper. Then, when you’re studying/reviewing, retype the notes out on Word and then print them out near exam time, highlighting the important information.</p>
<p>If you’re planning to record, make sure you get the prof’s permission beforehand.</p>
<p>I’m curious, strad, why would you need the prof’s permission? I have hearing problems and have used a recorder in some classes where the profs are soft spoken or have a voice that’s hard for me to hear. It’s never even crossed my mind to get permission.</p>
<p>When I was taking a french class last fall I recorded the lectures until someone asked my teacher if recording her lectures would be OK. I never thought to ask, but she said “no” and went on for 10 minutes with extreme seriousness in her face as to why. I think it was just a violation of privacy she felt. Idk, you gotta respect the teacher’s wishes tho. Tbh, I never really found listening to the lectures helpful, but I guess it works for some people. It is handy when you forget to write down an assignment and she says it aloud. </p>
<p>OTOH, I asked my Comp Sci professor and he said it was okay. His explanations were better than the book.</p>
<p>romani - caldud nailed it - some profs are very sensitive to recording. Either it’s a personal issue or people may be worried that something they say will be taken out of context or posted on youtube or else they have concerns that their “proprietary content” might become public somehow.</p>
<p>I’ve also heard the argument that they are protecting student privacy in class discussions, which seems to me even more of a stretch than the other reasons. Many (most? all?) states also have rules about concealed recording and privacy, which could get a perfectly innocent student who was just trying to unobtrusively tape a lecture into legal trouble.</p>
<p>With hearing problems, it’s likely that you could get authorization for taping as an ADA accommodation.</p>
<p>Interesting. I never knew. I kind of feel bad now :(. Luckily I’m a senior and not in any lecture classes this year so it shouldn’t be a problem. But I now know if the issue arises!</p>
<p>here is something to try. if you can print off the power poitns before hand, do so. then take notes on the side.</p>
<p>or with notebook or laptop (i use laptop so i wont be distracted) take notes on what you think is important. sometimes the prof will say what you should take notes on, others will say it is all important</p>
<p>Thanks TheVet for the response.</p>
<p>You’ve had suggestions… what are you looking for?</p>
<p>There are really only two ways: by laptop or by hand. You have to do whichever is preferable to you. Only you can know that through experience.</p>
<p>Well…I was kind of looking for a way to organize my notes. How do you organize yours?</p>