Notetaking

Chunking

Definition

Chunking is any meaningful group of items of information that we can remember as if it were a single item.A word is a chunk of letters.Experts organize information into much larger chunks.Beginners work with isolated bits.Example: learning to read, playing chess.

Magic 7 Theory

Short term memory for recall (at least numbers) appears to develop with age.People 15 years of age or older can remember 7 chunks at a time.Example: 7493651 (7 separate items) 749-36-51 (3 chunks)Application to studying?

Chunks need meaning

Compare:Five chunks:

LS DTVF BIJ FKU SA

Compare to:

LSD TV FBI JFK USA

Note taking is Chunking

Taking notes organizes and chunks information.

Notes on Notes

Note making does NOT interfere with remembering. It transfers information from short (working) memory to long term memory.

If you recite/review your notes, you are 1 ½ times more likely to remember than if you don’t recite/review.

No notes? Ninety-two percent of lecture is forgotten in a month.

Practice Chunking—Chapter 5

FrontierFree SilverGreat PlainsSodbustersWilliam Jennings BryanVaquerosHomesteadersGrangeCooperativesLong drivePopulist party

Abbreviation Guidelines

Use the first syllable and the first letter of the second syllable in words with common prefixes.

Subject=subj.Individual=ind.

Use only the first syllable of the word.Lib. is open late on Thurs.

Leave out periodsF.B.I.= FBI

Abbreviation Guidelines

Eliminate vowels in a word.Vwls=vowels

Eliminate the final letters of the wordAssociation=assoc.

Biology=biol.

Information=info

Chemical=chem

Abbreviation Guidelines

Proper nouns=Write out completely the first time, putting abbreviation after the name.

Mrs. Brandstetter (B)Use abbreviation in the rest of notesMrs. B teaches 1-6 hrs.

Plural? Add “S” to abbreviationChapters=chapt’s

Use an apostrophe for omitted lettersGovernment=gov’tAmount=am’tHelping=help’g

Common Abbreviations

And &With w/Without w/oBefore b4Example exDefinition def.One, two, 1,2Be BYou UBecause b/c

Therefore . .Percent %Pages pgsLess than <Greater than >Is, equal =Are RTo 2At @

Translate

Fnsh wkst by Fri.

Stud’s w/ good grades R > likely 2 get into coll.

The Great Plains (GP) were deserted b/c weather =bad.

Joe is go’g 2 store 4 mom.

White ppl hurt Mex who were liv’g in SW.

Exodusters left S 4 W.

Dawes Act=wanted 2 assimilate NA’s.

Practice

1. Three students are going to work at McDonalds.

2. Therefore, the answer is five.

3. Read pages 76-89 before Friday.

4. Seventy-six percent of students do well in school.

5. Do you eat beans with bacon?

6. Protons, neutrons, and electrons can be confusing.