How to Supplement Your Course Notes

By Jordyn Austin on February 10, 2017

As a college student, note taking is a key part of your academic success. Many courses are lecture style that requires you to take notes. Sometimes it can be hard to take clear notes due to the speed of the lecturer or other factors.

Whatever the case may be, supplementing your lecture notes can be very helpful. English Oxford Living Dictionaries defines supplement as, “A thing added to something else in order to complete or enhance it.”

Here are some ways to supplement your course notes.

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Notes from other students

To supplement notes, you can always use notes taken by other students, if they are willing. The great thing about this is you can compare notes and add their thoughts to yours. Sometimes other people catch points your professor said that you didn’t, so it is good to be able to compare. Another great part about this is the fact that many people have different learning styles, so if there is something you did not catch or understand, a fellow student may have a visual or another way of thinking about something that can help you.

Mnemonic devices

Some students use mnemonic devices to remember notes given and this can help you too. Peers normally do not have an issue comparing notes with you, because most of the time they have the same worries as you. Do not be afraid to ask your classmates. They could have the same questions as you. You could do this by asking them to exchange notes during study sessions or even meeting somewhere to talk about the lecture.

Online sources

Supplementing notes could also include watching YouTube videos or using other online sources to further explain something you have written down. You could copy down the link or bookmark it on your computer to supplement the notes you took from your professor. This is beneficial because it enhances your learning as well. Looking at a certain point being explained with examples and explanation will give you the opportunity to learn more and remember better, which comes in handy for quizzes and exams. Online resources tend to have video, pictures, and other visuals that can help you add to your notes.

Recording lectures

Another great way to supplement your notes is recording the lecture. This is very beneficial for when you may have missed something, as you can go back to the recording and listen to it again. This also helps if you may be a slower note taker and you were not able to get everything down before the professor moved on to the next slide. Recording the lecture allows you to skip back and forth to the parts you may need repeated. Some professors record the lecture anyway and post it online, so make sure you listen to them. It never hurts to go back over what was already said.

Read

You’d be surprised how well reading the book chapter can supplement your notes. Whether you read before or after class, this is a great way to supplement note taking. If you read before class, you will have an understanding about the topic before the professor even discusses it. When it comes time to discuss the topic in class, you will have a general idea about it and be able to expand on the topic because you already read about it.

This also helps you formulate some ideas and examples of your own. It is always best to be able to explain something in your own words, as this shows that you actually learned it. Reading ahead of time can help you do that. If you read after class, then the book chapter can further explain what the professor meant or give more examples than you had from your note taking. Reading, in general, will help you supplement your notes because a lot of the time, due to time restraints, professors do not have the time to go over every single topic they would like you to know.

Ask questions

Coming to class, already having questions about a certain topic to have the professor go into more detail, can be a way to supplement your notes as well. When you read ahead of time you may come across material you do not understand. Formulating questions ahead of time can help you add to the notes you already have. These ideas and questions will enhance your notes by providing you with a foundation to expand your notes on.

Office hours

Lastly, attending office hours is a great way to supplement your notes. Sometimes professors were not able to properly get their point across or have other materials you can use to add to your notes. What better way to supplement your notes than to ask the one who gave them? Professors are more than willing to go over your notes and help you understand or tell you what you are missing. Use your professor’s office hours to your advantage. They have set them aside for your benefit.

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