How New Students Take Notes at Lectures

Much research has been done on note taking at lectures over the past 75 years. However, in the UK during the past decade students have been admitted without the traditional formal qualifications. The aims of this study were to compare the core academic skill of note taking at lectures of these Wider Access students with both international and conventional students. What were the aims of their note taking? What techniques did they use? Two methods were used: (i) the notes from a lecture of the international and conventional students were analysed according to Hull's categories, as extended by Sutherland; (ii) six students from each group were interviewed on why and how they took notes. The goal of most international students was instrumental: to get an accurate record of the lecture which would help them with subsequent essays and exams. Most of the British students (both Wider Access and conventional) had a similar aim, however a minority of the latter were more likely to see the lecture in addition as a source of references for further reading.