LESSON 1.03 – Taking Notes in Science 1

Standard:  IE1.a, B1.a, B6.b

INTRODUCTION

In this lesson you will learn how to learn from an online course.  From how to contact someone for help to how to take notes, this lesson gives you practical tips on what works best while taking an online course.

INSTRUCTION

Read the following:

How do I contact my teacher and other students in the course?

When studying online, the familiar face to face communication of the classroom is replaced by the use of online communication technologies. Contacting your teacher and talking with other students is conducted using e-mail, bulletin boards and chat rooms. Using e-mail will probably be the most convenient and fastest way for you to contact your teacher.

It is important to maintain contact with other students. While this is possible using e-mail, instant messenger, and the forum.  . The interaction between participants is usually delayed but it helps to build up a sense of belonging to a class.

Some courses also facilitate chat sessions where you can "talk" with other students in real time. Your typed message appears on the screen (often in a chat room) and other visitors may respond. You then see their response on your screen. Response time can be affected by your Internet connection, other traffic, and the typing speed of the participants. The simple rule is to be patient!

Remember that all communication should be carried out in a courteous and civil manner.

How is reading online going to be different?

If you already use a computer, you will be used to reading text on screen and should know how to scroll up and down pages.  If the content of the page is more than one screen in length, you will need to scroll down and/or across the page using the scroll bar and arrows to see the rest of the page. You can also use the page up/page down keys to move through one screen at a time. Your reading style may determine which method of scrolling you use.

• Scanning - glancing at text very quickly to find a specific item.
• Skimming - looking through very quickly to get a general idea.
• Surface reading - reading everything but not stopping to think about the information.
• Study reading - making sure that you understand the text fully, often re-reading the information and deciphering new/unfamiliar words.

When should I print out information?

Studying online means that your course materials are mostly web pages you access via the Internet. It may take a while to get used to not having a text book or print based course guide on your desk. However, you might decide to print out certain sections of the course notes to keep as a reference or to write notes on.

How can I take notes while reading online?

Many students take notes during classroom lectures. Note taking is a strategy to help understand and retain information in a class.  Studying online is no different, take notes with pen and paper if you wish but you must have a way of scanning them into the computer.  Another way is to use a word processing program like MS Word, or Google Docs.

While you're studying online, have your word processing program open. Switch to the word processing program to type notes, then return to your course when you want to continue reading.

HINT: To swap quickly between programs press the Alt and Tab keys if using Windows or the Apple and Tab keys on a Macintosh. A small window appears to show which program will appear next.

Tips for Taking Notes in an Online Class

Why take notes?

1.    the act of writing can enforce ideas and information

2.    note taking can help in learning, remembering, and understanding

3.    can help on quizzes and in formulating answers to discussion questions

4.    notebook information is readily available for studying

How to take notes:

1.    Choose main headings and sub-headings carefully

2.    Summarize the main ideas

3.    Keep notes brief

To copy a section of text:

1.    Use your mouse to highlight the text.

2.    Choose Edit -> Copy from the menu.

3.    Switch to your word processing program.

4.    Click your mouse pointer where you want to put the text in your notes.

5.    Choose Edit -> Paste from the menu.

6.    Save your notes document regularly.

How can I keep track of useful websites?

To help manage your online time, keep track of any websites that you visit regularly. This is called bookmarking a site.  Each browser has help menus you may read.

To bookmark a site:

1. Go to it.
2. Choose Bookmarks -> Bookmark this page from the drop down menu. The title of that web page is recorded as a bookmark and the page can then be accessed in the future by choosing its bookmark name from the same menu.   Go here (http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Bookmarks#How_to_bookmark_a_page) to get more information.  (Or in Internet Explorer, use the "Favorites" menu in the browser).
   

Sample text

Earth as a System

The Earth system is powered by energy from two sources. One source is the sun, which drives external processes that occur in the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and at Earth’s surface.  Weather and climate, ocean circulation, and erosional processes are driven by energy from the sun. Earth’s interior is the second source of energy. There is heat that remains from the time Earth formed. There is also heat continuously generated by the decay of radioactive elements.   These sources power the internal processes that produce volcanoes, earthquakes, and mountains.

The parts of the Earth system are linked so that a change in one part can produce changes in any or all of the other parts. For example, when a volcano erupts, lava may flow out at the surface and block a nearby valley. This new obstruction influences the region’s drainage system by creating a lake or causing streams to change course. Volcanic ash and gases that can be discharged during an eruption might be blown high into the atmosphere and influence the amount of solar energy that can reach Earth’s surface. The result could be a drop in air temperatures over the entire hemisphere.

Over time, soil will develop on the lava or ash-covered surface and plants and animals will reestablish themselves.  This soil will reflect the interactions among many parts of the Earth system—the original volcanic material, the type and rate of weathering, and the impact of biological activity. Of course, there would also be significant changes in the biosphere. Some organisms and their habitats would be eliminated by the lava and ash, while new settings for life, such as the lake, would be created. The potential climate change could also have an effect on some life-forms.

The Earth system is characterized by processes that occur over areas that range in size from millimeters to thousands of kilometers. Time scales for Earth’s processes range from milliseconds to billions of years.  Despite this great range in distance and time, many processes are connected.  A change in one component can influence the entire system.

Humans are also part of the Earth system. Our actions produce changes in all of the other parts of the Earth system.  When we burn gasoline and coal, build breakwaters along a shoreline, dispose of our wastes, and clear the land, we cause other parts of the Earth system to respond, often in unforeseen ways. Throughout this course, you will learn about many of Earth’s subsystems, such as the hydrologic (water) system, the tectonic (mountain-building) system, and the climate system. Remember that these components and we humans are all part of the complex interacting whole we call the Earth system.

Look at the sample Notes after reading the above:  1.03-Sample Notes

PRACTICE

1.    Read through the questions and answers above.

2.    Read the Sample Text.

3.    Read the Sample Notes and notice that the headings are noted (on the left side) as well as bullets of paraphrased information (on the right side)

4.    Watch this PowerPoint, “1.03-How to take notes-online.ppt”

5.    Read this file “1.03-Sample Reading to Take Cornell Notes From.doc”.

6.    Download and take notes using this template (1.03NoteTakingTemplate) and save a file called:  Sci1_1_03FirstNameLastName

ASSIGNMENT

Attach your word document in the assignment area.