Why Cornell Notes?

Many students and parents want to know why AVID uses the Cornell Note system. The answer could be as simple as, they work. Developed by Dr. Walter Pauk at Cornell University, this system is used and taught at high schools and universities throughout the US and many other nations. The process requires 3 parts. First of all, students must set up their paper, including writing their name and the date for the notes in INK on each page of notes. The students then create a margin on the left side of the page- about 2 inches, but no need to be exact. Students use the larger portion of the page to take notes on the class lecture, textbook reading, or other activities in class. Either during or after class, students add questions, comments, key terms, headings, vocabulary, etc. to the left margin. These serve as memory cues and help the students study for their tests or prepare for other class assignments. Finally, students should review their notes, add any other questions or comments, and write a 3-4 sentence summary of their notes, not of the class activity. The process of taking notes, reviewing them, and then summarizing helps create long-term memory of the material.

So take notes now and help improve your memory, or lose 69% of what you learned in two days and try to cram it all back in right before the test... I think the notes are a better choice!