Active Learning 
If you're wondering how you'll do with online learning, keep this in mind: the more you get involved with the course content, the better you'll learn. To learn actively means to work with the information you’re learning; active reading and note-taking helps make learning better, and helps information stick.
Myth: Highlighting, copying notes, and re-reading my course materials a few times takes a lot of time and effort, so I must be learning deeply and effectively.
Busted! Highlighting and copying are examples of passive activities, and are not as effective for learning. To make the most of your time and effectively learn your course content, aim to be active in the learning process.
What is active learning?
To be “active” in your learning means working deeply with new information, using active strategies to engage with the material, and taking the time to process what you’ve learned.
- Making connections with what you already know
- Putting material into your own words
- Re-teaching it to someone else
- Asking questions, and
- Using new information to solve problems
Research has shown that being more active in the learning process actually helps you remember the information you’re trying to learn better. Check out the Memory webpage for more ideas on how to study and "make it stick!"
Self-Awareness Check: How deeply have you been learning? Are you trying to copy, remember, and repeat an endless list of stats, dates, theories, and names? Or are you taking the time to put the ideas into your own words and connect them to other information?
Try this quick quiz to test yourself on the information in this section.
When you have a lot on your plate, it’s natural to want to jump right into the material and get started. Spending a little time getting ready can have a high impact on learning and memory. Having a "map" of where you are headed also helps you get there a little more easily.
Get organized
- Set up your study space: When setting up your study space, ask yourself: What’s an optimal learning space for me?
- Break up the work: Consider how to break up reading into smaller sections. Start by reading one small chunk of text (a paragraph or two) at a time.
- Strategize your time: Schedule enough time to do the work of listening, reading, and making notes.
Make a "map"
- Preview learning materials: Consult your course syllabus, skim readings, and note the length of the chapters, articles, or videos you’ll be reading and/or watching.
- Note “key points” of your map: Pay close attention to the table of contents, headings, learning outcomes, bolded terms, and diagrams. These things can help guide questions you develop and notes you make as you actively read.
- Use summaries to your advantage: Before doing a deeper dive, read these first: the abstract of an article, the summary of a recording, or introductory/concluding paragraphs.
See what you already know
- Test yourself: Use any test or practice questions provided to identify what you already know. That way, you can prioritize spending time on material you don't know yet!
- Take some time to think: After you skim the key points of a new chapter or class session, spend a few minutes thinking about how this new content may connect to previous course content you have studied or what you already know. This helps make it relevant.
- Ask yourself questions: Use “wh-” questions (who, what, when, where, why) to critically think about the material you're diving into.
Try this quick quiz to test yourself on the information in this section.
There isn't "one right way" to take notes, and you may have to try out more than one technique to see what works best for you. Research shows, however, that including certain steps in your note-taking process can help you learn even better.
Pro tip: You can use the suggested tips for note-taking both on paper by hand or electronically (e.g., laptop, tablet) and for synchronous or asynchronous materials (check out the Successful Online Learning webpage for more information on this).
Try the "Cornell" method for note-taking
The Cornell note-taking method (also referred to as “split-page” notes) is one way that is commonly used to take effective notes.
How to use the Cornell method:
- Split your page into four sections, with a row at the top for topic/date, a smaller column on the left, a larger column on the right, and a box at the bottom of the page.
- While you’re reading/watching/listening to the material, add your notes to the larger column on the right.
- Pull out key ideas and questions and add them to the smaller column on the left. You can use these to help organize your notes and ensure you highlight important takeaways. Return to these questions and comments later to test yourself or develop ideas for a project.
- Review your notes from both columns and write a 1-2 sentence summary of the content in the box at the bottom of the page.
Check out this sample to see what the Cornell method looks like.
Use our blank template to start making your own Cornell notes.
Make notes quick and powerful
- Avoid copying notes from your course content word for word. It’s more powerful to restate ideas in your own words.
- Use abbreviations or symbols (that make sense to you) where possible to make taking notes faster.
- Add annotations, drawings, diagrams, doodles, or other visuals to your notes. It will make them richer and more memorable!
- Highlight or underline important concepts, but beware of too much highlighting! Be intentional with it.
Pro tip: Check if your ebook has an underlining or "post-it note" (annotation) feature to capture thoughts and questions while you are reading!
Tips for using a laptop to take notes
Don’t just copy: It can be easy to fall in the trap of copying information when typing (especially because we can often type faster than we can write). When typing notes, make sure you’re engaging with the material actively (asking questions, making connections, etc.).Mind your distractions: Researchers have found that when working on a laptop, there are accompanying distractions (e.g., online shopping, social media, chat platforms, etc.) that can get in the way of staying focused. Check yourself: if you notice yourself drifting, take a break and come back to your work later.
Still take notes by hand: Research has shown writing notes by hand adds a physical connection between your brain and the material you are learning, which helps you to remember it better. If you usually type your notes, consider summarizing them in a hand-written cheat sheet.
Taking notes from different types of materials
Try this quick quiz to test yourself on the information in this section.
Active learning doesn’t stop after you’ve read material or have taken notes. You’ll want to keep engaging with the material afterwards to solidify what you’ve learned. These strategies will help “make it stick”!
Review and reorganize
- Review your existing notes and add any lingering questions or comments you may have.
- Summarize each section of your notes using the space at the bottom of your notes, or on a cheat sheet.
- Link your reading notes with class notes: review them together to find connections, gaps, and repeated key points.
- Generate your own examples of concepts to make them more memorable and relevant to you.
- Reorganize and condense information into charts, tables, diagrams or concept maps.
Test yourself
Before starting a new chapter or before you participate in the next class session, test yourself with the questions and key points/terms from your notes to see what you remember and what you need to review (for more on self-testing, see the Memory webpage).
Try this quick quiz to test yourself on the information in this section.
Handouts
Would you like to discuss active learning with a Learning Strategist? One-on-one appointments are available every weekday. More info