from Educators' eZine

Introduction

Although there are many reasons for taking notes, it can be a difficult task for students. Often they try to copy everything, and soon become frustrated by the task. Or, they skip around, often leaving out essential information and recording the relatively less important details. Many become frustrated when they discover they cannot interpret their own words scribbled hours or days earlier.

Fortunately, as they mature, students develop skills in selecting important material and in discarding unimportant material. Although this skill develops with practice, its development can be aided by some interesting online tools. NoteStar is an engaging tool that helps students at all levels to improve their note taking skills. It can even help adults, as it has me.

Subjects:

• Language Arts
• History
• Science
• All Subjects

Grade(s):

• 6-8 (focus)
• All Levels

Brief Description

Using online note taking tools to teach note taking skills.

Objectives

Students will:

• Use an online note-taking tool to highlight or note words and phrases that relate to their topic of research.
• Use their "online notes" to compose a paragraph to support their topic.

Keywords:

Note taking, notes, study skills, research, and theme

Materials Needed:

NoteStar
Note Star is an Internet utility to assist in the preparation of research papers. Teachers and students can set up research projects with topics and sub-topics. Students may then take advantage of NoteStar's many features to collect and organize their notes and prepare their bibliography page.

Setting Up NoteStar

Have Students

1. Access the Internet
2. Key in the following URL: http://notestar.4teachers.org/
3. Create an account (Figure 1)
   
   Figure 1. Student Account Creation Link


4. Fill in the Student Registration (Figure 2)
5. Click the Continue button (Figure 2)
   
   Figure 2. Student Registration for NoteStar
   
6. Record their user id and password
   
   
7. Click and Drag the NoteStar Tool on the web browser Toolbar
   
   
8. Click on the NoteCard tool button (Figure 3)
   
   
9. The NoteCard Window will appear (Figure 4)
   
   
10. Press Continue
    
    
11. 
    
    

Sidebar: 3 x 5 Cards Go Online

Email: Julia VanderMolen