| Guided notes covering lectures have been shown to improve note quality and increase scores on quizzes covering lecture material. We sought to determine whether guided notes would also be beneficial in helping students prepare for quizzes covering assigned readings. We evaluated the efficacy of guided notes for reading assignments on undergraduates' scores on quizzes covering reading material during three academic semesters (in Study 1 and Study 2). Guided notes produced a statistically significant improvement in quiz scores during two of three semesters. Visual inspection of individual student data showed that guided notes improved quiz scores for 28 out of 80 students. Results of Study 2 showed that guided notes also produced a statistically significant improvement in note accuracy. Together with previous literature, our results suggest that guided notes may be an effective component of college courses, but additional research is needed to identify the variables that influence the effectiveness of guided notes for individual students.;KEYWORDS: guided notes, higher education, note-taking, quizzes. |
