Getting the most out of lectures
Getting the most out of lectures is about more than effective note-taking. It’s also good to practise active listening and be prepared to review your notes.

Effective reading techniques

Making notes from reading

Seven ways to make notes

Technology for study
Software, apps, extensions and Library tools to help you study more effectively.

Top Tips
Prepare
Get an overview of complex topics through accessible sources e.g. video, TV, podcast, simpler book or discussion with friends.
Read ‘actively’
- Have questions in mind.
- see Critical Thinking
Strategies
- SQ3R method.
- Read in short bursts (stay focused).
- Keep checking it makes sense.
- Be prepared to read texts several times.
Use technology
- Reading text out loud.
- Tinting the screen.
- Changing font, spacing and size.
- Learning to speed read.
- Annotating texts.
- Referencing.
Take smarter notes
- Re-format texts as bullet points, mind maps, diagrams or audio notes.
- Make quotations stand out from your words.
- Use abbreviations.
- Make glossaries of new words.
Resources

Immersive Reader
Use Immersive Reader in Word, Outlook and OneNote to read text out loud, change the font, spacing and background colour and use a reading ruler. Watch the video to find out more.

Evernote Web Clipper
Saves bookmarks and websites to your Evernote folders. Works with Chrome, Safari, Firefox and Edge. Watch the Evernote video.

Selection Reader
Selection Reader is a simple Chrome extension which will read aloud any text you highlight in webpages when using the Chrome browser.

Writing annotated bibliographies
Useful guidance from the University of Leeds.
Reading Skills
Advice and interactive exercises from the University of Sheffield to improve reading skills.
Spreeder
Free online tool to help you develop your reading speed.
Outread
Speed reading app for iOS (under £5).
How to use your reading in your essays
How to quote, paraphrase and summarise sources. Has real examples of students' writing and information about common errors.
41 of the best podcasts for curious minds
Great list of educational podcasts to aid research and broaden knowledge.Reading and lectures
Take notes that help you learn