Note Taking for Videos

In my current Grade 7 Unit, Future City Designs, we have lots of videos for inspiration to watch throughout. I decided to use this as an opportunity to practice different note taking methods. I actually had two videos at the start of the unit, where we would not take videos, and just discuss the key features after. Then for the next videos, I introduced note taking and have had students reflect on how the experience is different. It has also been interesting to me how often they refer back to the first video we watched, where we did the note taking, but they have forgotten much of the others!

Idea One - Pausing the videos and have students write down key information during these pauses.
Idea Two - Give students a prompt, and have students write short answers, (one or two words), on only one side of a small note card.

Video One! How to Make an Attractive City

When watching this I told students that they were not allowed to write anything when watching the video. I would pause the video every couple of minutes, and students would then write down the key points. 

This meant they would be selecting only the information which they found interesting or helpful, instead of recalling everything. Also as they were not writing while watching, they were not distracted, or furiously trying to scribble everything down. (This is based on an idea shared by Ron Ritchhart did at the October '18 PZ conference in Pamplona).

I think they are much more useful than the usual notes they take! I collected this in, and will hand them back when students come to plan their cities (when they write the design specifications).
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Here are some of their notes:

With one of my two Grade 7 classes, I had them swap the notes, and add annotations/underline the features that they thought were key. They were also able to add on additional information.

Video Two - Sustainable City | Fully Charged

Students are working on a research project, which will last over several lessons. I am breaking this up by playing interesting videos linked to the unit at the start and end of each class. Today they came in and watched "the Sustainable City".  They had a small yellow note card and were told to just list the features that were mentioned in the city. Students were encouraged to try and write one or two word answers, or very short phrases if needed.  They were also told they could only write on one side of the paper, and if they ran out of space, to just stop.

Here are some of their notes:

Immediately after this activity I told them to flip the card, and write four questions they wanted to answer today. They were already excited and stimulated from the video, and they all came up with some clear research questions. This helped me better support them throughout the class, and also helped motivate the students too.

By focussing on ATLs I am setting up my students for success in all subjects, and outside of school, as they are being given transferable tools. My focus here is on "Communication - Take effective notes in class". Later on it the unit, we will do a sketch noting activity, and I will share back our learning here.

If you want to learn more about my future cities unit, there is a rolling presentation here, (not complete yet!). The next step will be exploring architecture and designing a key building in their town. Then the last part of the unit they will design and promote their town, in a presentation. They will have all these notes to help them with this! When the unit is over I will post more information on this blog.

If you want to find out more methods of effective note taking, I have more in the ATL Toolkit here.