Insights Regarding the Usefulness of Partial Notes in Mathematics Courses

Note-taking is a widespread practice used by college students to record information from lectures. Unfortunately, even successful students' notes are incomplete and, therefore, may lack the potential to positively impact their academic performance. Research suggests that instructors can help students improve their note-taking skills by using partial notes in their classes. The purpose of this exploratory study was to understand the potential usefulness of partial notes in mathematics courses. Findings showed that students perceived partial notes as beneficial to their learning. Course examination scores further confirmed that partial notes related strongly to high academic performance.