Here is a helpful video that explains active listening. You can also take a look at the highlights after the video and read the explanations beneath them if you would like to do so.
Tips for Active Listening
Overcome Distractions
No matter what the distractions may be — noises, worries, or people — you will want to develop strategies for reducing these distractions.
Try breathing in for four counts and breathing out for four counts. Breathing exercises like this one can also help reduce test anxiety.
Try making occassional eye-contact with your professor, which can be scary at first, but such a quick action can actually help you focus.
If your professor uses a PowerPoint, you can try focusing on the words and imagine you are reading them aloud and let your internal voice help you to process the information.
Try centering yourself by concentrating on the feel of the pen in your hand or the smoothness of your keyboard if you are typing notes.
If you feel confused or lose interest, ask a question for clarification or leave a question mark in your notes. You can discuss the point later with your instructor or another student. If you can't ask your question right away, write it in the margin or type it in your notes so that you don't forget.
Experiment and find what works for you.
Focus on Central Themes
Not everything that the instructor says is important. As you take notes, imagine that you must summarize the information for a friend who wasn't in class. What are the big takeaways? Focussing on the big ideas will help you frame your notes and catch the theme(s) for the lesson. Many professors will do this for you with their PowerPoint slides, so pay attention to the titles and headings on the slides.
Do the Reading and Assignments before Class
If you prepare for class by doing the assigned reading and assignments, you will already be familiar with many of the themes, new terms, and basic ideas that the professor's lecture will most likely cover. This gives you an advantage, as you now have prior knowledge that you can access.
Preview and print out the PowerPoint
If your professor provides their PowerPoint ahead of time, look it over. You can also choose the print option where you can print three slides per page, and there will be lines for taking notes next to the slides.
Review your Previous Notes before Class
Look at your notes from the previous class. This helps to refresh your memory, and it provides you an opportunity to develop questions that you can ask your professor later.
Judge the Message, Not the Messenger
Just about every student encounters that one instructor who is, quite frankly, boring. Unfortunately, not all instructors are excellent presenters, but the information that they are presenting is still valuable. Focus on what you are hearing, not how it is being presented. That can be very difficult, but go back to those focusing strategies.
Remember that taking effective notes begins with active listening.
