Guided Notes are teacher-prepared hand-outs that outline or map lectures,
but leave "blank" space for key concepts, facts, definitions, etc.
As the lecture progresses, you then fills in the spaces with content.
Guided notes help you follow a lecture, identify its important points,
and develop a foundation of content to study and to apply.

If you have difficulty taking notes, ask your teacher
if he or she can prepare guided notes to help you improve your note taking.

Here are several strategies in completing and using Guided Notes:

Content:

Cues:
Can your teacher add visual cues (highlighting, bullets, "fingers", circles, numbered sequences, images, etc.) that identify the type or quantity of information to complete?
For example: main and secondary ideas, examples, sequences
Visuals:
Can visual information (charts, graphs, pictures, illustrations, concept maps, etc.) be included for completion
References:
Can these be included for comparison and study?
Before the lecture:

Questions/discussion
Is there opportunity to discuss the guided notes, either during or after the lecture?
Model/checklist:
Is there a model or checklist to follow?
(How much do I write? Have I completed all the blanks? Where can I find missing items?)
Versions:
Are there simpler or progressively more complex versions of the guided notes? Can I begin with the simpler (less writing) and work up to more difficult versions that require more information?
After the lecture:

Class review:
Ask if the class can review the guided notes for comparison and/or feedback?
Media type, format, presentation:
Ask if completed guided notes can be displayed via computer or overhead transparency for demonstration, discussion, or developing examples and relationships?
After the class period:

Teacher review:
Review your guided notes with the teacher to see how you did
Models:
Ask your teacher for a completed copy and compare your notes with the model
Peer review:
Exchange your notes with a friend to compare and identify important content
Examples:
Develop examples from your notes to see if you understand
Evaluation:

Tests/exams:
Ask if questions will be drawn from completed guided notes information?
Student-developed guided notes
Can these be used for an evaluation? as a class project?