>
> Also I've found I retain information from a class much better if I'm not taking notes. When I'm taking notes, I'm pretty much mechanically writing down what was said. When I'm not, my brain is a lot more active and it runs around making connections between what is being said and other, already-rooted concepts I have, and I remember the lecture or discussion without effort.
>
> Lire"of course most people think this is just a cop-out"lyn

It makes sense to me. When I was a student, I found that by taking notes I was missing every other sentence. I had a good memory and just listening was better for me. Usually, you don't need to rememeber things word for word and I could get the gist of what was being said without taking notes. Sure, I wrote down dates and numbers that I had to know, and I always took careful notes on step by step proceedures, but lecture notes worked against me. Besides, who had time to go back and read their notes? In those days, most students had to work a part-time job just to stay in school and study time was limited.

Just thinking about it brings back memories. Most of my family was surprised beyond belief when I packed my cardboard suitcase and went off to college. When I graduated, four generations passed out.
Howard