NPS Schools Implement Cornell Note-Taking Strategy to Improve Students’ Construction of Knowledge

Students from 3rd grade to 12th grade engage in Cornell note-taking across content areas and classrooms. Staff at Avon Avenue show off their Cornell note support during their school’s Halloween parade.
Students from 3rd grade to 12th grade engage in Cornell note-taking across content areas and classrooms. Staff at Avon Avenue show off their Cornell note support during their school’s Halloween parade.

Elementary and high schools across the District have officially integrated the Cornell note-taking system as an essential part of teaching and learning to support students in constructing knowledge, capturing their artistic journeys, and engaging fully in the learning process. This method is enabling students to break down complex information into organized parts and synthesize their daily learning. By actively processing and effectively structuring information, students develop a deeper understanding and improve their retention of new concepts. 

Cornell notes are used not only for traditional academic subjects, but also to document students’ artistic processes and reflections on creative products and performances. Students are recording their inspirations, techniques, and thoughts about their work. The Cornell system allows students and teachers to track students' growth over time, helping to see the curricula unfold in learning spaces in schools. With Cornell notes now a formal part of the District’s approach to teaching and learning, students across grade levels and subjects gain a valuable tool that empowers them to take an active role in their learning and self-expression.