Using Annotation Sheets to Teach Undergraduates to Learn Proofs and Derivations

On arrival at university, undergraduate mathematics students often struggle to take effective notes in lectures, particularly when they are learning content which requires a high level of understanding, such as proofs and derivations. Annotation sheets, which contain the algebraic steps of proofs or derivations with spaces left for students to add explanations, can provide a structure for taking notes which allows students to focus on the reasons behind the steps. These sheets have been introduced into two applied maths modules and initial observations suggest that they have a positive impact on students’ note-taking and mathematical learning.