The Key To Learning Happens After Class Is Over
Many things happen during a lecture. The previous night's
homework is reinforced, new concepts are introduced, and
clarification of confusing topics take place. It seems like a
lot of work for an hour or two of your time. Once class is over,
so is your learning, right? Wrong! You'll need to do a little
more work. This is going to be difficult, I know, because you're
probably focused on grabbing a bite to eat or meeting up with
friends after class. However, by doing a litte bit of work now,
you'll save yourself a LOT of work later.
This is an important point. Think about the routine for a
minute. You go to class. You write down everything the professor
says, thinking to yourself that you'll read the notes later if
you forget what is said. You stuff the notes into your bag,
never to be read again until the night (or day of) a test. You
might even bring a tape recorder to class with the same
intentions. You might read the recommended chapters for
homework, or you might not. Then, the night before a test, you
forsake a social outing to review all of your notes and to catch
up on all the reading in the textbook. You continue this dance
minutes before the test begins. You sweat during the test,
trying to sort out what you've assimilated the night before.
Does this sound like you?
Many students fall into this trap. Not only is it inefficient,
it makes you work too hard, and you end up learning nothing.
This is why you need to invest a little time now in order to
reap the rewards later.
What to do? First, glance over them as soon as possible after
the lecture. The lesson will still be fresh in your mind, and
you will be able to recall almost the entire lecture. You will
also be able to supply missing parts from memory. Some students
make it a rule to reduce all their notes to typewritten form
soon after the lecture. This is an excellent practice, but it's
pretty time-consuming. If you want to take this extra step, it's
definitely effective, but not completely necessary.
Secondly, review your notes, typewritten or not, as the first
step in the preparation of the next day