Getting the Most out of a Lecture

Not all of us have photographic memories that can retain any piece of knowledge once it’s been heard. A lot of times I myself need things repeated again or explained in further detail. Taking notes and listening seem simple but they’re actually a little more complex than one might think. It takes a lot of concentration and focus to be able to sit for 2 hours in a lecture, especially if it’s something you’re not very interested in, like the production of Maple Syrup (Alfred University in New York really does have a course on the profession of making maple syrup). Whether you are the student who can sit through anything and survive, or the student who is ready to be done with class before they even get there, here are some tips on getting the most from a lecture that might not be the greatest you’ve ever heard.

Some notes to help you take notes

1. If your professor gives an introduction keep a heads up for key terms they use to create a brief outline of what you will need to listen for. When writing make sure to keep it brief but rich with info. Use main points and briefly comment on anything that your professor added that is important/will be relevant in the future.

2. Do the assigned reading before class. It feels good to be one of the people who have done the reading before you here it all through the lecture (if this is how any of your classes function). First of all, you have already heard the ideas being presented therefore you’ve already had a head start giving you a second opportunity to understand—this time in more depth through the knowledge of your professor rather than the words of the textbook. Second, you know what to expect. Things won’t throw you off guard, and you can ask questions relating to the reading you did before getting to class, showing the professor you’re doing what is expected of you. And that’s another thing—it’s expected of you.

3. Don’t write down information that’s already in your textbook (unless that helps you). For some people, writing down information that they’ve read in a textbook  is a way of comprehending it more easily. But for others that are able to read a piece of text and memorize it from there, it is a waste of time to copy down what is already written, especially in the context of a lecture when the listening aspect is oh so important.

4. When the professor says something that doesn’t quite: ring a bell; strike a chord; light up the metaphorical bulb in your mind, then write down a keyword or question in the margin so that you won’t forget to ask the professor or someone else later. Depending on your class size, professor and the other students in your class, it’s probably not wise to ask a question right in the middle of a lecture. You can usually feel the vibe on whether the timing is right to ask a question or not—make sure you get the vibe.

5. Organize the layout of your notes in a way that is simple to read and study off of. The point of taking notes in a lecture is that you can study off of them later. If you have no idea what a certain abbreviation means or a short reference to something that your professor mentioned then it won’t help you later on when you are cramming for finals. Eek!

6. Remember that your mission while in the lecture is not just to copy down everything your professor is saying! Understanding what they are talking about is your goal. It’s a lot easier to follow along with a lecture and be engaged than it is, at least for me, to do a reading solo and not have an expert to explain ideas in more depth—without the foreign language that books can sometimes present.

What helps you get the most out of a lecture?