Four tips to get the most from your lectures

Tip #1: Ask questions early

If you have a question, ask it. Ask it as soon as possible when your professor is there to help you, after class or in office hours. If you choose to wait, you may not be as motivated to ask it later. Understanding course concepts early is much more valuable than trying to learn them right before the midterm.

Tip #2: Take notes

Taking notes is a good habit. But it’s equally important to highlight any questions, confusion, or interesting points you think will need to be addressed later. Note taking isn’t just about recording everything you hear from the professor. 

Anything you want to know more about, or don’t understand, you should flag. That way, when you come back to your notes, you will remember to check the textbook, go see the TA or ask the professor. Your notes can help you return to the same state of mind as when you wrote them, and this makes it easier to pick up where you left off in lecture.

Tip #3: Teach it to someone else

To increase your own understanding, try putting yourself in the professor’s shoes and look for ways to explain the topic to someone else. Ask yourself: How well did I explain it? What did I understand? What didn’t I understand?

An important part of knowledge retention is paying attention during lectures, but also revisiting and personalizing the content.

Tip #4: Get Enough Sleep

Sleep is important, especially if you have back-to-back classes. If you are tired, it will be more difficult to stay focused. It could affect your cognitive functions, including your ability to recall course information. Try to get enough sleep and avoid becoming a zombie!

Hope you found these tips helpful.