Scholarly Advice for Academic Mastery
A collection of insights and advice from some of the most successful university, graduate, and professional students and scholars.
Topic: Lectures
Go to the Head of the Class
The first thing I do upon
entering a classroom is to scope out a front seat. I usually don’t find that
difficult since I always try to arrive a few minutes early. This one tip
alone can make a significant difference in how well you will participate in
the class, how much the professor will call on you, how engaged you will be,
and how comfortable you will feel in asking questions. I am always amazed by
how much more connected I feel, taking a front seat.
In taking note, I write down as much as possible and sort it out later at home, through highlighting. Next, I take what I feel is the most pertinent information and organize it in a concise manner on index cards. This is useful for me, as well as for anyone wanting to partner up and quiz me. I never have a test or assignment date approach without asking my professor specifics. Sometimes, I get lots of important information that way, and other times, professors prefer to be more general. Never miss your opportunity to narrow down what needs the most study! It does not hurt to ask, and most professors appreciate the involved student. Just as I try to arrive early to class, I strive to finish assignments and studies ahead of the target date whenever possible. This way, I have more time for review and reinforcement. Furthermore, if I get sick or an emergency arises, I ‘m pretty well prepared.
So, what would
you highlight as the most important parts of my study tips? Think of
everything as a bulleted list:
*Sit in the front seat and engage fully
*Arrive early
*Take a lot of notes
*Narrow down specifics on index cards and ask questions
*Finish assignments in advance
Follow my tips and you’re sure to go to the head of the class!
Laurel Rancitelli
University of Massachusetts
I had a professor tell me, "school is the only business where the customers (students) want the least for there money." Go to class. Get your full investment out of your education. Even when you think you are too tired and only going to sleep through class -go and sit in the back if you must. When the time comes to study or review you will be glad you have at least been exposed to the material before.
Robert Loftus
Masters in Science
Colorado State University
If you do not do anything else in school, Go To Class!
Attendance is the key to academic success. By going to class it makes it easier to study for tests because you already know the material and a professor may give hints in class. Why skip class when you are paying for your education. That is like paying for a concert and not going.
| Sarah Becker Arizona State University |
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Recopy your notes as soon as you can after class. The repetition will make the information easier to recall when you have to study for an exam at a later date and when you look through it yourself, you will figure out points that may not have been so clear during lecture.
Michael Emil Wagner
Cornell University
TOP 5 REASONS TO GO TO CLASS
5. Attendance Policies - This is what most people consider the most
important reason to go to class. No matter how well you do, if you don't
make it to the required number of classes, you won't pass. Yes, even with
A's on all the tests.
4. Professionalism - Many professors expect you to treat school as a job.
Attendance is one area where you can demonstrate professionalism and gain a
really great reference from your professor. This is particularly important
in small departments, where all the professors in the department know all
the students.
3. Friends - You can't make friends with people you never see. The people
you meet in class may be in the same department as you or in future classes
with you. These associations pay off when it comes to tests, notes, rides to
class, potential roommates, campus activities, and even social connections.
If you are in a department where you may need cohorts on assignments you
need to meet as many people as possible. Class mates are even potential
future job connections.
2. Reputation - This goes hand-in-hand with professionalism. Professors know
which students go to class. More importantly, professors know which students
don't go to class and then try to make excuses. If you have a legitimate
reason to not be in class that's fine. If you make it a habit, however, your
professor will lose patience. School approved extra-curriculars,
illness and family deaths are generally considered acceptable reasons.
Transportation failure, losing your glasses, and work are sometimes ok, but
try to keep these minimal. Concerts, incomplete assignments, road trips,
break-ups, work for other classes, hangovers, and sleeping late are not
acceptable reasons.
1. Grades - If you go to class, you make better grades. Even if it is the
most boring class on the face of the earth that you already know everything
about, going to lectures pays off. Test dates change, assignments change,
groups are formed, presentation requirements shift, office hours get
adjusted, research guidelines change, guest lecturers
(who may actually be interesting) visit, and key information about
the way your professor wants things done is communicated in class. All of
this can affect your grade. In addition, grades sometimes hit a gray
borderline area where the professor uses their discretion to determine your
grade - class attendance can make the difference between a C and a B (or
even passing and failing).
Amelia Clark
University of Texas
I used to
believe that as I got higher and higher in the pecking order of school --
high school student, then college student, then graduate student -- the
questions on my exams would get more and more complicated. I suspect I
imported this idea from high school, where it was true to a great extent.
(My junior-year biology exam had more complicated questions than my
freshman-year biology exam, etc.) However, now that I am a doctoral student,
I am finding that the opposite is true. The toughest questions in the world
are the really simple ones. It would, for instance, be acceptable to ask
this question on a doctoral qualifying exam in international relations:
"What causes war?"
The point is that the advice to
"never be afraid to ask questions" in class needs a little nuance. If it
seems like a simple question to you, and your professor has not addressed
it, you should probably ask it; you are probably touching on an issue that
is deep and important. If, on the other hand, your question seems really
complicated, rethink it. If you boil it down to its essence, it's probably
pretty simple.
Nathan Black
PhD, Political Science
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Though it may seem counter-intuitive, I've always found that scheduling myself for a really exciting course first thing in the morning at least two or three times a week helps to make me more productive, academically. I know, it goes against a lot of modern stereotypes and expectations for college, but think of it this way: if you get up early for a class you really want to take, and take advantage of the resulting free time in the mornings and afternoons, you'll be much more free during the evenings. How else will you free up that time for those "deep hallway conversations about the meaning of life?"
Conor Williams
PhD, Government (Political Theory)
Georgetown University
One of the best professors I ever had told me to never be afraid to raise my hand first and ask a question or a make a comment. She said whomever speaks first guides and shapes the discussion that follows. I discovered she was right: class discussions did follow the questions or comments of the first student who raised his or her hand. After observing this dynamic, I became more confident in being the first one to raise my hand and initiate the class discussion.
Shauna Lee Manning
Master of Education in Instructional Design
University of Massachusetts Boston
The most important thing that contributes to my success in school is organization. Each semester presents new challenges and cannot be approached in the same ways as the previous semester. Once I have a copy of a syllabus from each of my classes, I take the time to review each one individually and then compile them all into my day planer. I keep the copies as a reference with the materials for each class; but, once everything is written in my day planner, I no longer need to look at each one individually on a daily basis. Having all the information in one place allows me to plan for papers, tests, and homework assignments accordingly. I am able to flip to the week ahead and know what assignments will be due. Each night, I look to the day ahead and know exactly what will be covered in class the next day. Looking ahead keeps me from falling behind; therefore, when I enter the classroom, I am not scrambling to find my page in the book and the material is already familiar to me. Also, I review the notes taken in class on the same day. This helps the information to really sink in. Some instructors teach super fast and my notes are not always the neatest. So, by reviewing the notes the same day as class, I am able to rewrite or look up anything that is unclear. I also use sticky notes in my book and notebook for questions that are still unclear after my review. The next class period, I make a point to ask the instructor for clarification either during class or office hours.
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Amanda Carter Rorrer University of North Carolina
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College Classes vs. High School
Classes:
Each day in high school you proceed directly from one class to another. In
college, you often have hours between classes with class times varying
throughout the day and evening. Realize that the afternoon classes fill the
most quickly. Recognize if you are a “morning person,” an “afternoon
person,” or an “evening person.” Some people can easily be sharp and alert
at given times of the day, while others really struggle or get sleepy. If
you love your afternoon nap, then maybe take more classes at night after
you’ve rested. Choosing the right times to be in class and study is half the
battle of college. Register/enroll for classes as early as possible to get
the best selection of times/offerings. Make schedules in advance well before
your enrollment period begins. In high school your courses were selected for
you for most of your career, while in college, you get to choose more of
your courses in consultation with an academic counselor.
Beware of the temptation to take 3-4 heavy courses together at once. I would
not combine sciences, mathematics, engineering, English, social sciences,
accounting, and history in the same semester as you may have done in high
school with 7-10 periods throughout the year. Also, do not be fooled by art,
music, dance, and theater classes as being “easy.” Some can be as equally
demanding as any other course and may require a different sort of commitment
to physical work/exertion, memorization of classical periods/lines of a
script/choreography, a keen eye and refined ear toward details of a given
artistic piece.
In high school you spent on average of 6 hours a day, 5 days a week in
class. That’s a 30 hour week. In college, you spend only 12-16 hours in
class. You use the remaining time to study. I never believed my counselors
who gave me the “rule of thumb” that every credit-hour spent in class should
also be spent in an hour of study time during the week, but it is true,
especially if you want to keep your GPA high. When you enroll, schedules
tend to look lighter than they really are. Do the work continuously, avoid
cramming because it is exhausting and not as productive, and schedule review
sessions throughout the semester. Know what is needed to be turned in, read,
or worked upon each week of the semester and spread out the work to avoid
being overwhelmed by 3-5 papers at once.
In the public school system, high school classes generally span over 36
weeks out of the 52 week year (giving you the summer off). In college, the
academic is generally fall and spring semester lasting 16 weeks long
including your final exam week. (See, you already are dealing with the
“schedule cramming” of colleges. Why pile “study cramming” on top of that?
Avoid this type of stress!)
Teachers in high school generally take attendance, as you are usually
compelled by state law to be there. In college, professors generally do not
take roll; you don’t have to be there. You pay for the right and opportunity
to be there. What you do with the right is up to you. Despite not taking
roll, professors are also still likely to know if you attended class that
day. They know who the “regulars” are and who is invested in the class. Be
the invested student. Classes in high school are generally small with less
than 35 students, while classes in college can average 60 – 600 students in
a lecture hall. (Now you can see why attendance wouldn’t be taken for 600
people…you would use up too much class time doing so.)
In high school you are guided through the graduation process. In college,
you are expected to know what it takes to get your degree. Accomplishing
this is on your initiative. Graduation requirements are complex and
different majors can makes changes over the years to degree plans and
requirements. Get a copy of the academic catalog and read it cover to cover!
This is the “rulebook” colleges must play by and it is amended only every
few years in most institutions. It allows for institutionally uniformity and
fairness to students. Reading the “rulebook” sounds nerdy and
time-consuming, I know, but it will do many things for you: 1) prevent you
from missing an opportunity to get classes to double-count (in your major
and as a general education curriculum requirements), 2) allow you to avoid
missed requirements, 3) get an understanding of the transfer credit and
residency requirements if you changed institutions, 4) GPA thresholds for
academic honors, 5) grading rules for incomplete and repeated courses (you
cannot prevent unexpected interruptions in your career, but you can know how
to handle a disrupted degree if something should happen to you or a family
member), and 6) requirements for entrance into a college/school or major.
Arm yourself with knowledge of these rules and differences. Knowledge is
power!
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Tiffany Sanford Jenson PhD, Sociology University of Oklahoma
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Learning comes from more than
books and lectures
I have found that some of my most profound learning experiences have been
from classroom dialogue that takes place. I am the type of individual that
attempts to put myself in the ‘other person’s’ shoes, if possible. I know
there are probably professors who are just fine with hearing their own voice
but I believe there are many that are extremely encouraged by those students
that become actively involved in the conversations and eager to not only
contribute but to learn from others.
I have had many of my professors give me feedback about how pleased they are
by my active participation in the classroom. It is not about making sure the
professor recognizes me or winning favors, it is about savoring the
educational experience. I am an authentic and eager learner. Professors
recognize that and feel that it makes their efforts more worthwhile. Due to
the fact that I am considering pursuing the role of a professor, I hope that
in my experience I will run across those that are not just in the classroom
because they have to be but because they want to glean every ounce of
knowledge possible during their education experience.
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Marjeanna Faye Burge Master of Indigenous Nations and Peace & Conflict Studies University of Kansas
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Every one dreads the infamous Organic Chemistry class. Everyone hears the rumors about the level of difficulty and how most people do not pass it the first time. I want to clear up any confusion and let you know this is FALSE! Organic chemistry can be very enjoyable if you understand what is going on. Many medicines we use today are here because of Organic chemistry.
I was a tutor in Organic chemistry for several years and here are some tips I have for the class:
1. Make sure you study the class 30 everyday! This is important because I notice that most people wait a day or two before the test and end up failing it and do not understand why. This is not a class you can wait until the last minute to study for, you need to constantly be learning the material. Going over the material everyday will help you really understand the material instead of just memorizing it.
2. Know the chemical reactions forwards and backwards. Many people benefit making these reactions into note cards, one side showing the starting material and the backside showing the product. In addition to knowing the starting material and product make sure you know the reactants. This will help when you get to synthesis problems.
3. When doing synthesis
problems be sure to look at the problem forward and backwards. Look at the
product and the given starting material and work forwards and backwards to
find the answer, the answers always lie in the chemical reactions you
learned for the test. Just go through all the chemical reactions from the
chapters and the answer is right in front of you. Also, take these type of
problems step by step. Do not panic and and start feeling defeated before
you even begin.
Good luck with the class and
remember just study all of this a little everyday and it is amazing how well
you will begin to really understand the material.
Carissa Janice Smith
PhD, Chemistry
Rice University
If I am taking a big lecture class, I always take a few moments at the end of the first day to introduce myself to the professor afterwards. It shows respect, dedication, and I always prefer to be known as a name and not a face. Should you need to set up an appointment or email your teacher, they will know you by face, and that always helps.
| Emily Burge University of Nevada Las Vegas
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When you get into large lecture classes (like a science) where you have almost daily lectures, be sure to study at the conclusion of each week- make sure you know the material on a weekly basis. My best advice is to look up quizzes in your book/ from you professor and write the questions and definitions down on notecards each week. This way, when it comes time to take your exam, you won't have to spend so much time organizing your study material- you'll be well prepared and you'll only have to focus on the pre-prepared notecards you've already created.
| Paola Annoni Biology Georgetown University |
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When a lecture contained information regarding a up coming homework assignment, do wait too long to get started. If you leave class and can only spend five minutes on the assignment, it's better than nothing. When you do the work while it is fresh on your mind, it cuts the execution time in half.
Ronald Glenn Bogart
Masters Business Administration
Evangel University
This is coming from a guy who woke up for practice every morning at 5 AM, but get some sleep. The biggest reason for students skipping a class, would be sleeping through alarms or just being too tired to go. In my first semester, I remember being so tired that I fell asleep during a lecture given by the Chancellor of the University. He was giving a lecture to 12 of us! Needless to say, I could have used a little more time with my head on the pillow.
Ryan Bowers
Chemical Engineering
Washington University in St. Louis
Studies have shown that sitting in the front of
the class room also makes a difference. How? I can hear and see better.
Interaction with the professor is more person-to-person and not across a
room. Clarity of information is enhanced and by sitting in the front of the
classroom a student is more apt to pay attention because of the visual
acuity of the professor. In other words, as a student, you can be seen if
you are not paying attention by the professor.
Professors tend to notice these behaviors and it does reflect on your grade.
In summation: pay undivided attention; read everything; makes notes of the readings (sometimes these notes are in the form of questions on exams); discuss material with peers; and finally sit where you can be noticed.
Frank Teller Sr.
Masters of Social Work
University of Wisconsin
Go to class. Just because you’ve graduated from high school and can’t be
expelled for skipping class doesn’t mean there won’t be consequences. So I
repeat, GO TO CLASS. Not only are you hearing the material from the
professor’s perspective—the same perspective that will be writing and
grading exams and papers on that topic—but going to class provides
opportunities to network with other students so that in the event of your
having problems with understanding the material, you are not alone. Going to
class allows you to build a report with your professor, so that if you have
a problem or question you feel more comfortable going to them for help. By
attending, and what’s more by participating in class work, you are ensuring
that you understand the material, as well as ensuring that the professor
knows you understand the material.
Laura Catherine Strommen
University of Wisconsin
For lecture courses I found that I had to approach the reading differently depending on the course. Although professors typically assign the reading before the lecture, I don't think there are necessarily any set rules on when a student should do the reading. I found for professors who were difficult to follow during lecture that it was best to study the reading ahead of time. I also found, however, that classes taught by professors who were easy to follow, it was beneficial to do the reading after the lecture. As a student I typically focus on readings better if I have some background information or if I have heard the material before. In these classes reading the material afterwards served to reinforce the lecture and remind me of details I may have missed during class. There are other classes in college in which I have found that the reading is a waste of time. Some professor assign textbooks which are meant for graduate or medical school students and are only going to test you on the material presented in class. I found for these classes it is best to spend your study time on the notes and lecture materials rather wading through dense text. Or it was beneficial to skim the text and reread the relevant portions which were mentioned during class. I would advise all college students to try and be aware of how they learn best and tailor their reading habits to the course and their study needs.
Rachel Beck
University of Virginia
Read your classes assigned material before you get to class. If your
teacher wants to lecture on chapter 8, make sure you have read chapter 8
before you get to class. This way you can easily follow along with the
lecture and participate in discussions. Also I you did not understand a part
of the chapter you can make sure the teacher clarifies that part for you.
You will also be prepared for a pop quiz if your teacher decides to give
one.
I have found that when I have not read ahead, I feel lost and I have a hard
time paying attention to the lecture.
Rachel Salim
Western Michigan University
Lectures/Attendance
Attending classes can be one of the least desirable activities in college
life. Going to class is, however, the smartest choice a student can make.
Not only does it make sense to attend the lectures and labs that you and
your family pays for, but also you may learn something! In terms of academic
success, attendance to lectures can make or break a grade. For lots of
professors, it is a known fact that students think lectures are acceptable
to miss from time to time. I know firsthand that professors award points for
going to lectures for this reason alone. Attendance is the easiest way to
keep a grade consistent, add extra points to your grade, as well as gaining
information that will be on exams, assignments, and finals.
When going to a lecture, it is important to try and stay focused on class.
Sure going to the lecture hall may award you attendance points, but if you
can't stay awake, you should have stayed in bed! Taking notes and asking
questions are two simple ways to staying on topic. By following along with
outlines, you can help other students who may get lost. By working through
examples with the professor, you can answer your own questions. The example
problems will most likely lead to future problems on homework and exams. The
more you interact with other students and the professor about class topics
and get your questions answered, the more prepared you will be for an exam.
Let's face it, exams get the grades and that is what leads to academic
success.
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Annette Peterson Southern Illinois University
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Class attendance in college is usually not mandatory, but it's still a good idea to show up for every class. By not missing class, a student can get all the notes and material he/she is responsible for, he/she can ask questions and get feedback directly from the teacher, and pop quizzes won't be accidentally missed. If one cannot attend class for a day, notify the teacher and ensure that a classmate can take notes for you. If you have an exam in the morning, don't depend on your watch's battery or the power in your building complex to wake you up. Set two alarms, both on your alarm clock and on your watch. Sleeping through a test is not excusable in most teacher's eyes.
When attending class, where you sit can make a difference in the quality of your notes, the questions you ask, and your attentiveness during lecture. Most freshman's tendency is to sit in the back, away from the teacher. Yes, sitting in the back will make you less likely to be called on, and it will provide you with the ability to surf websites on your laptop instead of listening, but sitting towards the front is the better place to sit. When it comes to taking notes, sitting up front allows for a student to clearly hear the teacher's lecture and easily read any notes written or displayed on the board. Also, students who sit in the front tend to be more likely to ask questions since there is so little distance between the teacher and them. Meanwhile, students who sit in the back might not be able to hear the questions asked from the front row and may be confused by the resulting answer. Lastly, a student who sits in the front is far less likely to nod off since the teacher will be the first to notice.
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Jeffrey Gibson Master of Science in Electrical Engineering University of West Florida
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One tip to help everyone from freshman to seniors is to actually take good notes and pay attention during lectures. Everyone knows that professors can be quite boring; however, they are your key to the door of success, so be wise and get to know them. If you are lucky enough to go to a school that provides you with small classroom size, take advantage of that and set up times to meet with your instructor and talk about the lectures if they are troubling you. When your professors see that you care and know that you are trying your best, that will reflect on you and your success in that classroom. Also, you will feel more comfortable to learn in the classroom because your relationship with the teacher.
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Stacey Lynn Unfried McKendree University
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Lectures from professors at a postsecondary institution are many times taken for granted. As an undergraduate student, I often found myself with so much to do in a day that I would many times skip class in order to complete other requirements that I may have had. It was not until graduate school that I realized how one looks from another’s eye when they are absent from a lecture.
It is important for a student to realize that they have been given a genuine opportunity to listen to and learn from these professors. These people have dedicated much of their life to preparing themselves for their desired position as a professor. Many of them take great pride in preparing and presenting lectures. Then when a student decides to skip class, they are ultimately announcing that whatever the reason was, it is more important to them than the professors lecture is. This looks really bad from a teacher prospective. It looks even worse when classes are small enough for a professor to recognize when a particular student is absent.
It is important to take advantage of attending and learning from lectures presented by professors. They all worked very hard in obtaining the title “Dr.” in front of their name and that should be recognized. As a graduate student, though not a written requirement, I attend lectures for classes in which I am not even registered (with the professor’s permission of course). It is my belief that young students should be aware of the prestige of their professors and the consequences (though never very detrimental) of skipping lectures for anything other than an emergency.
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Lawrence Keith Keniley Jr. PhD, Chemistry Florida State University
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The lack of knowledge as the first step towards a productive dialog.
Knowledge can be acquired not only by reading but also through a productive
dialog. But what makes a dialog to be productive?
Perhaps the most important requirement towards a productive dialog is the
non-dogmatic attitude of the participants. A dialog is usually triggered by
the lack of knowledge. When the participants accept their lack of knowledge
they ask questions and then the dialog starts. The Socratic idea captured in
the following words: “I know only one thing that I know nothing” is
essentially the acceptance of the lack of knowledge and at the same time
could be the beginning of a productive dialog.
Working as a teaching assistant, I realized that one of the effective ways
of teaching is via a productive dialog. In order to analyze a complex idea
and answer a difficult question, you can pretend that you do not know the
answer first. Then, by asking several very simple questions and depending on
the students’ answers, you can lead their minds to the correct answer. In
this way, you can initiate a productive dialog and use the students’ way of
thinking, in order to help them realize the answer. It is very important to
understand that your approach towards the answer sometimes does not coincide
with their approach.
In the same way, productive dialogs can be realized among you and your
peers. With the acceptance of the lack of knowledge and with a humble,
non-dogmatic attitude, one can gain the sympathy and help of others. Secrets
and useful information could be revealed to you, which you may never obtain
by a selfish and dogmatic behavior.
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Georgios Nektarios Lilis PhD., Electrical and Computer Engineering Cornell University |
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