Getting the most out of lectures is something that students are constantly looking to do. Here are some suggestions that you can try next time you enter the lecture hall to level up your learning.
Take Notes In Different Formats
A way to maximise how much information you retain from a lecture is to ensure you have more than one way to record said information. Instead of just bringing your laptop to record notes , ask your lecturer if you can record their lectures with a mic so you can listen back for things you might have missed. The more ways you have to record and recall information, the more you can get out of your learning. For a more comprehensive guide to lecture note taking, check out this post from our Instagram.
Don't Over "Stim"
A mistake I see a lot from students when it comes to learning is over stimulating before lectures. Most students are tired before they enter the lecture hall and this tiredness is often "fixed" by grabbing a coffee or energy drink... Sometimes both. Whilst there is nothing wrong with stimulants, you want to make sure you are not over stimulating. Too much "buzz" can actually harm your ability to retain information, because your bodies physical state is wired for high energy tasks, not sitting still focusing on someone speak for an hour or two. Cut back on the caffeine and try other ways to focus. Meditation or brain training games produce the same focus that the right amount of caffeine can without the risk of over stimulating! I use calm (which you may have seen in other articles featured on Pinpoint ) to get myself ready for learning. It is a free download and includes different mindfulness activities to promote focus and mental clarity. I would definitely recommend it!
Get Adequate Rest
Following on from the last suggestion, ensuring you are well rested before lectures reduces the chance of needing a lot of stimulants to stay awake. Shoot for 6-8 hours of rest every day and try to keep your sleep patterns consistent. If your body clock is set in a routine, chances are you'll be much more awake consistently for lectures, even the earlier ones. Sometimes progress requires sacrifice. If you want the good degree, then you need to cover all bases of performance. Rest is paramount to high performance, so if you need to sleep and wake earlier to get the degree you envision it's a small but essential price to pay in the long term. Get some rest!
Hopefully this post has given you something to think about regarding your lectures and how you might go about getting the most out of them. If you have any specific questions regarding lectures or your study in general, drop us a message on Instagram.
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Have a great week!
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