|
|
Lectures are an integral and important part of college life,
probably the most important because they are the doorways through which you enter the
hallowed portals of knowledge. The purpose of a lecture is to lead
you into a particular idea/ topic and make you think about it and
form your own inferences. The purpose of the lecture is not, as many
mistakenly assume, to make you learn and repeat whatever the
lecturer has said.
Preparation for the lecture
As far as possible, go prepared for a lecture by studying the
topic beforehand. This will help you slip easily into the topic
being discussed in class. Make a conscious decision to stay away
from distractions like talking to classmates during the lecture,
doodling etc. Remember the more attentive you are during a lecture,
the more you absorb, so your study sessions for that topic will be
that much more easier and faster. |
|
|
Why should one take notes?
Taking notes during a lecture is essential as mainly it gives you a
permanent reference for the topic. When you listen to a qualified
person speak you are being exposed to the advantages of the person’s
extensive knowledge of the subject matter. You may be exposed to
certain ideas, viewpoints and the like that may not be easily found
in any book. So be on the lookout and note down all relevant points.
The very act of writing down something at times serves the purpose
of storing the matter in memory. And in case you forget, no problem,
you do have it written down after all. It is very important that
your lecture notes be written in an organized manner. It's a good
idea to use bold
circles and boxes to mark points that stand out.
What to write down?
Do not try to write down verbatim whatever the lecturer says. One of
the main disadvantages of doing so is that your attention will be
more focused on writing than in understanding what is being said.
Your notes should ideally be a summary of the lecture. Focus on
being attentive and look for cue words like “for example”, “an
important..”, “thus..” , “next..”, “also..”, “further…” and the
like. Listen and understand the ideas that follow these words and
summarize them in your own words.
Participate actively
Whenever discussions are held in class, ensure that you participate
actively. Airing your thoughts will give you a better understanding
of the topic. Your determination to participate in discussions will
ensure that you are attentive during the lecture, as after all you
would not like to cut a sorry figure while standing up to present
your viewpoint.
Review your notes
It is essential that you review your notes as soon as possible after
the lecture is over. As the lecture would still be fresh in your
mind, a review session will help you ingest the topic better. Follow
it up by reading any reference material that may have been
prescribed.
Listening to a good lecture is like having access to the lecturer’s
storehouse of knowledge, so while you have the chance make most of
it. The knowledge, the ideas are all there for you, present in
class, it is up to you to cart away as much as you want, so pile
your ‘cart’ to the maximum possible by being attentive and ferret it
away carefully by following it up with review sessions and further
reading. |
