Lecture Basics
This section provides general advice for getting the most out of
lectures.
Pre-Lecture 📝
* Read over lecture slides before class: This is crucial for pre-
exposure to the material. It allows your brain to start forming
connections and identifying areas where you might have gaps in
understanding.
* Make notes on areas you need clarification or questions you
need to ask your teacher: As you read, actively look for concepts
that are unclear or make you wonder "why" or "how." Jot these
down so you can specifically listen for explanations during the
lecture or ask your teacher directly.
* DO NOT be afraid to ask (you're literally paying for this): This is
a key mindset shift. Your education is an investment, and asking
questions is how you maximize that investment. Don't let fear of
judgment or appearing "dumb" hold you back. If you have a
question, chances are others do too.
Lecture ✍️
* Take notes on what the teacher is saying, not the slides
information: While slides provide an outline, the real value of a
lecture often comes from the teacher's explanations, examples,
anecdotes, and deeper dives into the material. Focus on capturing
these verbal insights.
* Focus on really understanding the lecture content: Don't just
transcribe; actively try to make sense of what's being said. If
something doesn't click, make a note to revisit it.
* Also, take notes of areas your teacher emphasizes: Teachers
often signal important concepts through their tone, repetition, or
direct statements like "this is crucial" or "you'll see this again."
Pay attention to these cues as they often indicate what will be
tested or what's most fundamental.
Post-Lecture 🧠
* Review your lecture by adding notes to your pre-lecture notes
and blurt the info: This is about active recall. Immediately after
the lecture, go through your pre-lecture notes and add in the
information you just learned. Then, try to "blurt" or explain the
information in your own words without looking at your notes. This
helps solidify understanding.
* This will solidify your understanding of concepts you learned
pre-lecture/during the lecture: The act of reviewing and
articulating helps move information from short-term to long-term
memory.
* Do this at a maximum of 24 hours after the lecture: The
"forgetting curve" is steep. Reviewing within 24 hours significantly
increases retention.
Weekly Revision 📈
* Next revision is at the end of the week by active revision, e.g.,
flashcards or past papers: Don't just passively re-read notes.
Active revision techniques like creating flashcards, solving
practice problems, or doing past papers force you to retrieve
information and apply it, which is much more effective for long-
term retention.
Structured Approach to Learning
The image then visually presents a structured approach with
templates for "Before class," "During class," and "After class."
Before class
This section seems to be for preparing for the lecture.
* Topic: The main subject of the lecture.
* Priming Pretest: This is an excellent technique. Before the
lecture, you might try to answer questions related to the topic
based on your existing knowledge. This primes your brain to be
receptive to the new information and highlights areas where you
need to pay closer attention.
* Question: What you anticipate will be covered or what you
already know.
* Answer: Your initial attempt at answering.
* Comments: Any thoughts or notes about your pre-existing
understanding.
During class
This section is for active note-taking during the lecture.
* Title: The topic of the current lecture segment.
* Main Notes: This is where you'd capture the core information
the teacher is explaining. Focus on keywords, concepts, and key
details.
* Summary: At the end of a lecture segment or the entire lecture,
try to summarize the main points in your own words. This aids
comprehension.
After class
This section focuses on post-lecture review and consolidation.
* Title: The topic of the lecture.
* Blurt (what you remember from your study material): As
mentioned in the "Post-Lecture" section, this is active recall. Write
down everything you can remember about the lecture without
looking at your notes.
* Information you forgot: Compare your "blurt" with your actual
notes and highlight the information you missed or got wrong. This
shows you exactly where your knowledge gaps are.
* Questions for testing: Based on the information you forgot or
areas you found challenging, formulate questions that you can
use to test yourself later. This is a great way to create your own
practice questions for future revision.
* Comments: Any additional reflections or insights.
In essence, this image promotes an active and strategic approach
to learning that goes beyond just attending lectures. It
emphasizes preparation, active engagement during the lecture,
and immediate and spaced review for long-term retention.
Before class
* Topic:
* Priming Pretest:
* Question:
* Answer:
* Comments:
During class
* Title:
* Main Notes:
* Summary:
After class
* Title:
* Blurt (what you remember from your study material):
* Information you forgot:
* Questions for testing:
* Comments:
Does this clarify what you were looking for?
