Sitting in a class with hundreds of students is not the ideal way to learn. Here are some tips to make the most of your lecture hall class.
The college lecture hall class can be quite a shock for college freshmen! It's one of the most intimidating ways that high school is different than college. After small high school classes and a fair amount of personal attention, it's pretty disconcerting to sit down in a huge auditorium where the professor has no idea who you are. Educators and students agree that the lecture hall is not the ideal learning environment, but unfortunately, it's a reality of life at a large university.
So how can students do well in a lecture hall class? Here are some survival tips to keep you on track.
Come to class every day. One of the problems with a lecture hall class is that it's very tempting not to go. Why bother? The professor doesn't know who you are, and you can get notes from someone else, right? Wrong. Unfortunately, there's no substitution for actually being there and listening to the lecture, and if you get into the habit of not going, your grade will reflect this.
Dump your distractions. Another big problem with the lecture hall class is that it's so hard to pay attention, especially for Generation Y college students who are accustomed to multimedia stimulation that's way more exciting than your professor! Don't make it harder for yourself by coming to class with distractions. Put down the student paper and your Sudoku book. And for gosh sakes, don't text message in class! This is a professor pet peeve.
Take excellent notes. This may be easier said than done. Many students come to college without good notetaking skills. Here are some important notetaking tips to help you out.
Sit near the front. It's disheartening to feel like you're just a number. Sit in the first three rows and you'll feel more like you're in a small classroom.
Don't sit near chatty people. If the people behind you are chatting, how are you going to pay attention? You have two choices: (a) move or (b) tell them to shut up. Option A is easier. Option B may be more satisfying.
Get help if you need it. Help is available, but unlike in high school, you won't get help unless you ask for it. Visit your professor or TA at their office hours. You may feel intimidated at first, but how else are you going to get help?
Take advantage of recitations sections. Some lecture hall classes offer smaller recitation sections where students meet with a TA, ask questions, and discuss the material. Recitations are designed to help ease the problems of a huge lecture class, so take advantage of them!
Find a buddy in the class-- a smart one! Even if you take great notes, you're bound to zone out now and then. You and your buddy can look over your notes and study together. Plus you'll feel a whole lot less lonely in that mob of students if you have some good company.
The copyright of the article College Lecture Hall Classes in Study Skills is owned by Naomi Rockler-Gladen. Permission to republish College Lecture Hall Classes in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
