Top Grades in Lecture Classes
How to Succeed in College and University Courses
Lecture Format Classes
Many college and university courses are taught in the lecture format. Sometimes these are very large lecture classes, but even many small classes use the lecture format.
The professor lectures for the allotted time. The students listen and take notes. Students can ask questions, but especially in large classes, lengthy class discussions are not the norm. The professor determines the student's grade largely by means of examinations, where the student must recall the lecture and reading material.
General Tips
Read the syllabus, so you will know and understand the professor's grading policies and expectations.
Do all assignments on time and to the best of your ability.
Attend every class. If you are really sick or must miss class for a truly legitimate reason, let the professor know. Either by email or by telling the professor in person.
Be attentive in class. Turn off and put away all cell phones, ipods, and other electronic devices. Socialize with your friends before or after but not during class.
If you are a freshman, you will need to make the transition from high school to college.
Success in anything requires hard work. Plan on spending two or more hours working outside of class for every hour in class. Difficult courses may require more working time. Earning a college education is not easy.
Learn a study technique that works so that you can use your working time efficiently.
Study Technique for Lecture Classes
This study technique comes from students who have done extremely well in this professor's lecture classes. It is hard work, but it worked for them. If you put in the effort, it can work for you.
Read the Book Before Class
If the class syllabus does not give a daily reading schedule, ask the professor what to read for the next class period. If all else fails, reading the next chapter will often work. For the first reading, don't worry if you don't understand everything. Get the big picture from the chapter headings and summaries. Make notes about what you don't understand.
Attend Class
During class actively pay attention and take good notes. Think about how each topic fits into the big picture you got from the reading before class. When the lecture gets to something that you didn't understand, pay extra careful attention. Try to understand what you didn't understand from the reading.
Read the Book Again After Class
As soon as possible after class, preferably the same evening, read the chapter in the textbook again. This time pay attention to the concepts that you didn't understand. Go back and forth between the lecture notes and the textbook. Getting two different perspectives can help you understand more difficult material. If you still don't understand something, ask your professor. You can ask before class, after class, during office hours, or by email. Persist until you understand.
Studying for Exams
If you have really followed this technique, you should have learned the class material in small chunks as the course progressed. That is the best way to learn and is far more effective than cramming. Before the exam review the material and make sure that you grasp the difficult concepts. It often helps to study with a friend. You can help each other. Getting a difficult concept explained helps. Explaining something to someone else helps even more.
If you have learned the class material by working hard before the exam, you won't need to pull an ineffective all-nighter. Get a good night's sleep, so you are rested when you take the exam.
Good Luck. If you work hard, you will get that college degree.
