Although it takes time, it really helps to look over the material of the lecture before the lecture. Becoming familiar with the material before the lecture can help you focus on what you have the most difficulty understanding, and you will be able to ask better questions during class.
If you sit in the front, you will have fewer distractions and will be able to focus on the lecture.
Make sure you don’t disrupt the rest of the class by stretching or moving around too much.
You can also try to sit with your buddy during lectures. This will help you follow their good example of note taking and listening instead of getting distracted.
For instance, visual learners could make a bubble map or draw symbols to represent important concepts.
Avoid using a computer if you tend to get distracted by social media or searching the web.
Make sure that you’ll be able to understand your notes later!
Focus on key ideas, definitions, and descriptive phrases to help you remember the subject. For example, if the lecture is based on a specific battle in history, try to write down the date, the major players involved (who was fighting who, and who their leaders were), and the overall outcome of the struggle.
If there is a handout for the lecture, try to highlight the important details. Come up with techniques for organizing different types of information. For example, you may underline names and dates, put stars next to definitions, or put boxes around example problems. This will help you reference quickly and better study for different types of tests.
Asking questions enables you to explore the information further and forces you to examine the information you are receiving in a more active manner.
If your mind starts to wander off-track, don’t give in to the temptation. Focus your energy back on the lecture and start writing notes to help you concentrate. Avoid distracting yourself during the lecture by browsing around on your computer or smart phone. Devote your attention solely to the lecturer.
Questioning the research is a great way to solidify the information in your mind and propel you on to further study of the topic.
Remember that you should not record lectures unless you have been given express permission to do so by the person who will be speaking. You should also keep in mind that going back and listening to the entire lecture over again can be quite time consuming. It might be a better idea to focus your efforts on taking more effective notes.
You may also want to consider talking to the speaker after class to further clarify some of the details.
