Study Smarter, Not Harder

. It's more difficult to leave class early.

. It's more difficult to skip class as the course goes on
because you know the instructor will notice your absence.

3. Active listening

The first step in learning in class and making notes that will
be meaningful is to develop" active listening" skills. Here are
the features of active listening that are particularly relevant
for lectures:
. Pay attention to the way your instructor has structured
the lecture material. This will give you clues for where
the vital information will be in later classes.
He who osks a question is
0 Try to tie what you are hearing with what you already
know.
a fool for five minutes; he
. Silently question what you are hearing, and try to make
who does conclusions about what you are learning.
not ask a question . Keep an open mind about your conclusions. Be prepared
remains a fool forever. to change or question your ideas when you hear some
thing new.
Chinese proverb . Ask questions out loud. This can be an uncomfortable thing I
for a naturally quiet or shy student, but do not sit in silent
ignorance.
. Watch the physical movements of your instructor. You will
begin to notice particular postures or gestures that
accompany important points.
. Listen to the tone, timbre, and inflection of your instruc. tor's
voice. Most people will change the characteristicsoi their
voice, either purposely or unconsciously, when they are
saying something of importance.
. Learn to be an "information filter." As the course goeso~
make a concerted effort to filter out what is important and
focus less on the minor details of the lecture.

4. Make notes
Don't use note-taking "systems." Your objective is to recor~
learn, understand, and prepare material for later study. There
are techniques you can use for manipulating your notes
when preparing for exams, but my personal recommendation is to
avoid rigid systems - especially those that require sped~

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