Hello, lovelies! Today, I am going to talk about how to make the most of class time. I hope it helps.
//Go To Class On Time
I feel like such a hypocrite for saying this. I have been late to class more times than I would like to admit. It’s always my first morning class too. I wake up early and get on the bus on time. It’s just that the morning buses this semester have been extremely unpredictable. If I get on the bus at a certain time, it only takes 15 minutes to get to class, but if I get on five minutes before, it can take 40 minutes. It’s kind of ridiculous.
Anyway, my point is that missing the first part of the lecture can potentially hurt your grades because most professors announce projects and homework deadline changes at the beginning of class. You’re paying for these classes, so you want to get your money’s worth. It’s also kind of a given that making the most of class time means maximizing your amount in class. It’s basic statistics.
//Skim Chapter Before Class
For me, it’s better to read the entire chapter after class because I know what information is important to retain. That may not be the case for your classes, but that’s been the case for most of mine. Even so, I like to skim the chapters for each day’s lesson before class because I like having an idea about what the discussion is going to be about. I just skim through section titles, bolded words, and charts to get a general idea about the chapter. This helps me prepare for class. If the professor gives quizzes before the lesson, I read the whole chapter. Otherwise, my time is better spent skimming the textbook before class then reading it afterward.
//Sit Near The Front Row
Honestly, I think sitting at the front row is better than sitting near the front row because there is a significant decline in my class participation when I sit in the second row. I genuinely notice the difference. Sitting in the front row also forces me to pay attention because the professor will notice if I doze off. I also have less of an urge to check my phone because I know that the professor can see me.
No matter how bored you are, you’ll be forced to pay attention. The benefit of this is that the professor is more likely to know your name. Even in giant lecture hall classes, whenever I sit in the front row, the professors call me by my name (and I have a very hard-to-pronounce name). This will make a huge difference when it comes to your standing in the class.
//Pay Attention
I mean, duh. I feel like I don’t need to explain this one because what is a more effective use of class time than paying attention? This is one of the biggest reasons why I don’t take out my laptop in class. Whenever I take out my laptop, even to take notes, I get distracted. Whenever there is a lull in the lecture, I’ll quickly check my email or blog stats or to-do list. Anything to quell the desire to procrastinate. This generally leads to me missing a part of the lecture because I tuned everything out focusing on my laptop. Don’t do this! Pay attention so you don’t have to study later.
//Don’t Copy Down The Slides Word For Word
Most professors post their slides online, which makes writing transcript level notes pretty counterproductive. In my freshman year, I took a human development class and noticed that I was using so much energy writing all the notes down before the slides switched that I wasn’t paying attention to what the professor was saying. Realizing this, I stopped taking notes altogether. This method doesn’t work for all classes, but it worked for this one. The professor posted all her PowerPoints online, and they were very detailed. This freed up my mind to listen to her lecture and participate in class.
If not writing any notes seems too extreme, I understand. I don’t use this method for most classes, but that course taught me to take class notes effectively. Don’t write everything word for word because you’ll probably end up studying from the slide show anyway. You’re better off just listening.
//Participate In Class
We’ve made it to the big one. Participating in class allows your professor to get to know you. I’ve literally gotten extra credit on my final grade for sitting in the front row and participating. It helps your GPA when your professor knows your name.
Participating in class will also help you process everything you’ve learned and will make you more comfortable asking questions. I know many people feel dumb asking questions, but when you are contributing to the discussion as well, it doesn’t feel as embarrassing since you talk in class anyway.
Well, that’s it for now. I hope these tips on effectively using class time helps. Until next time!
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What do you do to make the most of class time?