How did you study/prepare for lectures?

sunbaby0811 · Sep 25, 2011

Disclaimer - Im ony working on my pre-reqs right now... not in NS yet. Anyway, I'm a lot like you - listening to a lecture is fine and dandy, but I do 1000x better if I take notes. Same with reading chapters. It takes longer, but I learn better if I outline as I read. I got my 1st bachelors in the mid-late 90s when computers were just starting to become popular. So I handwrote everything. You'd never see a laptop in class and if you needed a computer, you went to a lab :) Anyway, I still handwrite even though I have a computer readily available.

dishes, BSN, RN · Sep 25, 2011

Pace back and forth while you listen to the lectures on your Mp3

Pace back and forth while a friend or family member quizzes you

joanna73, BSN, RN · Sep 25, 2011

Listening to your mp3 as well as writing brief notes while in class will help. Reading text alone is not effective for having the information stick. My psych teacher told us that it has been proven that information sticks much better in your memory if it has been manipulated in some way (writing, highlighting, etc).

Go to class regularly and make sure you have a good sleep from the night before. It always amazed me how many people never came to class, or fell asleep in class.

nerdtonurse?, BSN, RN · Sep 25, 2011

I'm the same way, but what I do is visualize myself perform the activity (if it's something like inserting a foley, starting an IV). I would recopy my notes, and listen to MP3s from the study guide in the car. In cardiology, I had a picture of the heart, and would run my finger in the path of the blood flow to learn the sequence. I took multiple highlighters and nursing diagnosis was one color, interventions another, teaching a third. My book looked like a rainbow, but I could find things faster than you'd believe.

School won't be easy, but as a tactile learner, you will excel at learning the hands on things that keep patients alive; you'd be great on a code team.

canesdukegirl, BSN, RN · Sep 25, 2011

A hundred years ago when I was a freshman in college, my English professor used a very different method of teaching. She made us all put down our pens and just LISTEN. At first, it was so hard NOT to take notes, but we soon found ourselves spellbound. She was an extraordinary teacher, and lead the class with passion. The manner in which she introduced new ideas and progressive thinking sparked a new consideration of learning for her students.

At the end of lecture, she passed out notes. She wanted us to prepare for class first by reading, then she opened the floor for discussion of the reading material, and finally hit the salient points home by having our undivided attention as she lectured. It was our responsibility to reinforce our learning by reviewing her notes. I have yet to meet another professor of this caliber.

I implemented her teaching methods in nursing school, and it proved to be a valuable tool. I always read the material prior to lecture, and then I recorded lectures. I wrote down a few notes, but mostly listened. My classmates were madly writing down every little thing without the benefit of UNDERSTANDING by actively listening. I asked questions in class because I wanted to solidify my understanding of the material RIGHT THEN. I knew that I could always review the recording when I got home, and this reassurance allowed me to actually listen and comprehend lecture.

I went home and listened to the lecture again. I took my text notes and coupled those notes with the lecture to made flashcards. I participated in a study group with 3 other students. We usually studied at my house, because I had a huge whiteboard that enabled us to illustrate the mechanisms of physiology. This proved to be incredibly helpful.

I was taught at an early age that we need 3 different avenues of information in order to learn. Reading is usually first. Listening is second. Hands on is third. I tend to be a tactile person, so I need to DO something in order to truly comprehend a new idea. Writing proved to be my saving grace...as if you couldn't tell by my unnecessarily long posts...

I encourage you to come back to this forum often to ask questions regarding your method of learning. I can already tell that you are committed to a true understanding of the material you are presented with. Kudos to you! Keep it up, and I wish you the best.

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Sep 25, 2011

Now lectures are on mp3s ? How does that work? Do you even have to show up? (seriously, I'm interested :))

sunbaby0811 · Sep 25, 2011

Im taking a bio class right now and part of the online content is where you can download mp3s of the subjects being discussed. It's not the lecture, but it's a discussion of the chapter we're working on. It's a nice supplement. I listen to it while I'm at work :) Multi-tasking!

Pneumothorax, BSN, RN · Sep 25, 2011

Listening to your mp3 as well as writing brief notes while in class will help. Reading text alone is not effective for having the information stick. My psych teacher told us that it has been proven that information sticks much better in your memory if it has been manipulated in some way (writing, highlighting, etc).
Go to class regularly and make sure you have a good sleep from the night before. It always amazed me how many people never came to class, or fell asleep in class.

i doze off in class sometimes because im so worn out from the assignments due, i dont have the luxury of sleeping before class... :yawn:

NurseToBe3 · Sep 25, 2011

One of my teachers told us forever ago that the more senses you stimulate while you study, the better you will retain the info. He swore by pacing along with playing with one of those spikey rubber balls. He said to read and repeat everything outloud while you do that and also take lots of notes. Another thing for tests is if you always do the same thing when you study a certain subject. (my A&P teacher told us this) If you always use your favorite pink (or whatever color) pen and chew a certain kind of gum (or candy) when you study a certain subject (and only that subject) then do it for the exam too, you will do better. I don't know if this makes sense. But basically have a couple things that you only use when you study that subject and then do the same thing on the test and the info will come easier. Hope this helps and mostly makes sense!