How I review the class material
And make sure I understand the lecture when I don’t take notes in class
1. Talk to others as soon as you finish class about what you’ve learned. If you've been following me for a while, you know that I don't take notes in most lectures. So how do I ensure that I actually paid attention? Sometimes my father picks me up from college. He would ask me what I’ve learned that day and lemme tell you, I've noticed how much that actually helped. As I tell him what I've understood I realised which parts of the lecture struck me the most. At the same time, I'm able to put the concepts explained in my own words. Doing this makes it easier for me to remember. I also have a professor that always gives us a quiz after he is finished. And I've noticed I'm able to remember most of the lecture that way too. This is called "retrieval practice". Meaning you try to bring what you've heard in the lecture to your mind. This can be applied to any type of information. Why does it work? Because you are actively taking that information (retrieving) from the dusty corners of your mind. The more you do this, the more likely you are to remember it. You're also training for the exam right there because exams are all about retrieving information from your brain.
2. Write down everything you remember the next day. Again, this is also retrieval practice. The reason I do it the next day is that I want to let some time pass before I retrieve the information again. Sleeping helps us strengthen the synapses (connections) in our brains and our brains also need to take a break in order to unconsciously process the information (diffuse mode). So the next day, I sit down and start writing everything I remember about the lecture without the help of textbooks or powerpoints. Just plain retrieving all the information that's in my mind to see what I still remember.
3. Check what you don't remember and research. On the same day, after I'm done writing everything I remember, I open the powerpoint slides or textbook to see what I don't remember. I start highlighting those things that completely disappeared from my mind. While I'm doing this, bits of the lecture start to pop up again in front of my mind. And I'll be like "Yeah, the prof talked about this and that and gave this example about X". I'm the type of person that truly needs to understand something from different points of view in order to remember. So I think if I wasn't able to remember a concept in the first 2 steps that means, I don't truly get it. So I go on Google and search for it. I just don't read one or two articles I read at the very least some 5. To truly get the idea.
4. Connect the dots. I let a day or two pass before I come back to the subject. Then again, I start writing everything I remember. However, this time, I take it a step further: I try to connect the dots. I ask myself questions such as Why is this in a specifical order? How does applying this method affect the following actions of a company? Or is there a certain pattern that I can look back too? If I can't connect the dots with the information I have, I take this opportunity to look for even more examples. I would totally recommend subscribing to a blog or website that is specifically meant for your field of studies and constantly update you about what is happening in that field. I subscribed myself to Marketing Week and I LOVE how sometimes a new article goes hand in hand with the things I am learning. And the examples are from real companies and events that have happened in the week or even the day. The information you are receiving is straight out of the oven, unlike your textbook.
5. Take notes from powerpoints, textbooks and other sources. Now, now. After I'm done with AAALLL that, I finally take the time to write proper notes. I make a combo of all that I've heard and read and put it into writing in a logical way that simultaneously connects the dots. I might take make a future post about how I take notes for myself. But for now, I make your typical notes with the important info right there.
6. Review. Taking notes might take me a day or two. So I start reviewing about a week after I get the lecture. This is no problem. After that, I do that once a week. Some professors provide us with quizzes and mock exams. I take it a step further by looking for some online. The idea here is to retrieve information from your very capable, very sexy brain! Don't just stop at taking notes. You want to put that info in your brain into practice. Look for case studies and answer them critically. Remember, it's all about retrieving, retrieving AND RETRIEVING!!
