<p>My prof gives pop quizzes on the readings that we do and I read the four chapters twice, highlighted them, read the notes from lecture (well...half of it bc my T.A. went over the material too fast and noone got to copy the info from the powerpoint) and I still didn't do that well on his announced pop quiz. Since the class is about race and inequalities, one of the books isn't entirely factual, and the other is too dry. I am an auditory learner, and since I'm going to get more quizzes, can somebody please tell me a good method of grasping info from textbooks? Obviously, I'm not doing the right things.</p>
<p>Well, now, for the more "non deep" classes. You know, the classes where you take the notes and read the one or two books and all? You have to maybe read the chapters and then outline them. </p>
<p>The powerpoint stuff is a crummy deal. Maybe you can speak with the TA and ask if they can just provide the info on webct or blackboard? Or, you can check and see if you can get the powerpoint info online, their might be info on that at the textbook publisher's web site. I think the whole concept of trying to copy the powerpoint in a dim room while someone else is rattling off additional info you have to somehow write down is for the birds. I do not understand how one can learn with that. </p>
<p>There are free text readers on download.com. One nice one is called Free Natural Reader. You can use your scanner to scan the assigned readings into MS Word and then open the file up on the Natural Reader and sit back and have a computer type of voice read it back to you. The "non free" text readers cost a bunch! I like the Free Natural Reader because it hasn't any spyware nonsense and the only thing you have to put up with is a robot type of sounding voice.</p>
<p>Lastly, if you know for sure you are an auditory learner...ask if you can bring in a recorder. There are recorders which go on laptops and then there are the old fashioned recorders. That way you can write down the powerpoint stuff and just listen to everything else at home and type it out. You can also write lists of main things to focus on when you type out your notes later on.</p>
<p>my prof said that the powerpoints will be available one week before the exams, so until then I'm screwed. :( Also, my prof does not allow recorders in class bc he thinks that ppl will provide it to the ppl who skip. (I don't understand that since he has a strict attendance policy).</p>
<p>OMG
Can you get one of those "sneaky" recorders on your laptop? Or, are the desks too small?
Look and see what is up with the powerpoints. See if there is a hyperlink on the back of the text(s) which maybe lead to further info. You never know until you try.
You know, it would not hurt to ask the TA too slow down a bit. You could try and be brave and inform him of how taking notes upon what they say while copying info from powerpoints is somewhat illogical.
At any rate, though. Hang in there and really think about maybe outlining the texts.</p>
<p>Work backwards…or deconstructing your quiz </p>
<p>Your professor wants you to know about certain facts, ideas and concepts. The quiz questions should cover those points that the professor believes to be important.</p>
<p>Read through the questions that you got wrong. Be certain you know what the correct answers are. Armed with that knowledge, you need to go back to your text books and notes to see if you actually highlighted or wrote down the “right” information. Too often, people highlight too much information and can’t tell what’s important and relevant. </p>
<p>As a reality check, read through your correct answers and check to see if that information was highlighted and noted. The whole idea is to work smarter. If you do this for a couple of quizzes, you’ll get an idea of what the professor is looking for. </p>
<p>As for being an “auditory learner”, this works best if you already have some knowledge of a subject matter. Until that happens, what you “hear” may be important or not…</p>
<p>Well, I had to read two chapter of Calc today. And for a little background info, I've never, NEVER read a math book, let alone learn something from it. But, my Prof and TA dont seem to coordinate their lectures, so they either cover the same material in different ways, or skip great chunks of the chapter. </p>
<p>My advice...get used to it. I know, harsh, but lets face it, this isnt high school. I like what michuncle said, though that might be detrimental on your grades at first. Even so, I know what michuncle is talking about. I see people highlight wayyy too much stuff. Oh, and on the powerpoint thing, IDEAS, thats all you need. Dont write all the crap on the slide.</p>
<p>Get together with people from your class and discuss the reading. When you are able to explain a concept to someone else, you truly understand it. Also, flashcards or outline notes if the pop quizzes are definitions. If they are essays, guess what questions you would ask if you were a professor and write up or think up answers. It sounds like you are starting to get on the right track, but need more practice and time. The beginning of the semester is tough so don't get discouraged.</p>
<p>Something else to consider: If you read through your highlighted text and notes a couple of times, there’s a good chance that you already had the basic information you needed for the quiz. When you review the questions you got wrong on the quiz, you should be saying to yourself that the correct answer makes sense. If the answer has facts or ideas that you didn’t know and didn’t get written down or highlighted, that’s a whole other issue. </p>
<p>You understand the answer by understanding the question. You likely knew the basic information, but you didn’t relate that to the question. The whole idea is to make connections between what you read and the larger themes that are brought out in class. If something still doesn’t make sense to you, then would be a great time to speak with your professor or TA. </p>
<p>Finally, your quizzes are a great resource for studying for your finals. Rather than reading through a semester’s worth of notes and trying to memorize all the stuff you highlighted, your quizzes should provide you with a “road map” about what the class is all about…</p>
<p>A quiz is a way for your professor to point a flashlight to those areas or topics that he/she deems important for you to know.</p>
<p>I'm so glad my school doesnt have TAs...</p>
<p>kwtortoise has good suggestions. Try to get what you can from the books...get the main concepts down and then fill in with details... You most definately need to speak with your TA and get others who are dealing with the same issues to speak with the TA seperately as well (there is power in numbers) if that does not work, then speak to the professor directly. Do not be critical of the TA, just express your concern. Also, go to the TA/professor and phrase your problem in another frame of reference. ie. "I dont understand this, can you help me," not "the TA goes too fast". If your school offers tutoring services, use them!</p>
<p>You're gonna need to learn by reading. Learning by reading is simple by logic but difficult in reality- the only thing you have to do is make a conscious effort. </p>
<p>The prob with highlighting / excessive notetaking is that you're not trying to understand, but rather 'get ur highlighting work done' which is bad. Ur preparing **** to look over later. Don't be passive. Learn it now. Try taking NO notes while reading and see how that works. Id bet better.</p>
<p>A final thought:</p>
<p>Highlighting is a valuable tool, but most people use it the wrong way. Typically, you start at the beginning of a chapter and start highlighting names, dates, phrases or ideas before you know what the author intends. A much better way to learn is to go to the end of the chapter and find the authors summary or conclusions. A chapter usually has only a point or two to make. Take some notes about what the chapter is supposed to prove. Now that you have an idea of what the author wants to say, go back to the beginning of the chapter and find information that supports those ideas. </p>
<p>Think of chapters (and non-fiction books, for that matter), as inverted pyramids. Chapters begin broadly and taper to the point or points that an author wishes to make. Instead of re-reading your four chapters from start to finish, go to the end of each chapter and remind yourself of what the author wants to prove. Then find within each chapter the supporting proof or facts that makes the authors point(s). </p>
<p>Re-reading chapters is like serial amnesia. I believe the more you do it, the less you remember and learn. Why is this? Authors presume you know little or nothing about a subject matter. Each chapter is building a case for the conclusion. As such, each time you re-read the material, you start out again as a blank slate (i.e. knowing nothing) as the author builds his/her case. This process is a lot like the movie Groundhog Day. Just because everything is familiar, it doesnt mean that you have learned anything.</p>