<p>Missing class just got a whole lot easier for college students. I just came across a new site called I</a> Slept Through Class :: college class notes that allows college students to get there class notes for free and get this they even earn money when they post their own notes. What are your thoughts/opinions on this site? Do you think it will help students or worst discourage them from going to their class lectures?</p>
<p>sounds like an add lol</p>
<p>From my experience, it takes about 1.5 times as much time to learn the material yourself, and I have a harder time keeping it in your head if I don't go to class. Personally, I have a better understanding of the material when I'm in class, but I know that's not the case with some people. Also, a lot of people ditch classes (especially in math) when they can pretty easily read the book, or know of the material from a previous class or application. I don't see how this is bad. I view the lectures are just another way to try and learn the material, just like a textbook, or a solutions guide. I don't see this much different from a professor posting his/her lecture notes or powerpoint slides online, except you have to pay for this site. </p>
<p>In short, do whatever works best for you. If you don't want to go to classes, nobody is forcing you to.</p>
<p>90% of the time, there's not nearly enough time to cover the material in class. Most professors choose to ramble incoherently about either</p>
<p>a) far-out concepts (like randomly talking about game theory in a class that has nothing to do with game theory)
b) really simple concepts (like saying over and over again the four steps of the accounting cycle without talking about the hard stuff, or saying "matter cannot be created or destroyed" in powerpoint slides in chem 101)</p>
<p>Then again, my school might just be terrible.</p>
<p>I tend to agree with luminaire. Rarely does a prof actually cover topical AND useful information in a class. Either it's not topical (i.e. the far out tangents of really complex stuff thats unrelated to the class) or its not useful (way too simple).</p>
<p>It will get better in upper level class I'm sure, but for now going to class is a 50/50 thing for me.</p>
<p>In higher level courses the far-out stuff on tangents always magically shows up on exams even though you never thought you'd be responsible for the information. :(</p>
<p>I don't know, alot of times I find that I learn the material better if I go over it on my own. I usually just want to fall asleep in class.</p>
<p>And besides, these are some other person's notes. Who knows how good a student they are?</p>
<p>You had better check the code of conduct at your university regarding selling class notes. Humboldt State University lists this as a proscribed activity in theirs . . .</p>
<p>"Unauthorized recording, dissemination, or publication of academic presentations (including handwritten notes) for a commercial purpose."</p>
<p>HSU</a> | Student Affairs | Judicial Affairs | Code of Conduct</p>
<p>There's a store near my campus which sells "U-notes" that are basically notes for each class. Their signs say that they provide notes for over 150 different classes. I've never used them but I know alot of people who do. I wouldn't trust some random notes from someone I didn't know, I'd prefer to get the notes I missed from someone in my particular class. But I mean, I guess if all you go to the classes for are the tests, and you never go to the lectures, they would probably help.</p>
<p>Skipping class is convenient but very short-sighted. Professors DO notice who is in class and generally don't care about those who aren't in class--which can backfire if you ever need a favor from the professor--for example, on a borderline or subjective grade, or a recommendation ,or a signoff into an over-enrolled class.</p>
<p>Some professors make it standard practice to cover different materials in the lecture from those in the readings--the theory being that in college they do not have to hold your hand to teach what you can do on your own. Some exam questions may then focus exclusively on something taught only in class, or something that extrapolates on a combination of class lecture/reading. Sometimes professors also pass out special handouts in class or suggest specific additional reading that would be helpful. Sometimes they announce special office hours or exam help sessions. The students who do attend class don't feel any special obligation to share with those who don't regularly attend.</p>
<p>You also need to know whether a professor assigns credit for class participation. A student who is absent is not participating--and when the student does show up, the professor may not acknowledge her or call on him, spitefully or not.</p>
<p>And then there are those dreaded pop quizzes. Once when I was in a class with low attendance the professor gave a pop quiz with two questions: 1) What is your name ? 2) what is your student number ? He then proceeded to weight the quiz one-half grade. The class had one midterm, one paper and a final. The quiz could be used to raise any one of them one-half grade.</p>
<p>And he definitely weighted the final exam toward materials covered only in class.</p>
<p>This is not to say that sometimes an absent is not legitimate. Professors have no problem with that.</p>
<p>That site isn't so great; you can only benefit from the site if you happen to be enrolled in one of their listed schools. There aren't really that many listed...</p>
<p>man. i tell you there is nothing better than deciding to miss a morning class, getting your beauty rest, and then find out later in the day (from a fellow student) that the class was canceled anyway, so it didn't matter. </p>
<p>i've had that happen a few (few) times, and it was magnificent!</p>
<p>I think having access to other's class notes is a great resource. NoteShuffle.com does the same thing. It lets students upload and sell their class notes from any university. You just have to know if you're breaking your university's code of conduct.</p>
<p>in some subjects (such as computer science i know from personal experience) you hardly ever learn anything in class. My one class this semester the professor goes on and on about these programming concepts, then has a us try to write them out on paper. hello! i'm not going to learn programming by listening to lecture notes or writing things on paper- i'm gona learn by actually programming on a computer. </p>
<p>before the class i'm usually working in the computer lab. 5 min before the class i ask myself: will i learn more by going to class and listening to the boring lecture or by actually getting my hands dirty with the stuff here on the computer. i often choose the latter.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the answers. Since I've first posted I have used the site several times (basically by posting my own notes) and have now received $60 in amazon.com gift cards. So whether you get notes or not, you still get money. </p>
<p>Thanks again</p>