I just realized that sitting in a lecture, copying down notes and looking them over later isn’t the best way for me to learn. When I was a kid, I was always reading something, which is most likely the best way I learn: sitting down with a book and my thoughts. As we all know, some professors cannot teach for their life and the students are forced to learn concepts on their own, which is where I thrive. With resources such as MOOCs and books, is it worth me going to lectures anymore?
What subject?
I do both. I read books from multiple sources when I was in undergraduate.
I am a computer science major, so this is about my calculus and discrete math class. I have noticed that even in my java courses, I could’ve learned more from a book than in the hour and fifteen minutes in class.
There’s a high correlation between students going to class and success. Now, as a good scientist should know, correlation does not equal causation. It might be that most who don’t go to class are simply screwing around. In any case, you’d be bucking a known trend for success.
I really wouldn’t recommend skipping even rather poorly taught classes. Consistency in learning is pretty valuable, and even if you don’t learn as much as you’d like, the fact that you devote 2-3 sessions per week to the topic mean that you’re going to get a lot out of it. That kind of discipline is rarely possible if you skip on a regular basis.
Even in classes that seemed dull and boring to the point that I didn’t really want to go, I definitely learned from being in the classroom.
Speaking from the other side, over my 32 years teaching physics, I have noticed an extraordinarily high correlation between poor grades and students not attending class. The best way to take advantage of any lecture, even from a “poor” professor, is to read the material beforehand and to take notes. Taking notes, in my experience, is the first step in learning the material since you are focusing on the lecture.
I’ll offer a different opinion. Sure, generally it’s good to go to class, but there are always exceptions. Sometimes, attending class is simply a waste of time, whether it’s because of the professor or because the material is easy enough to understand on your own that you don’t need a structured classroom setting. It might waste time that could be better spent learning the material on your own, or getting other things done.
If you’re able to learn the material well and do well on quizzes/exams, then you shouldn’t feel any obligation to attend lectures.