Hi,
I am currently enrolled in a course that has a significant amount of reading. We are given 60 page weekly assignments, and our exam covers around 180 pages. The issue? I can’t remember all of it. The Professor gives us powerpoints, which are so much easier to study off of - but she emphasizes we read the book.
I don’t know what to do. I want an A in this course, but it’s too demanding. Many pages have charts with 12 different theorists on it, their theories, etc. and I can’t seem to keep up. I don’t think I am going to remember all of it.
Any ideas? I don’t want to drop and take the W. I will see how the first exam goes, but I won’t be getting my hopes up.
Read the powerpoints for sure. Then if something confuses you then read that section in the book a few times.
Afterwards take a nap and sleep (or I guess you can just relax if you dont want to sleep) and reread the powerpoints again.
If your class is a memorization only class with no thinking required then flashcards are the way to go!!!
Take notes while you read. Those are easier to review later.
@bodangles Constant fight with mine: read with pen in hand. Read with pen in hand.
If you don’t know how there are great ideas here
http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/05/26/monday-master-class-the-study-hacks-guide-to-note-taking/
You have to do some note writing or any excuse to put pen to paper - just reading/highlighting won’t put it in your brain. Write summaries of what you’ve read. Make flash cards of main ideas/people and actually test yourself on them. A friend of D’s aced her first year of HS calculus by re-writing ALL of her notes throughout the year. Something about that tactile experience helps that stuff stick.
Also break it down and work on it a little each day. Do not cram at the end before the test.
I agree, all above points are good. By writing notes, you are employing multi-sensory aspects of learning. Your brain will physically be able to remember things better when it has to focus on writing as well as reading and memorizing.