Studying at university is not easy. But you can help yourself in a number of ways. For example, you can ask for advice from people who know your subject well. These can be tutors from various online platforms. On
Studybay.com you will find many professionals ready to help you. This platform has a lot of good reviews so you will not regret it.
You can also take notes on lectures to simplify the learning process.
Pros and cons of taking notes in lectures
The pros and cons vary from course to course. The more theory, the more material needs to be outlined.
Pros of taking notes:
- Engage mechanical memory, help you remember material during a lecture for students who have difficulty grasping logical connections while listening.
- Help students remember exactly what the teacher says; put emphasis where the teacher puts it.
- Ensure concentration during the lecture - students are less likely to be distracted when taking notes.
- Create a thesis base for further preparation - it is easier to prepare for exams and tests by taking proper notes.
- Demonstrate your responsibility and attentiveness - ensure the favour of
teachers.
Cons of lecture notes:
- Frequent inability to grasp logical connections, striving to write down every word of the lecturer.
- Lack of focus on key theses and on the content of the lecture as a whole - activation of mechanical memory alone.
- Overstraining, becoming emotionally exhausted from taking notes on large quantities of material.
- It does not matter how you take notes. You can write them down or type them out, but you can't take dictation and try to note down everything.
Learn to identify the key points of the lecturer's narrative, look for logical links between blocks of information, and grasp the most important. Otherwise, you will encounter the disadvantages of taking notes.
Do you need lecture notes?
You decide for yourself. It is best to make an experiment: take notes in one lecture and try to use only your auditory memory and logical connections in another. If it is easier to prepare from lectures, the choice is obvious. In general, there are very few students who really don't need to take notes. They have perfectly developed imaginative thinking, and their auditory and logical memory works well. Listening is more effective for them than fixing theses.
But the lion's share of students need notes, especially in the extensive theoretical background of each subject. Firstly, they help you focus on your learning and avoid distractions during lectures. Secondly, it makes it easier to prepare for tests and exams, as you have all the main points already in hand. Thirdly, you keep a record of the material you are given by the teacher, as he will ask you about it during the test. Conclusion: a well-crafted syllabus is the basis for a successful session in the future.
