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LISTENING TO A
LECTURE |
- Preview the
lecture by first reading/scanning your textbook. Whether
the instructor talks about thee text or related topics not in the
text, you will
better understand his presentation by reading the text.
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- Listen effectively,
which is a high -level skill. It will require practice.
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- Think about what the instructor is saying. Effective
listening is an active mental process. You must reason, weigh,
and analyze what is being said.
You must process the information.
Concentrate.
Look at the instructor. If your eyes stray, so do your
thoughts. (However, do take notes. Doing so will keep
your mind focused and reinforce the material in your memory.
It is okay not to look at your instructor while you take notes;
your lecturer will be glad to see you take notes.)
Try to find the general plan, or theme, of the lecture. Listen
for ideas, implications, and significance - not just words and
facts. Ask yourself, "What does all this mean? What
is the implication of what he's saying. How does it fit
together with what I've already learned?" Listen for any
special emphasis.
Some
lecturers pause before saying something they consider important,
some raise or lower their voices, some repeat the information in
slightly different words, and some speak more slowly. If the
instructor enumerates points (one, two, three, etc.), those are
important ideas.
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- Take good notes,
which will help you concentrate and will reinforce the information
in your memory. Notes also allow review of material.
Be brief. Don't include unnecessary words, such as
"a", "an", or "the". Don't try
to write down everything. Condense.
Make notes of ideas presented, as well as facts. Don't sit and
wait for earth shattering pronouncements. Take as many notes
as you can.
Leave space for connected ideas that come up during the lecture.
You will also use the space for notes when you are reviewing later.
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- Review the lecture
after class. See if your note-taking process is good.
Can you find the main points? If you lost your way, now
is the time to put the notes in the proper order. Organize
your notes (indent, underline, highlight, etc.)
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- Summarize the
lecture after class. Go back and try to summarize the main
ideas. Doing so will make you think about the material and
will help you understand it.
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The
above material is from the book HOW TO STUDY by Thomas F. Staton.
This book is available in the Teaching and Learning Center and is a good
source of strategies.
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