Courses Mastering Intro-Level Science Courses: Hours vs. Understanding?

[The_ArtofScience]

Hi!

I have some general questions for those veterans who took intro-level science courses as freshmen. I was wondering how many hours it took for you to master a single subject. Also, I'm curious if memorization will get me by?

 

[symbolipoint]

Hi!

I have some general questions for those veterans who took intro-level science courses as freshmen. I was wondering how many hours it took for you to master a single subject. Also, I'm curious if memorization will get me by?

No mastery from introdcutory level science courses. They're too shallow. Four to five hours per week of outside-class study time should be enough for a good or average grade.

Memorization is useful but understanding is essential. Memorization without understanding will be meaningless.

 

[scorpa]

Intro level science courses are not hard, if you put the work into them it will show. As far as how many hours of week, that depends on the person and will be different for everyone. Just review the material after each lecture and stay on top of things and you should be fine. Just do what you need to do to understand. Don't just try to memorize stuff, sure it will get you by but it will make the entire course a complete waste of time as you will just forget it all 30 seconds after the exam.

 

[berkeman]

Hi!

I have some general questions for those veterans who took intro-level science courses as freshmen. I was wondering how many hours it took for you to master a single subject. Also, I'm curious if memorization will get me by?

What's an intro level science course? You mean like Chem-I?

 

[The_ArtofScience]

Intro level science courses are not hard, if you put the work into them it will show. As far as how many hours of week, that depends on the person and will be different for everyone. Just review the material after each lecture and stay on top of things and you should be fine. Just do what you need to do to understand. Don't just try to memorize stuff, sure it will get you by but it will make the entire course a complete waste of time as you will just forget it all 30 seconds after the exam.

hahaha.. thanks. I still remember a whole lot of bio material from cramming through hs. I guess the only question for me is to find a schedule I'll stick to

What's an intro level science course? You mean like Chem-I?

Yeah, that's what I'm referring to

 

[kuahji]

It depends on the professor as well. The professor I had for Inorganic Chem I was pretty tough. With trying to prepare for labs, very challenging homework problems, & exams, I probably put in between 10-15 hours a week. Memorization was only useful to understand key concepts, but a large proportion of the exam consisted of problem solving. If you couldn't solve the most challenging problems in the chapter, you were going to struggle on the exam... but I have no idea if all introductory courses & professors are that challenging.

 

[arunma]

My experience is that physics requires you to solve a lot of problems and understand the material, but not to memorize it. After all, there's not really that much to memorize in physics, unless you have a crazy prof who doesn't give you a formula sheet. In biology, however, it's more important to memorize facts. Chemistry, however, seems like some linear superposition of these two eigenstates (if you'll forgive the physics joke). I think that chemistry requires a good deal of memorization, but it also requires you to do some problems and make sure that you have a decent understanding of the material. Assuming that Chem I is inorganic chemistry, your teacher probably focuses a good deal on mathematical treatment of the subject. So while I'd recommend reading the chapters a couple times, I'd also do as many problems as possible.

 

[G01]

I don't think any science course is ideally learned through memorization. As said before, understanding is key. If you understand the material, you'll be better prepared for more advanced courses and you will retain the information longer.