What are some strategies when reading and listening?

[cs23]

What do some of you do when reading a physics textbook and listening to lectures. I need help imprinting the concepts in my head.

 

[fss]

Take notes.

 

[micromass]

Try to read the material before the lecture. It requires a lot of discipline, but when you do it, it pays off big time!

Taking notes when listening to the lecture, but do NOT try to note everything down. Just the thing that aren't in the textbook.

When reading the textbook, try to note every thing on a separate page. When you finished reading the chapter, try writing down the key ideas of the chapter without looking in the book. Repeat this process several times. This method has never failed me!

Make lots of exercises.

 

[erok81]

Try to read the material before the lecture. It requires a lot of discipline, but when you do it, it pays off big time!

Taking notes when listening to the lecture, but do NOT try to note everything down. Just the thing that aren't in the textbook.

When reading the textbook, try to note every thing on a separate page. When you finished reading the chapter, try writing down the key ideas of the chapter without looking in the book. Repeat this process several times. This method has never failed me!

Make lots of exercises.

The two bolded things help me the most. Unfortunately they also require the most time.

One thing I find helping me the most is is going through the proofs. I went through my first two years skipping every proof and derivation (well I'd look at them but that's it) because I thought memorizing them was easier.

An example with my PDE class I am taking now.

First part of a section I didn't read it before, I just went to class. I was throughly confused, took, took two pages of notes for nothing, and felt like class was a waste of time.

Next section I read before class and went through the formula derivation before class (wrote it out myself). Went to class, understand everything that went on in class and even learned some extra tricks that I would have been so confused normally, I understood the tricks and could use them. I also ended up taking half the notes leaving more time to listen.

 

[lurky]

I second the take notes thing. I learn a lot by writing. The warning to not overdo it and write down absolutely everything is wise too, though.

 

[bleedblue1234]

Another good method is to create a simplistic metaphor for the topic at hand. Connect topics with experiences or things you are already familiar with. Make the metaphors as simple as possible. So many people try to make things more complicated than they are, especially if you are of above average intelligence. This is a big mistake.

 

[DrummingAtom]

Just to add to what micromass said, ask questions and also try to explain the things you've read about to others or yourself. I have found that when I learn something I don't fully understand it until I have to write it out or talk about it. And since there aren't many captive audiences for me to just speak about random math/physics concepts I usually write. =)

 

[micromass]

Getting somebody who you can explain the material to is very helpful! You'll learn immensely from it. So maybe you should try to get in a study group, they will explain the material to you and you will explain it to them. It's a win-win situation...

 

[cs23]

thank you all for you responses.

Personally, i don't read the textbook. I study the examples and ask a lot of questions when studying them. It has worked for exams and quizzes because I'm able to bring the questions into my head and follow the steps. But when I'm working on assignments or projects with other students i feel lost. I have difficulty talking about physics and usually am not helpful, everyone else seems to know what they're talking about. Though I'm usually the one who scored higher on the examinations.