Processing information from lectures/class

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Minty33
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09 Jan 2013, 2:46 pm

Good day all. I have some questions, perhaps some of you who have been in my position could reflect back with your own personal experience?

I have lectures, all of which provide content which is relevant to my chosen career. Thing is, as this has been true all my life, I'm not able to learn when I'm in class. Nothing ever sticks, there is next to no point in me being there. I don't know if it's because I have poor concentration or some other variable, but it just doesn't work for me. Anyone else in a similar position?

I personally learn best when given an example. So if I had to produce a report, If I had an exemplar piece of work, it feel like I'm learning and that benefits me greatly. I'm also pretty good with exams, but I never remember post exam.
I do feel more comfortable when images and visual representations are used, but that never goes into the required depth. Do people actually remember content from lectures? Whatever it is, I know it doesn't work for me. If anyone has some tips that helped them remember recall information, I would appreciate it :)

Thank you.



AardvarkGoodSwimmer
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09 Jan 2013, 3:03 pm

Hi, I hit upon pre-studying, especially for math and science classes. Then with math class, I can follow along with the examples and get a fair amount out of them. It still takes a fair amount of concentration.

I also like the idea, even if I'm behind, I'm still going to jump ahead!



Minty33
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09 Jan 2013, 3:36 pm

AardvarkGoodSwimmer wrote:
Hi, I hit upon pre-studying, especially for math and science classes. Then with math class, I can follow along with the examples and get a fair amount out of them. It still takes a fair amount of concentration.

I also like the idea, even if I'm behind, I'm still going to jump ahead!


This idea did actually cross my mind in class, pre-studying. But I'm really lazy 8) My ideal profession would be to do nothing. But I think I have the ability to pursue a career, albeit through hard work (both academic and the social interactions that's forced upon me) It's hard to be motivated for things you don't particularly care about...

But I'll give pre-studying a go. Thank you.



Stargazer43
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10 Jan 2013, 12:35 am

Do what I do, go to class and take the best notes you can, write down everything remotely important. Then after class, use your notes to study and learn the material. I also have difficulty learning from actual classes, most of my learning comes from my notes and from working solved example problems.



Minty33
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10 Jan 2013, 2:36 am

Stargazer43 wrote:
Do what I do, go to class and take the best notes you can, write down everything remotely important. Then after class, use your notes to study and learn the material. I also have difficulty learning from actual classes, most of my learning comes from my notes and from working solved example problems.


Yeah that sounds like the normal thing to do. I would be lying if I said I tried this with a lot of effort. I guess now is a better time than any to pull my socks up.

How well do you fare with results/coursework/exams for example?



AardvarkGoodSwimmer
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10 Jan 2013, 8:59 pm

Stargazer43 wrote:
Do what I do, go to class and take the best notes you can, write down everything remotely important. Then after class, use your notes to study and learn the material. I also have difficulty learning from actual classes, most of my learning comes from my notes and from working solved example problems.

I personally have more success underdoing the reviewing of notes, very casually, just circling a few things and leaving it at that. But then again, I take messy notes mainly with the goal of helping myself stay alert.



Georgia
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11 Jan 2013, 12:02 am

I pre-read/pre-study just before each class, then audio record the lecture. If the professor makes lecture slides/power points available, I read and bring those too.

I have a hard time filtering out what information is relevant, so i feel less anxious (so then better able to listen) just being really anal :lol:


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ianorlin
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11 Jan 2013, 10:45 am

prestudying works great for me if I can see some notes or read the book if followed closely.



VAGraduateStudent
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11 Jan 2013, 6:33 pm

You should just read the book. Most things are interesting if you look at them in the right way. However, if you don't want to put effort into anything, maybe you need to re-evaluate your life. There's no sense in wasting time sitting there when you don't want to learn.

Another thing you can do is find a documentary or movie about the subject matter on Netflix, YouTube or Amazon Prime. Sometimes I have problems reading and I've gotten through several lower level classes doing this.



Minty33
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12 Jan 2013, 8:00 am

VAGraduateStudent wrote:
You should just read the book. Most things are interesting if you look at them in the right way. However, if you don't want to put effort into anything, maybe you need to re-evaluate your life. There's no sense in wasting time sitting there when you don't want to learn.

Another thing you can do is find a documentary or movie about the subject matter on Netflix, YouTube or Amazon Prime. Sometimes I have problems reading and I've gotten through several lower level classes doing this.


Books don't do it for me though. There's nothing there for me to sink into. And I know it's the wrong attitude, but even though I don't want to do it, I'm in a good position. I can't not do anything, as I have the ability to do it. As great as it sounds to not be doing anything, I have to make the most of what I have accomplished so far.
If I didn't pick a subject at the point when I did, I would still be there now - because no profession appeals to me. If it does, it's not much of a career. So I'm in this position of trying to learn for a job, when I don't hold much interest for it and I'm still trying to figure out how to learn. I want to do something, I just find it physically hard.

You're right about watching things though. I recall in English, we had to read 'Of mice and men'. It wasn't doing anything for me, so instead of reading the chapters, I watched the film. By the time we had the exam, I had seen the film so many times, I could basically quote it. Ended up with a B too, which wasn't so bad.

I was basically thinking of doing this though. I am able to really focus on something and it's made easier if I'm interested. I might just go all out, watching videos of the subject, reading every little bit of material I can about the construction process ect. Which defeats the point in me paying to go to lectures really, but I'm here so I may as well do what I can.

Thanks for the comments!



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13 Jan 2013, 4:03 pm

Sorry, I didn't read the responses so I may repeat the suggestions:

1) Audio recording
2) Talk with your teacher and ask him/her if it's possible s/he can provide examples in their lectures
3) Peer Buddy: ask a classmate if you can photocopy their notes (if they know about your ASD then they may not mind)

My son is working on a Listening Program that's suppose to help with his focus. It was expensive but we were able to use his funding to purchase it. We are half way through the program so it's hard to tell if it's working - although, he claims he can focus better this year. We are trying a few things that seem to work so I'm not entirely sure what is actually working - but it is.



Spirochete
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17 Jan 2013, 9:29 am

I use the Evernote program (it's a free download for the basic version) to take notes in class on basically anything the teacher says that may be even remotely important. Then I can go in and rewrite/ restructure them later in a way that makes sense to me. I don't know what kind of educational program you are in, but if you're in a school with decent disability services, usually they can get you a tutor or a note-taker, or find some other means of helping you succeed.