digital voice recorder : to buy or not to buy?

[Kerowyn]

I've heard that a lot of people buy digital voice recorders for medical school, to record lectures, etc., but I was wondering if such a thing is actually useful.

Does anyone have any experience with this? Because if it is useful, I want to start looking for one on sale now.

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[armybound]

I'd look into if your school records lectures for you.

 

[figmentj]

Maybe consider a smartpen? I use one now in undergrad and it is amazing. It records lectures, and lets you upload your written notes, click on various spots within them and hear the lecture from that point, etc. I use the Livescribe one, it's great.

Sent from my T-Mobile G1 using Tapatalk

 

[Depakote]

I'd look into if your school records lectures for you.

Agreed. A lot (if not most) schools record their lectures and post them online.

I did use these a lot first and second year. The quality was excellent since it was synched to the prof's mic and would have been much better than a recorder placed somewhere in the classroom. Make sure your school doesn't do something like that before you spend the money on a recorder you won't need.

 

[tremulousNeedle]

I'd look into if your school records lectures for you.

Double agreed. Most medical schools record their lectures.

 

[Guile]

Rather than spending your time listening to recordings of your lectures, I would spend more time studying from another source. I think that's the best way to spend your time. Hopefully, you shouldn't have tests that will hinge on whether or not you caught the exact wording of something your professor said in class. If you don't get class notes and don't have recordings already, and your tests do turn out to come straight from lecture, then it might be a worthwhile investment.

 

[Law2Doc]

Double agreed. Most medical schools record their lectures.

Triple agreed. At most med schools you can download lectures and you will have wasted time/money trying to record on your own. Plus you will get an inferior recording from your seat than you would getting feed directly from the mike. Also having a digital recorder only works if you attend class or have someone else bring it. The nice thing about recorded lectures is for the days you don't make it to class.

 

[Law2Doc]

Rather than spending your time listening to recordings of your lectures, I would spend more time studying from another source. I think that's the best way to spend your time. Hopefully, you shouldn't have tests that will hinge on whether or not you caught the exact wording of something your professor said in class. If you don't get class notes and don't have recordings already, and your tests do turn out to come straight from lecture, then it might be a worthwhile investment.

For boards studying you are correct. However for med school exams, it's a safe bet that the majority of material tested will consist of those things the profs deem most important. The best way to know what they deem important is to listen to their lectures and see what they put in the note-sets. In terms of "gaming" the exam, the highest yield material for that particular prof's test is going to be what he said in lecture, and so knowing that cold probably helps. Not to say other stuff isn't fair game, but if we are playing odds, he is going to cover in class that which he still feels is most important come test time.

 

[Kerowyn]

Thanks, guys. I was looking at them the other day, and it does seem like a lot of money to drop if schools record lectures for you anyway.

 

[MossPoh]

For boards studying you are correct. However for med school exams, it's a safe bet that the majority of material tested will consist of those things the profs deem most important. The best way to know what they deem important is to listen to their lectures and see what they put in the note-sets. In terms of "gaming" the exam, the highest yield material for that particular prof's test is going to be what he said in lecture, and so knowing that cold probably helps. Not to say other stuff isn't fair game, but if we are playing odds, he is going to cover in class that which he still feels is most important come test time.

Yup, that's why I get my arse handed to me on tests but seem to do way above class average on NBMEs.

 

[MDtobe31311]

Triple agreed. At most med schools you can download lectures and you will have wasted time/money trying to record on your own. Plus you will get an inferior recording from your seat than you would getting feed directly from the mike. Also having a digital recorder only works if you attend class or have someone else bring it. The nice thing about recorded lectures is for the days you don't make it to class.

👍

 

[KLycos]

If you have to listen to lectures over again to do well in classes med school is probably not for you.

 

[PremedIowa]

Listening to lectures again is not an efficient way to use your time for most people. For some it works, but for most it is a waste of time. You can review the ppt slides and your notes in less than half the time. I would say it would be unnecessary in most schools to buy a voice recorder.

 

[FrkyBgStok]

Disagreed. I record my lectures when memorization is required. I learn much better listening then reading, but I am the type that can listen to a song once or twice and know all the words. For me reading is ineffecient. But if it is efficient for you, it will provide little help. I also drive a lot so I have little time to actually read.

Also voice recorders are not that expensive but if you do get one, make sure it comes with software so you can put it on your computer. Mine doesn't have that and when I need to make room when a test is over, that is gone forever.

 

[silverhorse84]

If you have to listen to lectures over again to do well in classes med school is probably not for you.

A lot of my classmates listen to lectures a second time before the exam. For auditory learners it's the best way for them. I don't, but that's because I'm a visual and kinesthetic learner, so instead I make notecards and attach pictures.
Just because it won't work for you doesn't mean it won't work for someone else.

Note: a lot of people bring laptops to class, and many have programs that can be used to record things. Our recordings sometimes mess up so there are a few people who record the lectures themselves just in case and we can get it from them if the school's recordings are messed up.

 

[tremulousNeedle]

As stated earlier in the thread, regardless of what type of learner you are, ~90% of the US med schools out there record their lectures, which are usually better quality than anything you could record yourself (some even record audio and visual); however, quality probably does vary by school.

If it would help you learn and you need it now, then by all means get a recorder now; otherwise, wait and see whether or not your school records the lectures (no reason to waste money).

As a side note, while I do not disagree that some people learn better by listening, you cannot solely practice this method of studying in medical school. It would behoove you to explore alternatives or simply be aware that the day will come where you have to modify you study habits. There are a couple reasons I bring this up. First, there isn't enough time in the day to re-listen to every lecture more than once; especially if you attended the original lecture (even one repeat would be a chore). Second, there is too much information to learn outside of lecture, such as in board preparation. You may be lucky to find audio versions of review books or their associated lectures online (some of these are awesome), but only a few review books actually have audio versions. Third, as you get into the clinical years of medical school (classically 3rd and 4th year) and beyond, lecture time is greatly reduced. Much of your learning comes from reading about your patients and their conditions while you take care of them (no audio files here). And the didactic sessions that you do have in the clinical years, are being transitioned to case based discussions (or problem based learning groups) all across the nation; audio recordings may be useful here, but trying to re-listen to them after 60-80 hr/wk in the hospital will be the last thing you want to do.

I'm not trying to discourage anyone, but adjustments will need to be made to your study habits. My class has ~200 students and I don't know a single person who didn't have to at least moderately change their study style.

Those of you in medical school probably know what I am talking about; please correct me if your observations differ. Those of you who are pre-med, you'll find out soon enough.

-senior medical student (19 days left) / admissions committee interviewer