Distractions in Class

[TIGIBedHead]

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Lots of people come to class and don't listen to the lectures. They do things on their computers that aren't even remotely related to class. Not even during the slow parts of the lecture, but all throughout. It gets distracting when people show each other websites, videos, etc and whisper/giggle. How can I stop letting them distract me when I'm trying to pay attention? Since I get easily distracted by people around me, I like to study at home. How can I adapt during lecture?

 

[MrBurns10]

Try sitting in the front row.

 

[njbmd]

Lots of people come to class and don't listen to the lectures. They do things on their computers that aren't even remotely related to class. Not even during the slow parts of the lecture, but all throughout. It gets distracting when people show each other websites, videos, etc and whisper/giggle. How can I stop letting them distract me when I'm trying to pay attention? Since I get easily distracted by people around me, I like to study at home. How can I adapt during lecture?

Sit in the front row (watch out if the prof spits) so that the distractions are behind you. If you are an aural learner, then sit anywhere. Better yet, stay home and watch the video.

 

[TIGIBedHead]

Yea, I was afraid you guys would say that. 🙂 I'll start trying that.

Any general advice about not getting distracted? Say during an exam, when you generally can't choose where you sit. I give myself a couple of seconds and take a few deep breaths when I can't focus, like after a classmate walks past me to get to the restroom, or when people are incessantly flipping the pages of their exams. Is there any way to simply avoid getting stressed out by these things?

 

[sprinkibrio]

Yea, I was afraid you guys would say that. 🙂 I'll start trying that.

Any general advice about not getting distracted? Say during an exam, when you generally can't choose where you sit. I give myself a couple of seconds and take a few deep breaths when I can't focus, like after a classmate walks past me to get to the restroom, or when people are incessantly flipping the pages of their exams. Is there any way to simply avoid getting stressed out by these things?

I have this problem too. Sit in the same place every time, maybe even study in there in "your seat" to get really used to the environment. Also, try studying in coffee shops or packed areas in the library where there is similar noise. Basically, simulate the test environment. Sometimes I try to chat with the two people sitting next to me--if I have good feelings about them before the test I'm less likely to get annoyed when they start drawing all over the test or sniffling.

I actually find sitting in the front is very annoying because you more easily hear everyone talking behind you. I sit in the back row with people who are just as focused as me--I think this is key. Also, the people in the row directing front of me never mess around, otherwise they would be the most distracting. I also feel more comfortable, hence focused up in the back because I can fidget around incessantly like I do without feeling self-conscious.

 

[vgirl712]

Yea, I was afraid you guys would say that. 🙂 I'll start trying that.

Any general advice about not getting distracted? Say during an exam, when you generally can't choose where you sit. I give myself a couple of seconds and take a few deep breaths when I can't focus, like after a classmate walks past me to get to the restroom, or when people are incessantly flipping the pages of their exams. Is there any way to simply avoid getting stressed out by these things?

I always take exams with earplugs in. Have you tried that? It really helps me.

 

[TRKATK]

You can try studying in a coffee shop. There will always be something to distract you, you just have to focus on what you are doing and not let it bother you. Then again, you should study wherever it works for you.

We were never allowed earplugs for any exam.

 

[TMP-SMX]

I always take exams with earplugs in. Have you tried that? It really helps me.

They let you do that? Don't they know you could have some crazy wireless/bluetooth headset going on with the exam material on it?

 

[vgirl712]

Well, the earplugs are free to us from the college of medicine, and are bright orange and pretty noticeable. They specifically told us at the beginning of the year we are allowed to wear them.

They're only the size of an eraser, and I'm not sure how you would get anything mechanical in them for you to listen to....

 

[nogolfinsnow]

Well, the earplugs are free to us from the college of medicine, and are bright orange and pretty noticeable. They specifically told us at the beginning of the year we are allowed to wear them.

They're only the size of an eraser, and I'm not sure how you would get anything mechanical in them for you to listen to....

Jack Bauer would know how.

And I can't believe you get free ear plugs. Our school tried to get us to purchase latex gloves for anatomy.

 

[alwaysaangel]

They let you do that? Don't they know you could have some crazy wireless/bluetooth headset going on with the exam material on it?

For our biochem class our prof told us he didn't care if we were ipods if we felt like it. Not sure anyone took him up on it.

Jack Bauer would know how.

And I can't believe you get free ear plugs. Our school tried to get us to purchase latex gloves for anatomy.

You didn't have to? We were responsible for our own gloves.

 

[KECKington]

You didn't have to? We were responsible for our own gloves.

I know what you mean. We were responsible for our own stethescopes, otoscopes, spgemometer, and BP cuff.

 

[Haemulon]

Your not alone with being annoyed by distractions during lecture. I am amazed by how rude some people can be at times, carrying on full conversations and giggling constantly during lectures for instance. I can understand a brief whisper to ask someone about something, get a clarification or ask a question from a friend. But the constant chatter really bugs me. Also the wave of noise as lecture is winding down as everyone is apparently in such a rush to pack up their things that they are uninterested in the last few minutes of the speakers comments (so naturally the rest of us shouldn't need to hear it either right?). That extra minute or two of packing still doesn't seem to get anyone out the door any faster, so it seems like a lose-lose all the way around.

 

[KECKington]

😡

Your not alone with being annoyed by distractions during lecture. I am amazed by how rude some people can be at times, carrying on full conversations and giggling constantly during lectures for instance. I can understand a brief whisper to ask someone about something, get a clarification or ask a question from a friend. But the constant chatter really bugs me. Also the wave of noise as lecture is winding down as everyone is apparently in such a rush to pack up their things that they are uninterested in the last few minutes of the speakers comments (so naturally the rest of us shouldn't need to hear it either right?). That extra minute or two of packing still doesn't seem to get anyone out the door any faster, so it seems like a lose-lose all the way around.

That bugs me the worst. I want to hear the last couple of points but they start to crackle their stuff. And the lecturer hates this too so HE/she just keeps talking and wont repeat themselves. But what is worse is when there is just a 10 min break in bewtween lectures and all this stuff is still being noisy. Like what do you have to pack up for a break?😡

 

[AZhopeful]

Everybody packing up w/ 2 min. to go just makes me feel bad for the lecturer, although when I think about it I've probably done it myself. As for using your computer for non-class stuff, I don't think anyone can really blame me too much for a jaunt over to espn.com, especially during such a great NBA season. I mean, come on, Suns-Lakers with Shaq back in the mix? Anyone?

 

[KECKington]

Everybody packing up w/ 2 min. to go just makes me feel bad for the lecturer, although when I think about it I've probably done it myself. As for using your computer for non-class stuff, I don't think anyone can really blame me too much for a jaunt over to espn.com, especially during such a great NBA season. I mean, come on, Suns-Lakers with Shaq back in the mix? Anyone?

Not really. I mean even with a messed up finger /hand/ arm/body KOBE will tear that Sh-- up. Shaq will slow down the suns runining speed and poof they lose! haha.

In case you couldnt tell Im a lakers fan!

 

[Law2Doc]

Our school tried to get us to purchase latex gloves for anatomy.

At least they didn't expect you to go dig up your own cadaver like we had to. 😀

 

[45408]

There was a time or two when a segment was going gratuitously long, so I started zipping and crinkling. If it was that important for you to say, you would have been allotted more time.

 

[alphaholic06]

At least they didn't expect you to go dig up your own cadaver like we had to. 😀

We must attend the same school

 

[alphaholic06]

There was a time or two when a segment was going gratuitously long, so I started zipping and crinkling. If it was that important for you to say, you would have been allotted more time.

I couldn't agree more. One other thing I hate is when the lecturer's time is up and 3-4 people raise their hands to ask questions. Questions that they could ask in private when everyone else is leaving.

 

[KECKington]

I couldn't agree more. One other thing I hate is when the lecturer's time is up and 3-4 people raise their hands to ask questions. Questions that they could ask in private when everyone else is leaving.

Or you could just get up and leave. No one is holding you there, I mean you might even be a grown-up.

 

[TIGIBedHead]

Why do people attend class if they're not going to remotely pay attention? Is it to scope out the quality of the lecturer before deciding not to attend? If so, why do they keep attending to keep not paying attention? And why do they have to sit in front of, behind or next to me while I'm trying to pay attention?! Today I had some success with blocking out a conversation directly in front of me. I considered asking them to be quiet, but realized it would take my attention off the lecture. I really don't understand why these people even waste their time going to class though. You can't surf the web/chat with classmates in the library?

 

[TIGIBedHead]

There was a time or two when a segment was going gratuitously long, so I started zipping and crinkling. If it was that important for you to say, you would have been allotted more time.

This doesn't bother me so much as it is white noise. It's much worse when competing conversations get jumbled with the professor's words. I'm not the type to say this to anyone in class, but please, shhhh!

 

[secretwave101]

There were a couple of repeat offenders in my class. A.D.D. being a permanent part of my resume, I had a hard time with everything going on. I opted to pick out a few of the worst and talked to them individually.

It fixed everything. NOT. But it's worth a try. 🙄

 

[alphaholic06]

Or you could just get up and leave. No one is holding you there, I mean you might even be a grown-up.

This is exactly what I do, but everyone doesn't have my attitude.

 

[Heimerfink]

oh my god, i was waiting for this thread. i don't find the crosswords that distracting, but i do find the constant tap tap tapping on the keyboards extremely distracting. i'm ok with people trying to take notes in anatomy or something under the slides, but i have people during just regular conversations. that, or in a completely unacademic talk (like an ethics extra talk), people are typing away or clicking. it's so disrespectful, i think. i sit in the front now as much as possible. of course, i get to class late so that's kind of rude to sit in front... however, everyone with laptops sits in the aisle. so there's not much choice.

i find the laptop thing to be sooo annoying. i can't wait for not being in lectures (only for this reason. i kind of like class usually.)