I used the following studying technique that worked well for me, and if anyone is having issues now or in the future, you can try to use what I did but remember to follow your method; everyone is different, and what worked for me may not work for you. I will divide the following into phases.
Phase 1: Pre-reading Lecture PPT-you're doing this to familiarize yourself with the material and where is what. You're not memorizing anything at this point; if you see something for the first time, then put a ? next to it and ask the professor if it is not clear after the lecture.
Phase 2: Actively listening during lectures and taking notes- try to pay attention during lectures and take whatever note you can. This is also the time to ask questions because remember you are paying the professor's salaries...use them to learn the material. However, don't be raising your hand every few seconds; see what the professor likes, and maybe they might even tell you to ask questions after the lecture.
Phase 3: Re-watch the lecture again. Take notes wherever needed or missed during the live lectures. You can probably watch the lecture at 1.5 or 2.0 speed at this point, so it should be fast. Once finished with the notes, go over it all right there once, make a note if something doesn't make sense, or is unclear. Use the class textbook, email the professor, or ask other students from class for clarification.
Phase 4: Make flashcards using the notes either using ANKI or Quizlet. If you are not familiar with either, then take some time to learn them. The goal now is to learn the material so you can have long-term retention. Just reading the PPTs over and over again WILL not help you on the exam day...this is only short-term memory at work and will not help in the long-term.
Phase 5: Test yourself using sample questions or teaching friends using the writing/drawing technique. Remember, if you can teach it to another person then you know it.
Phase 6: Review everything for that week at least once that week. I usually kept either Fridays or Saturdays for review.
While you're doing all these phases, remember to take breaks, sleep enough, workout, go out, and get some sunlight. If something is not working out then seek help early on from professors and the learning center at school. Don't wait until the third exam to ask for help. For the most part, people at your program want you to succeed, use them.
