How to pre-read when busy with topics covered the day of?

[hiyaman]

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So I just started my 1st year and I wanted to pre-read for lectures but there seems to be a ton of material to go through after a days worth of lecturing.

When I preview material should I just do more like a skim? rather than a read through?

 

[TAWS]

So I just started my 1st year and I wanted to pre-read for lectures but there seems to be a ton of material to go through after a days worth of lecturing.

When I preview material should I just do more like a skim? rather than a read through?

Always go through the material on the day of the lecture intensively. Weekends are for catching up and skimming.

 

[Morzh]

Textbooks, in general, are a terribly inefficient learning resource beyond skimming to get an overview of a subject. They are also occasionally useful for encyclopedic-like reference. But if you are taking the time to thoroughly read "pages 134-168" every night then you are most likely wasting time.

At least that was my experience in undergrad and it's even more true now, 4 weeks into MSI.

Syllabus/lecture powerpoints/wikipedia/Step 1 review books are much better, IMO.

But I do agree with TAWS... whatever resources you choose, definitely go deeply through the material shortly after it's presented in lecture.

 

[hiyaman]

Thanks for the tips. I'm using only the powerpoints (seems like that's plenty lol). I'll focus on the day's lectures and not worry so much if I cant preview what's upcoming.

Hopefully I get used to this pace.

 

[RafaTech]

Welcome to med school. You just have get use to always being behind on the material. There is usually too much to cover.

 

[kpcrew]

Welcome to med school. You just have get use to always being behind on the material. There is usually too much to cover.

I am beginning to learn this.

 

[alpinism]

So I just started my 1st year and I wanted to pre-read for lectures but there seems to be a ton of material to go through after a days worth of lecturing.

When I preview material should I just do more like a skim? rather than a read through?

Go over the next day's lecture using the syllabus/module/handouts (whatever material the test questions are directly taken from) and skim the lecture slides. Esp. for M1, if you're already familiar w/ some concepts, skip those, and focus on the new info. Try to get a good background/understanding of the topic so you can keep up during lecture and not have to look anything up or become confused/overwhelmed.

Shouldn't take more than 1hr to go over ~4hrs of lectures the next day.

Do not read any textbooks. I'll go so far as to say I wouldn't even count this as legitimate study time b/c it's so low-yield and passive.

 

[rocketbooster]

Go over the next day's lecture using the syllabus/module/handouts (whatever material the test questions are directly taken from) and skim the lecture slides. Esp. for M1, if you're already familiar w/ some concepts, skip those, and focus on the new info. Try to get a good background/understanding of the topic so you can keep up during lecture and not have to look anything up or become confused/overwhelmed.

Shouldn't take more than 1hr to go over ~4hrs of lectures the next day.

Do not read any textbooks. I'll go so far as to say I wouldn't even count this as legitimate study time b/c it's so low-yield and passive.

Pre-reading/preparing for the next day's lectures is a complete waste of time. I repeat, a COMPLETE waste of time.

Just watch/attend that day's lectures, study those powerpoints in depth that day to the point that you'd be ready to be tested on it the next day, and you're good. Pre-reading/looking over thepowerpoint before lecture is a waste of time. Just make sure you're caught up on everything leading up to that material. Attending/watching lectures should be the first time you're exposed to that new material.

And as others have said, don't use other textbooks. Powerpoints, wikipedia, Step 1 material, good to go. I just felt I needed to post this since no one else has mentioned how pre-reading is a waste of time and poor use of your time. Technically, if you are pre-reading/studying, then there's no point in attending lecture period. I would highly discourage this method, though, since lecture often adds in new notes not included on the powerpoint. Because of that, pre-reading is a waste of time and you should count on first exposure to be during lecture.

It won't hurt you if you preread, but it's just an unnecessary waste of time. Have I stressed that enough yet? haha

 

[mimelim]

Heh, just wait for 3rd year to start. Then wait for residency to start. The fire hydrant opens wider 😉

 

[kpcrew]

Heh, just wait for 3rd year to start. Then wait for residency to start. The fire hydrant opens wider 😉

goddamnit

 

[Brotato]

Pre-reading/preparing for the next day's lectures is a complete waste of time. I repeat, a COMPLETE waste of time.

Just watch/attend that day's lectures, study those powerpoints in depth that day to the point that you'd be ready to be tested on it the next day, and you're good. Pre-reading/looking over thepowerpoint before lecture is a waste of time. Just make sure you're caught up on everything leading up to that material. Attending/watching lectures should be the first time you're exposed to that new material.

And as others have said, don't use other textbooks. Powerpoints, wikipedia, Step 1 material, good to go. I just felt I needed to post this since no one else has mentioned how pre-reading is a waste of time and poor use of your time. Technically, if you are pre-reading/studying, then there's no point in attending lecture period. I would highly discourage this method, though, since lecture often adds in new notes not included on the powerpoint. Because of that, pre-reading is a waste of time and you should count on first exposure to be during lecture.

It won't hurt you if you preread, but it's just an unnecessary waste of time. Have I stressed that enough yet? haha

I couldn't disagree with you more. There are many times I've sat in lecture not understanding a word being said, things going over my head (ie. a complicated topic), and the teacher's just continuing on as if we're all on the same page. I've heard classmates say they feel it's a waste of time to sit there not understanding anything. What happens afterward? The hours spent in that lecture becomes a waste, since we all have to go home to make sense of the lecture later.

These are the times that it would have helped to preview the night before. Spend 30min-1hr skimming through the next day's material, and you will actually SAVE time, because the hours you spent in lecture will actually be productive!

Disclaimer: If you don't go to lecture (ie. watch videos from home) the above doesn't apply to you. I have no choice, since I have mandatory attendance. 👎 Because I HAVE to spend 6 hours a day in class, I've found previewing to be invaluable for not wasting the time I spend sitting in lecture.

 

[hiyaman]

okay so i guess I was just previewing wrong lol.

 

[Morsetlis]

I didn't learn anything from MS-1 through textbooks, except the review/question books.

Going to lectures is already the slowest way to learn. Why would you make it slower by pre-reading?

 

[Morzh]

I couldn't disagree with you more. There are many times I've sat in lecture not understanding a word being said, things going over my head (ie. a complicated topic), and the teacher's just continuing on as if we're all on the same page. I've heard classmates say they feel it's a waste of time to sit there not understanding anything. What happens afterward? The hours spent in that lecture becomes a waste, since we all have to go home to make sense of the lecture later.

These are the times that it would have helped to preview the night before. Spend 30min-1hr skimming through the next day's material, and you will actually SAVE time, because the hours you spent in lecture will actually be productive!

Disclaimer: If you don't go to lecture (ie. watch videos from home) the above doesn't apply to you. I have no choice, since I have mandatory attendance. 👎 Because I HAVE to spend 6 hours a day in class, I've found previewing to be invaluable for not wasting the time I spend sitting in lecture.

That really sucks. I feel for you. Are there actually graded quizzes or whatnot during these lectures or do they just "take attendance"?

Maybe just bring something better to do during lecture and sit in the back inconspicuously.

For me the most productive days thus far, by an order of magnitude, have been the days where I had nothing mandatory and just stayed home and memorized powerpoints/read my step review books/drew things out over and over on my white board all day long.

 

[hiyaman]

I didn't learn anything from MS-1 through textbooks, except the review/question books.

Going to lectures is already the slowest way to learn. Why would you make it slower by pre-reading?

pre-reading the lecture slides is what I meant.