Looking for Advice: Studying vs Learning

[Xstu-97]

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I've done a lot of research on studying. When studying, I try to incorporate active recall (through self testing and Anki) and spaced repetition. I feel like I can study fairly well. However, I don't feel like I'm the best "learner".

*(I'm a junior year pre-med student)
Getting through material for the first time and actually understanding it takes a long time. I've noticed that I really don't understand much from lectures. Typically, I'll go to lecture (and be way lost) and then go back and work through the material using books, internet, videos, etc until I understand it. The problem is that I feel like I'm starting from a blank slate; like I got nothing out of the lecture. Once I understand it, then I can use my study strategies to keep it in my head. However, just understanding it for the first time is a struggle. I realize that nothing about pre-med or med school is easy. I know you're going to struggle with things, but I feel like I'm not using my time efficiently and have to spend so much time just "getting it" that I run out of time to study.

So, does anyone have advice, tips, or know of good reading material on efficiently learning new material.

 

[lull]

You should read your textbook/lecture slides (if available) first or review the topic on something like Khan Academy before the lecture. It helps to have a foundation rather than learning it for the first time in lecture.

 

[907914]

So, I have the exact opposite problem in that I suck at studying and just kind of ‘get’ things for learning.

This might not be a point of solace for you but, I think you can learn how to study, but you can’t study how to learn.

Honestly, just read more books in general or watch educational YouTube videos and see if that helps you start to just ‘get’ thinks by changing how you think? Maybe?

If it helps, I think you have a problem that the majority of students have (particularly pre-meds) but are just not vocal about it.

 

[candbgirl]

You probably aren’t an auditory learner(I’m not either.). Go to your campus learning resource center and ask for help. Explain it just how you did here. They should help you devise strategies etc. for learning more efficiently.

 

[deleted1005514]

Definitely pre-read or pre-organize before lecture. Skim through the lecture reading or slides and jot down a few questions. This will keep you engaged during lecture, and you’ll have a mental roadmap of where the lecture is going and what will be covered. This should take 10-15 min per lecture, anymore than that and you’re pre-studying.

 

[Dr panda]

I have similar issues, for me it is a lot more efficient to read books/watch youtube than attending lectures (for me it is mostly a waste of time).
I am not the smartest student in the world, so I use the following tactic:
1) I wake up at 4 a.m. And go over all material we covered so far, do sample problems, re-read notes, go through flashcards. It takes me 5 hours every day
2) Go to school to eat at subway study
3) Come home, do homework
4) Read what we covered today, make flashcards, organize notes
It takes me about 30 minutes from the moment I leave home to get to the lecture hall, so I translate some lectures to text and listen it while driving
It takes me about 60-80 hours of studying per week outside the class room, I hate my life, but at least it works (also a junior)