I would say I do go to lecture (except for one class which is worthless), and I sit and listen but do not keep up with reviewing lecture material or reading.... I might start really studying for an exam from 1.5 wks (anatomy) to 2-3 days before an exam. I am again battling the notion in the spring if attending class is worthless and if I should just be studying during the day.
nj: I also fear for my long term memory? (I dont feel like I can recall a lot from my first anatomy exam, even though I tended to do well in the class overall). Here are my thoughts for readjustment.
1) Stop going to class, not useful
2) Can put lecture audios onto ipod and just listen whenever (bus/gym/lab etc).
3) For keeping up with the material read "review" books rather than notes throughout the semester. (I cannot constantly read lectures notes beause they don't "read" and I lose attention unless I constantly force myself to focus)
4) Try to start reviewing lecture material 2.5 wks before exams
Any thoughts on this approach?
Here's something you might want to try: If you are an auditory learner (meaning that you learn more by actually hearing the info rather than seeing or reading the info) then stop taking notes. Purchase a digital recorder and record your own summaries of the material after you have heard the lecture. When you are reviewing, review from your recorded notes.
In terms of notes, just write down the big headings so that you have a list of the major concepts from each lecture. Reading review books is likely not going to be enough material for actually learning the material. You can't review what you haven't mastered in the first place.
If you stop concentrating on trying to take every single note down and then memorizing your notes, try to focus on how each professor delivers the material. You have a syllabus that should give you the topics/concepts for each lecture. See how those concepts are delivered; don't take copious notes (especially if the prof rehashes what's in your text) and summarize each lecture in your own words on your tape recorder. Load these lecture summary files onto your handouts or powerpoints. If your school has note service, then subscribe to it and use it only to fill in any gaps.
Review your summary tapes from the previous lecture before you prepare and study the current lecture material. In short, get away from those long hours of staring at a paper. Review the previous week's material on one of the weekend days. After that, you can use your review books because you should have a knowledge base to review.
When you learn something, you can link it to your knowledge base. If you don't already have a knowledge base, you can't make the links. This is why cramming might be a problem over the long haul.
The other thing that you never want to do is attend any lecture unprepared. This means skimming the syllabus and/or text for the big picture before you hear the lecture. By doing this, you get an idea of what you already have in your grasp and you get an idea of what to listen for in the lecture.
Again, I suspect that you are not as much of a "crammer" as you are just not a person who learns by reading tons of things off of a printed page. In medicine, you have to master several types of learning but you can utilize those learning types to your advantage and to supplement how you learn best.
I would also recommend that you study at least twice a week with a study group who is dynamic enough to encompass your learning style. This means that you come to the group prepared (aurally and as necessary) and that you get assistance from them in terms of honing your knowledge as you explain the material to each other.The twice a week meeting makes you keep up with the work and helps you you get used to study on a regular basis.
Studying in medical school is kind of like preparing for football season in the off season. You can do nothing but the best way to be prepared for the season is to do some regular drilling and strength training. After a week or two, you actually look forward to your prep and when the season starts, you are strong, sharp and ready. You can't expect to keep things in your long term memory if you don't give them a shot at getting there in the first place.
See what happens with adding the audio summaries to your work.