With eight modules in the year and 120 credits in total it is almost certain that you’ll find one at least which doesn’t quite tickle your taste buds. Whether it’s because the topic doesn’t interest you, or the lecturer has the perfect balance of melody and softness in their voice, leading you into daydream trance mode, it’s important that you don’t lose grasp of the module.
Unfortunately for you this means that studying for this module is going to feel extraordinarily arduous and possibly give you a headache to rival that of a hangover. So say hello to your ‘new favourite module’ and crack into this cookie as early as possible.
- Use the magical wonder of the internet. I am specifically talking about YouTube; by using a visual style of learning to compliment the written style often adopted in lectures, it is possible to build up multiple connections in your brain and store several references, allowing you to get your foot in the door of a topic from several prompters.
- Make handwritten notes in lectures and then re-write them later on in the week to refresh the topic, making that transition from short term to long term can help when grappling with new ideas in the module and help you build upon information from week to week.
- Use any means possible to highlight key terms or ideas that you have recurring trouble with. If something continues to elude you, make sure you address it weekly until the concept is concrete in your mind and you have no wobbles. Sometimes asking a friend to describe their view on it or how they remember the facts can help.
- Add the notes you make to the PowerPoint slides. When it comes to revising the topic or specific areas of the module this will help to connect your lectures to the work you have done outside of them. This is ideal if your tests require you to group together several ideas or the lecturer wants you to include outside reading that they haven’t specifically addressed in lecture time.
Use the textbooks that are recommended and those that are not but contain similar topics. The topic may be described from a new angle or a different way which could just make click better with your brain. Alternatively you may find the diagrams beneficial to your studies and help with a 3D working model concept in your head instead of just memorising and regurgitating the lecture slides.