Information Services

Study Skills Help yourself to effective lecture preparation

What do you expect from lectures? Do you expect a class / tutor to

teach you all you should know about your subject provide all the necessary information for your assignments supply all the required notes on-line for you fill your head with all the information you need - provided you listen carefully entertain you with presentations, pictures, video clips etc.

If you expect any of the above you will be rather disappointed. You cannot expect your tutor to do all the work for you. You have to take responsibility for your own learning in order to attain a good degree. Lecture preparation will ensure that you are making the most of your time here at Staffordshire University. Why should I prepare for a lecture? Athletes warm up before a performance and effective pre-lecture preparation does the same for your brain. It gets you thinking and prepares you for the information you are about to receive. It will aid your understanding of the subject area, improve your memory of the topic, allow you to connect ideas and develop your own mental map of the information, enable you to choose the best style of notes to take and help you to retrieve the information at a later date. Preparing for classes is time well spent. It will ensure that you learn more when in the session and your note taking will be more effective and meaningful. Preparation pay s off as you will learn new terminology and ideas in advance and this will enable you to pick up on keywords more easily and focuses your listening skills. You will be able to make more sense of the information and concepts delivered in the lecture. Skills required in lectures To get the most out of lectures you require seven main skills 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 . 6 . 7 . Listening skills Concentration skills Summary skills Note taking skills Organisational skills on paper and in your thinking Critical thinking skills Multi-tasking skills to do many of the above at the same time and at speed

Some of these skills you may possess but some you will need to develop over a period of time.

Study Skills

Effective Lecture Pre (JB)

Page 1 of 3

Different types of lectures Type of lecture Keynote Purpose Is intended to raise issues or questions Sets the scene and gives a broad overview Introduces a series of lectures Provides a broad overview Each lecture builds upon the previous one Takes a specific aspect of a topic and goes into detail Provides information about specific research Sums up key points from previous lectures Ties all the lectures together Outcome Enables questioning of information and research Informs about main issues Provides a framework of knowledge and concepts

Introductory

Sequential Focus

Assumes knowledge from previous lectures To flesh out a framework provided in an introductory lecture

Conclusion

Provides an overview which links to the introductory lecture

How do I prepare for lectures? Use course handbooks They 1. Provide an overview of the subject. 2. Give you an idea about what you should expect in a lecture. 3. Inform you about the proposed lectures, which provides you with a framework of information that helps you to make links. 4. Provide glossaries of new terminology which you can use to improve your listening skills and support your understanding of new concepts. 5. Give reading lists in order to help you to develop your understanding of the subject area and learn new terminology On-line support 1. Use information from departmental sites. Read notes and presentations in advance of lectures to develop a framework. 2. Perform an academic search of the internet and download any background information to help you to gain an understanding of the subject area of the lecture. 3. Search your library catalogue for relevant information. See your subject librarian for help with this. Yourself 1. Create a list of possible questions you would like answering about the subject area. This can focus you in the lecture. 2. Check the information provided by your tutor. 3. Get your files and notes organised in advance. 4. Anticipate the framework or sub-headings you will use in your notes.

Study Skills

Effective Lecture Pre (JB)

Page 2 of 3

Be wary about missing lectures If you miss a lecture you are missing the asides and emphasis the lecturer places on different aspects of the subject the tone of voice and body language all of which will strengthen your understanding of the topic any questions which are raised 2D downloads can never replace face to face delivery Preparation can

increase your understanding of the subject improve your memory of the topic enable you to take more effective notes create connections between information, concepts and ideas help you to retrieve and use the information later support you in thinking more deeply about the subject

Develop your skills Make sure you adopt an active listening approach. This will help you to deal with new and challenging information more effectively. If you are questioning, selecting and summarising spoken information you will be actively involved in the lecture. You will have a higher level of concentration as you will be adopting a critical approach towards the subject. Make connections with previous learning. Why has this information been included? How does this link with the rest of the topic/subject? Is this essential or exemplar information? How does this fit with the information I already know/have read? What point is the lecturer trying to make?

This type of preparation will save you time in the long run because you will have a greater understanding of the subject. Good practice in lectures It you take down this information you will be able to refer to your lectures in assignments In each lecture note down

The The The The

date lecturers name lecture title or topic aims of the lecture as outlined at the beginning

Call: 01785 353500 Click: studyskills@staffs.ac.uk OR www.staffs.ac.uk/studyskills Visit: B17 Thompson Library, Stoke OR LT, Nelson Library, Stafford
Please note that any information provided by the Study Skills staff is advisory only. No liability will be attached to the University, its employees or agents for any loss or detriment suffered by a student relying on the advice given.

Study Skills

Effective Lecture Pre (JB)

Page 3 of 3