There are all kinds of students who learn best in different ways. Finding your learning style can help dramatically. However, if you feel like literally zero information is sticking with you as of late, there are a few steps that you can take to address that.
Practice studying
It might sound like a silly notion, but it is true that studying is a skill that you need to practice. If you find that, after a single study session, nothing is staying in your brain, it’s most likely because you haven’t gotten used to it yet. You need to ensure that your study sessions are structured, organized, and free from distraction as much as possible and build some study skills.
Make sure you’re taking notes
If you’re simply listening to lectures and trying to absorb information that way, you might find that they are particularly interesting, but you might not have a great time remembering what they covered. Using handy notebooks like those from Nottai, you can make sure that you’re able to jot down all of the essentials. That way, if you have trouble absorbing new information in class, you might be able to do it better from your own home.
Sit through it again
Even with notes, you might find that you have a hard time fully absorbing the subject of a lesson in one go. As such, with your professor’s permission, you should consider software like Panopto to record your lessons. This way, you can go back and listen to a lecture again. For some people, notes aren’t enough to fully grapple with the higher concepts that your professor might be trying to explore. Of course, your professor may have their own recordings to share as well.
Go through it with some peers
If you’re still having trouble keeping up with your lessons, then it might be the case that you would do much better if you simply had some other perspectives on the project. In the vast majority of cases, you’re going to be able to find study groups for the lesson at hand. Get in touch with one or even ask other students if they would be interested in putting one together with you.
Make sure you’re getting enough rest
If you’re overtired, over-stressed, or otherwise having trouble keeping it together as of late, then it should not be a surprise that is going to start affecting you in the classroom. You might need to take a moment to reorganize your life so that you’re able to get the sleep that you need or, if you’re in really dire straits, then don’t neglect to check in with the counselor at the college for some assistance.
If you’re truly having trouble keeping up with your class, then you might want to ask your professor for help. They may be willing to help you point to resources that can help you get to grips with the subject matter in a different way. However, do bear in mind that, in college, it’s all about self-directed learning so you have to learn how to absorb information independently.
