How Taught Learners Actually Learn in Lectures

Introduction

• Common observation: Some students are more engaged and remember more from lectures.
• Question: Is it natural intelligence or something else?

Importance of Intelligence and Self-Discipline

• IQ Achievement Link: IQ is associated with academic performance, but intelligence can be trained and improved.
• Self-Discipline: Research shows self-discipline is a stronger predictor of success than IQ.
  • Failure to exercise self-discipline is common among students who underperform.
  • Personal anecdote: Discipline in university led to better academic performance.

Improving Learning Methods

• Most students use a mix of techniques that are not optimized.
• By training effectively, students can significantly improve their performance.
• Analogy: Training in academics is like training in sports.

Learning Strategies in Lectures

• Copying Top Students: Simply mimicking what successful students do isn't effective.
  • Example: Pharmaceutical analogy to show the flaw in copying success without understanding.
• Principles of Learning: Understand your strengths and weaknesses and create a personal learning strategy.

Effective Learning Techniques

• Cognitive Load Management:
  • Cognitive load: Mental effort required to process information.
  • Aim to keep cognitive load optimal—not too high or too low.
  • Avoid passive learning, which involves low cognitive load.

Strategies to Manage Cognitive Load

1. Priming: Understand basic concepts before lectures to reduce cognitive load.

   • Review lecture materials, notes, or textbooks beforehand.
   • Identify key terminology and familiarize yourself with it.

2. Asking Non-Obvious Questions: Encourage deeper understanding by exploring less obvious relationships between concepts.

   • Prompt yourself with questions about concepts that seem unrelated.
   • This approach fosters relational thinking and better consolidation of knowledge.

3. Filtering Information: Selectively focus on information suitable for your level.

   • Simplify complex information. If you can't simplify it, it's too detailed for your current level.
   • Use foundational knowledge as building blocks.
   • Note down complex topics to revisit later.

Application in Lectures

• Record and Review: Use lecture recordings to revisit sections you found complex.
• Timed Notes: Log times during lectures to know which parts to review.
• Selective Depth: Direct focus on the right level of detail for current understanding.

Conclusion

• Implement these strategies in lectures to become a more effective learner.
• Emphasis on personalized learning methods and disciplined study habits.