3 ms·

Reminds me of my first analysis professor. He managed to explain the proofs while writing them with chalk on the blackboard, all equations nice an clean like th

Reminds me of my first analysis professor. He managed to explain the proofs while writing them with chalk on the blackboard, all equations nice an clean like the Latex in our scripts - while we struggled to keep up with his pace, was impossible for us to copy it all. He came across a bit dry, overstructured, exact, but also kind and humble - maybe like you imagine a German mathematician.

lonelappde 6y ago
Don't waste time in lecture taking notes. Pay attention and think. Save your rote copying for homework time.
- FreeFull 6y ago
  Often people take notes because it actually helps memorise and pay attention what's being said, without any intention to read the notes at all afterwards.
  - nachexnachex 6y ago
    I'm like this, and many I know. I suspect the actual memorising comes when writing, creating the muscle memory. If not written, I can't ensure I'll remember.
- parenthesis 6y ago
  In my good old maths undergraduate days, in many courses the notes were what was written on the blackboard in lectures. No handouts or slides. There might have been a relevant textbook, but its contents would not be exactly the same as the course. So my default mode was to copy absolutely everything down (using my own personal set of abbreviations) whilst not necessarily understanding everything. Occasionally I would understand everything in the lecture; occasionally I would understand nothing in the lecture; usually it would be somewhere between the two. Later I would copy out my notes neatly, but not allowing myself to write anything into my neat copy until I understood it. If it took me a long time to finally see how a step in a proof was justified, I would write the justification into my notes. If I had to revise something to understand the new material, I would write the relevant points I had forgotten into my notes. Hence reading my notes to revise for the exam could be as fast as possible. To the extent that I perfectly carried out the above system, I gained near to perfect marks. To the extent that I didn't carry out the system, my marks suffered.
- ploika 6y ago
  Different things work for different people. The opposite to your approach worked much better for me. Sitting and thinking would only allow so much to sink in, and then I'd have none of my own notes to work off later. Instead I'd furiously transcribe by hand everything the lecturer said, everything written on the blackboard/slides (very often not the same thing) and add in my own notes on top too. Understanding would come much later, over a much longer period than an hour-long lecture.
- AiApotheosis 6y ago
  > "Pay attention and think" Not everyone can. As someone who left numerous classes early, because confusion & anxiety over the lecture caused vomiting or diarrhea, I promise you I would have given everything to just be able to "pay attention and think."

lonelappde 6y ago

Don't waste time in lecture taking notes. Pay attention and think. Save your rote copying for homework time.

FreeFull 6y ago
Often people take notes because it actually helps memorise and pay attention what's being said, without any intention to read the notes at all afterwards.
- nachexnachex 6y ago
  I'm like this, and many I know. I suspect the actual memorising comes when writing, creating the muscle memory. If not written, I can't ensure I'll remember.
parenthesis 6y ago
In my good old maths undergraduate days, in many courses the notes were what was written on the blackboard in lectures. No handouts or slides. There might have been a relevant textbook, but its contents would not be exactly the same as the course. So my default mode was to copy absolutely everything down (using my own personal set of abbreviations) whilst not necessarily understanding everything. Occasionally I would understand everything in the lecture; occasionally I would understand nothing in the lecture; usually it would be somewhere between the two. Later I would copy out my notes neatly, but not allowing myself to write anything into my neat copy until I understood it. If it took me a long time to finally see how a step in a proof was justified, I would write the justification into my notes. If I had to revise something to understand the new material, I would write the relevant points I had forgotten into my notes. Hence reading my notes to revise for the exam could be as fast as possible. To the extent that I perfectly carried out the above system, I gained near to perfect marks. To the extent that I didn't carry out the system, my marks suffered.
ploika 6y ago
Different things work for different people. The opposite to your approach worked much better for me. Sitting and thinking would only allow so much to sink in, and then I'd have none of my own notes to work off later. Instead I'd furiously transcribe by hand everything the lecturer said, everything written on the blackboard/slides (very often not the same thing) and add in my own notes on top too. Understanding would come much later, over a much longer period than an hour-long lecture.
AiApotheosis 6y ago
> "Pay attention and think" Not everyone can. As someone who left numerous classes early, because confusion & anxiety over the lecture caused vomiting or diarrhea, I promise you I would have given everything to just be able to "pay attention and think."