How to better appreciate lectures in University? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: tiofilo75
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 04, 2013, 08:43:49 pm
content: So I am working towards my E.E and I am having a hard time with some of the lectures. I particularly dislike my electromagnetic class. I know this stuff is really important since I want to get into communications but I just cannot find the interest with punching numbers into equations. I love working on the labs associated with some of the lectures and feel that I learn better this way. It seems that I always learn and appreciate the stuff I'm suppose to learn in lecture in lab instead. Anyone else have this problem?

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 04, 2013, 09:29:42 pm
content: It does not matter how you learn the stuff. In the worst case the lecture is only there to show you what you need to know. How you learn that is up to you.

author: Fsck
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 04, 2013, 09:38:24 pm
content: Quote from: Bored@Work on September 04, 2013, 09:29:42 pmditto. if you believe you can learn everything you need to without showing up, by all means don't show up. bear in mind, some courses may have material exclusive to the lectures and not included in the textbook.

author: denneyaa
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 05, 2013, 01:28:21 am
content: With your interest into communications, I would suggest try applying the equations that you are learning in your lectures into communications that you want to know. It could be something as simple as figuring out the distance that two devices can communicate at with a certain antennas to as complex as different protocols and how they will react to different interference at a frequency.If you know that this is something that you really want to get into, talk with your professor and ask questions on how you can apply what your learning in class to real life scenarios. Professors are there to inspire you on your interests and can be a resource that you will always remember.

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2013, 02:05:04 am
content: Quote from: Fsck on September 04, 2013, 09:38:24 pmRecipe for disaster. Whether or not you believe it you will miss something. Go to class.

author: Fsck
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2013, 02:24:30 am
content: Quote from: c4757p on September 05, 2013, 02:05:04 amMy only non-4.0 class grade was in English, and ironically was my most highly attended class. On the other hand, I can still get a 4.0 in physics, math, chemistry, and basically any technical course.

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2013, 02:34:56 am
content: Maybe, but there are a lot more people whothinkthey can do that than people who actually can.

author: Fsck
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2013, 02:40:59 am
content: I'll submit a point against my tactic:Many (most?) engineering courses are like physics courses, completely curved. If you're not at the top of your game, your grade will die a horrible death as those showing up gather as much information as they can. For extremely highly competitive courses, even the slightest slip up can sink your letter grade several tiers especially if the class distribution is quite tight.

author: george graves
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2013, 02:49:17 am
content: (Yearly tuition) / (hours spent in class each year) = What you're paying per hour.You'll think twice about skipping class. Well, unless you're parents are paying for it.

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2013, 02:56:09 am
content: Quote from: george graves on September 05, 2013, 02:49:17 amYou pay for the education, not the course hours. Hence why I pay the same tuition no matter how many classes I take per term.

author: Fsck
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2013, 02:57:56 am
content: Quote from: c4757p on September 05, 2013, 02:56:09 amit's different here. you pay by the course. if you're a masochist, you can take 7 courses per semester here, but it'll cost you proportionally more. (5 normal, 6 normal engineering, 7 max)also, certain faculties/departments cost more. engineering, medicine/dental/law.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 05, 2013, 03:02:37 am
content: Quote from: tiofilo75 on September 04, 2013, 08:43:49 pmYes. Some lecturers just suck arse at presenting and explaining stuff in general, and at building, maintaining, and displaying enthusiasm for the subject.And others might be very good, but are not explaining it in a way that makes the most sense to you.Not everyone learns everything in the same way, there are many different routes to the "a-ha" moment.And also note that learning stuff is not necessarily the same as understanding it.Also, some lecturers are sometimes trying to teach you how to pass an exam, and not how to actually understand the info.YMMV, greatly.

author: marshallh
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 05, 2013, 03:51:53 am
content: Not everybody learns the same way.The typical "Let's learn A, then B, then C, etc for 13 weeks" works for a large portion of the college crowd. It sure as hell didn't work well for me. At that point the only option is to learn the entire course on your own, then re-take the class and puke the right info back.Quote from: tiofilo75 on September 04, 2013, 08:43:49 pmYes, all the time. I couldn't learn worth a damn unless my brain KNEW it was for something worthwhile and actually important. For me this comes with designing a real, tangible product. It is the only way I can take things in. I always did great in labs, no matter how hard.If you're in this situation the only solution is to teach yourself or work with a team in a results based environment.

author: smashedProton
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2013, 04:20:40 am
content: Quote from: smashedProton on September 05, 2013, 04:19:53 amThere, I fixed that for you.

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2013, 04:34:53 am
content: If you are not doing it already, read the text book chapters before going to the lecture. It gives it more context.

author: george graves
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2013, 05:23:31 am
content: Quote from: Smokey on September 05, 2013, 04:34:53 amYep - even if you don't understand it - at least read it through once.Quote from: c4757p on September 05, 2013, 02:56:09 amWell, you missed the point.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 05, 2013, 06:15:59 am
content: Quote from: marshallh on September 05, 2013, 03:51:53 amand by "works", you can only assume that is limited to passing the exam.