Should I even GO to class?

kt_uvic

I'm facing a dilemma here... My biology professor (class of 350 students) is so incoherent and talks so quickly that I can't understand a word that he says. He also has no control over the class and they are all loud and noisy. I can't concentrate when I'm in the lecture, and even if I could, he jumps from concept to concept so quickly that I can't even begin to comprehend any of what he is teaching. He'll also start talking about lymphocytes and cyclohexane and the structures of molecules that none of us are familiar with. Seriously, this is INTRO to biology... not some advanced class where we have this huge repertoire of biological knowledge... and since attendance is not taken I feel like it is a waste of my time to go. And in fact, it is actually stressing me out and making me frustrated. In the same token, he says that the exams are solely based on lecture material, not from the book... BUT, when I look in the book, he is reading almost directly from them! I am so afraid that if I stop going I'll miss something important, but in the same token, when I DO go, I'm concentrating so hard on just trying to write down everything he says so that I can look it up later and see what the hell he was talking about that I'm missing the other half of what he is saying!

Uggghhhhh.... What would you do? Any advice?

Kevin M.

There are two ways of learning in college. First, attending a lecture and making sure you spend several hours organizing what you have learned through study groups, research, self-study, etc. Second, self-studying before lectures so using the lecture time to organize your understanding.

You mentioned about not going to class and self-studying the topic. Well, that could be an option, but if I were you, I'd rather self-study in advance to the lectures. The more hours you spend for the prep., the better your understandings will grow.

Smartso

Read the chapter(s) and take good notes before going to the class. Then go to the class and see if his lecture matches up with the information and notes that you've all ready worked on. You may be able to follow the lecture better if you've read the material ahead of time. Sit towards the front of the lecture room where people are more likely to be pay attention and not talk throughout the lecture. Definitely take advantage of the office hours to go over anything that you're not sure about. You might even think about starting a Bio study group and meet once a week so a few of you can discuss the material together (maybe use Facebook to start a study group with a few kids in the class).

lazyGUY

kt_uvic;36625 said:

I'm facing a dilemma here... My biology professor (class of 350 students) is so incoherent and talks so quickly that I can't understand a word that he says. He also has no control over the class and they are all loud and noisy. I can't concentrate when I'm in the lecture, and even if I could, he jumps from concept to concept so quickly that I can't even begin to comprehend any of what he is teaching. He'll also start talking about lymphocytes and cyclohexane and the structures of molecules that none of us are familiar with. Seriously, this is INTRO to biology... not some advanced class where we have this huge repertoire of biological knowledge... and since attendance is not taken I feel like it is a waste of my time to go. And in fact, it is actually stressing me out and making me frustrated. In the same token, he says that the exams are solely based on lecture material, not from the book... BUT, when I look in the book, he is reading almost directly from them! I am so afraid that if I stop going I'll miss something important, but in the same token, when I DO go, I'm concentrating so hard on just trying to write down everything he says so that I can look it up later and see what the hell he was talking about that I'm missing the other half of what he is saying!

Uggghhhhh.... What would you do? Any advice?

Is this bio 101? with palsson?
Arnt bio notes available online before class? I would print those out and add to them according to what he says in lecture.
The book is usually just a detailed version of the notes, so i would recommend taking some notes and adding onto what you have learned from the slides. It can only help right?

Iran1988

I'm facing the same issue with my calculus class...:| I cannot understand my teacher at all. and he seems like he has no idea what he's doing.

JayDub

Yes Iran, you should stop showing up to your Calculus class.

Morro

Who's the prof? is Cyril Thong teaching it? He can speak quick quickly, but is a great teacher.

Iran1988

JayDub;36642 said:

Yes Iran, you should stop showing up to your Calculus class.

Makes no difference i did the first year in Iran anyway :)

Guest1

I feel the same way, except in one of my tutorials. And I can't not show up cause we do crap in it.
My TA...
-Can't speak english well
-Can't spell (either mispells or forgets a few letters or puts the wrong letters in the wrong places, ex. ceremony becomes cerumoney)
-Makes NO SENSE whatsoever. He wants to try and relate things to 'real life experiences' but he cannot do it properly!!! He compared matricide to taking the bus??!?!?!?!?! WHAT????
-Goes completely off track and jumps from one topic to another but would go back to previous topics randomly so I have no idea where we are