Active Listening in Class

It is important for you to be an active listener in class. Although many teachers are trying to reduce the lecturing element of their lessons, you still need to listen in parts of lessons.

It is important to do something to keep you engaged during these times - just hearing what your teachers say is not the same as listening to what they say - listening is a cognitive act that requires you to pay attention and think about, and mentally process what you hear.

Here are some things you should do to be a  efficient listener in class:

Preparation

• Be cognitively ready to listen when you come to classes - make sure you complete all assigned work and readings - it is amaking how much more engaged you become!
• Review your notes from previous class sessions. 
• Think about what you know about the topic that will be covered in class that session.

Emotionally ready

• Be emotionally ready to listen when you come to your class. 
• Your attitude is important.Be committed to learning all that you can.
• Your teacher should tell you what the purpose of the lecture is, listen with for this purpose.  

Active Listening

Dull Teaching...

• Efficient listening means actively listening. You can think faster than your teacher can speak. Use this to your advantage by evaluating what is being said and trying to anticipate what will be said next. 
• Take written notes. You cannot write faster than your teacher can speak so this requires you to make decisions about what to write - focus on key points, concepts, principles and examples - you can review these later.
• Meet the Challenge - don't give up and stop listening when you find the information being presented difficult to understand - listen even more carefully.
• Ask questions - but be curteous when doing so, try not to interupt at will!
• Triumph Over the Environment - classroom may too noisy, too hot, too cold, too bright, or too dark. 

 Lifted and then adapted from http: //www.how-to-study.com/