What is the actual point in going to lectures?
I'm honestly really wondering what's the point in going to lectures at university. The lecturers said that it is much better going to lectures compared to just watching them online but I see way more negatives than positives.
I'll list a few:
lecturecapture can be watched a 2x speed so I can go through the content of slow lectures quicker
time that could be used working is used up by walking from my accommodation to the lecture hall (10-20 mins total but it adds up)
my concentration is disturbed if I private work to go to a lecture and I probably won't bother working after that
I don't have to get myself tired from running as I'm not great at getting to lectures at time
It makes me not have enough sleep as I have four 9ams
Honestly the only benefit I can think of is that it'll encourage me to socialise more but then that's just a distraction overall.
tl;dr using lecturecapture takes up less time and since I'm staying at my desk my concentration isn't lost by moving around
I'll list a few:
lecturecapture can be watched a 2x speed so I can go through the content of slow lectures quicker
time that could be used working is used up by walking from my accommodation to the lecture hall (10-20 mins total but it adds up)
my concentration is disturbed if I private work to go to a lecture and I probably won't bother working after that
I don't have to get myself tired from running as I'm not great at getting to lectures at time
It makes me not have enough sleep as I have four 9ams
Honestly the only benefit I can think of is that it'll encourage me to socialise more but then that's just a distraction overall.
tl;dr using lecturecapture takes up less time and since I'm staying at my desk my concentration isn't lost by moving around
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Just nap in lectures
Subliminal learning and you catch up on sleep
Subliminal learning and you catch up on sleep
The idea is that at uni level you're willing to actively engage with your subject rather than being a passive consumer of it.
Granted, you're normally just spoken at in lectures, but if you get into the habit of not going you'll soon realise that you're not just missing the 9am lectures but some of the ones later on as well. This is not good for 'active engagement'.
tl;dr to get the most out of your 9 grand go to lectures
Granted, you're normally just spoken at in lectures, but if you get into the habit of not going you'll soon realise that you're not just missing the 9am lectures but some of the ones later on as well. This is not good for 'active engagement'.
tl;dr to get the most out of your 9 grand go to lectures
Everything you listed was about being lazy. If you went and took notes or however you wish to revise the content you would be better off, sounds like you just can’t be bothered to do anything.
I too hate having to get up but at the same time I know that I am better off going in as it motivates me to stay in the library and revise. I haven’t managed to get a sleep schedule worked out and it has been over a year at uni but I know that I could manage if I put my mind to it.
I too hate having to get up but at the same time I know that I am better off going in as it motivates me to stay in the library and revise. I haven’t managed to get a sleep schedule worked out and it has been over a year at uni but I know that I could manage if I put my mind to it.
For some courses and uni, they do not record the lectures, plus some lecturers are very good. The lecture notes uploaded online for my course is very vague and does not go into detail (it's more for recap), whereas in lecture everything is explained and the motivation behind particular problems is discussed (for Maths that is).
I struggle to pay attention in some lectures since it's extremely boring and very pointless. I spend most of the time covering the info we are learning using my phone than listening to the lecture.
I struggle to pay attention in some lectures since it's extremely boring and very pointless. I spend most of the time covering the info we are learning using my phone than listening to the lecture.
Original post by Jackudy3
The idea is that at uni level you're willing to actively engage with your subject rather than being a passive consumer of it.
Granted, you're normally just spoken at in lectures, but if you get into the habit of not going you'll soon realise that you're not just missing the 9am lectures but some of the ones later on as well. This is not good for 'active engagement'.
tl;dr to get the most out of your 9 grand go to lectures
Granted, you're normally just spoken at in lectures, but if you get into the habit of not going you'll soon realise that you're not just missing the 9am lectures but some of the ones later on as well. This is not good for 'active engagement'.
tl;dr to get the most out of your 9 grand go to lectures
I don't quite understand how going to the lectures means active engagement. You don't generally ask questions in a lecture unless it's to tell the lecturer that they need to move the paper down and even if there are other questions most people don't answer anyway.
Original post by UWS
Some people learn better in person I guess.
I think a lot of my lectures are better off done at home but it gives me an excuse to stay back at uni and do some work in the library or to socialise.
I think a lot of my lectures are better off done at home but it gives me an excuse to stay back at uni and do some work in the library or to socialise.
Yeah tbh socialising sounds like the best reason for me as well. And so far I've found working in my room easier as it's long for me to carry things everywhere I go as I'll need my laptop if I'm working in the library.
Original post by Bio 7
Everything you listed was about being lazy. If you went and took notes or however you wish to revise the content you would be better off, sounds like you just can’t be bothered to do anything.
I too hate having to get up but at the same time I know that I am better off going in as it motivates me to stay in the library and revise. I haven’t managed to get a sleep schedule worked out and it has been over a year at uni but I know that I could manage if I put my mind to it.
I too hate having to get up but at the same time I know that I am better off going in as it motivates me to stay in the library and revise. I haven’t managed to get a sleep schedule worked out and it has been over a year at uni but I know that I could manage if I put my mind to it.
I'll give you that being lazy is part of it but I was still planning on taking notes and revising but the idea was doing it at home rather than going to the lecture theatre.
Original post by kkboyk
For some courses and uni, they do not record the lectures, plus some lecturers are very good. The lecture notes uploaded online for my course is very vague and does not go into detail (it's more for recap), whereas in lecture everything is explained and the motivation behind particular problems is discussed (for Maths that is).
I struggle to pay attention in some lectures since it's extremely boring and very pointless. I spend most of the time covering the info we are learning using my phone than listening to the lecture.
I struggle to pay attention in some lectures since it's extremely boring and very pointless. I spend most of the time covering the info we are learning using my phone than listening to the lecture.
All of my lectures are recorded but I just noticed that there is risk of recordings not working so I guess that's a fair point. The lecture notes in most of my modules are literally just what was written in the lecture so I'd see that on the lecture capture. And I feel like I'm on my phone a lot in lectures but playing the lecture at 2x speed encourages me to concentrate more as I can't just sit back and wait for the lecturer to make their point.
Original post by AspiringUnderdog
I'm honestly really wondering what's the point in going to lectures at university. The lecturers said that it is much better going to lectures compared to just watching them online but I see way more negatives than positives.
I'll list a few:
lecturecapture can be watched a 2x speed so I can go through the content of slow lectures quicker
time that could be used working is used up by walking from my accommodation to the lecture hall (10-20 mins total but it adds up)
my concentration is disturbed if I private work to go to a lecture and I probably won't bother working after that
I don't have to get myself tired from running as I'm not great at getting to lectures at time
It makes me not have enough sleep as I have four 9ams
Honestly the only benefit I can think of is that it'll encourage me to socialise more but then that's just a distraction overall.
tl;dr using lecturecapture takes up less time and since I'm staying at my desk my concentration isn't lost by moving around
I'll list a few:
lecturecapture can be watched a 2x speed so I can go through the content of slow lectures quicker
time that could be used working is used up by walking from my accommodation to the lecture hall (10-20 mins total but it adds up)
my concentration is disturbed if I private work to go to a lecture and I probably won't bother working after that
I don't have to get myself tired from running as I'm not great at getting to lectures at time
It makes me not have enough sleep as I have four 9ams
Honestly the only benefit I can think of is that it'll encourage me to socialise more but then that's just a distraction overall.
tl;dr using lecturecapture takes up less time and since I'm staying at my desk my concentration isn't lost by moving around
When lecture finishes you have the opportunity to ask the lectuerer questions in person. You could potentially email them if you were watching lecture from a laptop but usually they take ages to respond & will have a better answer in person.
I don't know what your lectures are like but w/ some of mine the lectuerer will literally ask questions to hundreds of us in the room and expect an answer & once she even put us in groups during a lecture. So you'd miss out on all of that if you only watched a laptop from a screen.
It's also unhealthy to stay in your room for ages, at least travelling to lectures encourages you to leave your room. Also encourages the importance of waking up early & getting somewhere on time.
Go to bed earlier if you're not getting enough sleep before 9am lectures
If you don't udnerstand something in a lecture, but you're not there in person and only watching a recording, who you gonna ask for help?
And sometimes, not all content gets recorded so you may be missing out on some useful information.
You are also going to be at least a day behind on subject content, if not more if it takes a while for your lectures to be uploaded, so you are effectively losing even more time that way.
Personally I completely zone out when listening to stuff on repeat, so a 1 hour lecture may take me like 3 hours to listen to, so I prefer getting it done there and then in the lecture, and not having to think about making notes.
And sometimes, not all content gets recorded so you may be missing out on some useful information.
You are also going to be at least a day behind on subject content, if not more if it takes a while for your lectures to be uploaded, so you are effectively losing even more time that way.
Personally I completely zone out when listening to stuff on repeat, so a 1 hour lecture may take me like 3 hours to listen to, so I prefer getting it done there and then in the lecture, and not having to think about making notes.
Original post by AspiringUnderdog
I'm honestly really wondering what's the point in going to lectures at university. The lecturers said that it is much better going to lectures compared to just watching them online but I see way more negatives than positives.
I'll list a few:
lecturecapture can be watched a 2x speed so I can go through the content of slow lectures quicker
time that could be used working is used up by walking from my accommodation to the lecture hall (10-20 mins total but it adds up)
my concentration is disturbed if I private work to go to a lecture and I probably won't bother working after that
I don't have to get myself tired from running as I'm not great at getting to lectures at time
It makes me not have enough sleep as I have four 9ams
Honestly the only benefit I can think of is that it'll encourage me to socialise more but then that's just a distraction overall.
tl;dr using lecturecapture takes up less time and since I'm staying at my desk my concentration isn't lost by moving around
I'll list a few:
lecturecapture can be watched a 2x speed so I can go through the content of slow lectures quicker
time that could be used working is used up by walking from my accommodation to the lecture hall (10-20 mins total but it adds up)
my concentration is disturbed if I private work to go to a lecture and I probably won't bother working after that
I don't have to get myself tired from running as I'm not great at getting to lectures at time
It makes me not have enough sleep as I have four 9ams
Honestly the only benefit I can think of is that it'll encourage me to socialise more but then that's just a distraction overall.
tl;dr using lecturecapture takes up less time and since I'm staying at my desk my concentration isn't lost by moving around
Lecturers often talk about other information that isn't online so it's beneficial to go. If you don't understand something you can ask there and then instead of having to email or wait until their office hours.
It's your problem that you aren't getting enough sleep, nothing to do with the lectures. Learn time management skills and you'll be fine for getting to 9ams. How are you going to cope if you have a job starting at 9am (or earlier) 5 days a week? Just phone in saying "ugh not coming in because starting at 9am means I don't sleep enough so it's not my fault"? Become a responsible adult.
Extra information and examples given in lectures help understanding of the material.
I also have four 9ams, this helps me to stick to a routine and not slack.
Some are useless though.
I also have four 9ams, this helps me to stick to a routine and not slack.
Some are useless though.
I feel the same. When I do turn up to lectures I lose concentration after about 15 mins because listening to someone talk about maths for 1 hour non stop is just so boring. I learn far better by actually doing the tutorial questions and seeing how things work myself rather than having them thrown at me as 1 huge chunk of information.
While I would say that some lectures are borderline useless and barely worth attending, the majority of your list is frankly ridiculous.
1. Do you get to hear what the lecturers are actually saying? If yes, can you even understand it at 2x speed? Are all the lectures recorded?
2. This is such a post-hoc bs excuse. As if you really care about not having an extra 20 possible minutes of work time when you've already admitted to skipping 9ams just so you can sleep more.
3. Same again, really. "going is a distraction" is the most bizzare thing I've ever heard. Leaving the house to go do some work is distracting you from work? "I probably won't bother working after that" so lectures aren't worth going to... because you're lazy? Surely that's a point in their favour, you have to do far less yourself if you turn up.
4. I'm not sure that your poor time management skills are a point in favour of doing your whole degree at home where there's no set structure in place, if you think about it for more than 5 minutes.
5. Go to bed earlier. Honestly, when your earliest lectures become more routine for you this tends not to be too much of a problem unless you're an absolute sesh gremlin
The benefit you listed is important. Coming out of uni with a decent degree won't do you much good when you leave uni if you have no friends and go to prospective employers with terrible social skills because you made yourself a hermit for 3 years or so, and this is ignoring any potential mental health knock on effects from not socialising enough.
Lectures can be a good use of your time, as lecturers will often give extra information not given on any slides or in your readings. Also, if you tend to struggle in your subject you've got a person you can ask questions at the end of each bit. If you attend a lecture regularly and discover they're just teaching directly from textbook and you have no real friends there then sure, skip it. But if you're skipping everything then there's a very high chance you're doing yourself more harm than good.
Source: I skipped everything first year and became a mess.
Original post by AspiringUnderdog
I'm honestly really wondering what's the point in going to lectures at university. The lecturers said that it is much better going to lectures compared to just watching them online but I see way more negatives than positives.
I'll list a few: imma number them for ease mk?
1. lecturecapture can be watched a 2x speed so I can go through the content of slow lectures quicker
2. time that could be used working is used up by walking from my accommodation to the lecture hall (10-20 mins total but it adds up)
3. my concentration is disturbed if I private work to go to a lecture and I probably won't bother working after that
4. I don't have to get myself tired from running as I'm not great at getting to lectures at time
5. It makes me not have enough sleep as I have four 9ams
Honestly the only benefit I can think of is that it'll encourage me to socialise more but then that's just a distraction overall.
tl;dr using lecturecapture takes up less time and since I'm staying at my desk my concentration isn't lost by moving around
I'll list a few: imma number them for ease mk?
1. lecturecapture can be watched a 2x speed so I can go through the content of slow lectures quicker
2. time that could be used working is used up by walking from my accommodation to the lecture hall (10-20 mins total but it adds up)
3. my concentration is disturbed if I private work to go to a lecture and I probably won't bother working after that
4. I don't have to get myself tired from running as I'm not great at getting to lectures at time
5. It makes me not have enough sleep as I have four 9ams
Honestly the only benefit I can think of is that it'll encourage me to socialise more but then that's just a distraction overall.
tl;dr using lecturecapture takes up less time and since I'm staying at my desk my concentration isn't lost by moving around
1. Do you get to hear what the lecturers are actually saying? If yes, can you even understand it at 2x speed? Are all the lectures recorded?
2. This is such a post-hoc bs excuse. As if you really care about not having an extra 20 possible minutes of work time when you've already admitted to skipping 9ams just so you can sleep more.
3. Same again, really. "going is a distraction" is the most bizzare thing I've ever heard. Leaving the house to go do some work is distracting you from work? "I probably won't bother working after that" so lectures aren't worth going to... because you're lazy? Surely that's a point in their favour, you have to do far less yourself if you turn up.
4. I'm not sure that your poor time management skills are a point in favour of doing your whole degree at home where there's no set structure in place, if you think about it for more than 5 minutes.
5. Go to bed earlier. Honestly, when your earliest lectures become more routine for you this tends not to be too much of a problem unless you're an absolute sesh gremlin
The benefit you listed is important. Coming out of uni with a decent degree won't do you much good when you leave uni if you have no friends and go to prospective employers with terrible social skills because you made yourself a hermit for 3 years or so, and this is ignoring any potential mental health knock on effects from not socialising enough.
Lectures can be a good use of your time, as lecturers will often give extra information not given on any slides or in your readings. Also, if you tend to struggle in your subject you've got a person you can ask questions at the end of each bit. If you attend a lecture regularly and discover they're just teaching directly from textbook and you have no real friends there then sure, skip it. But if you're skipping everything then there's a very high chance you're doing yourself more harm than good.
Source: I skipped everything first year and became a mess.
I think the issue it starts off with the 9am lecture then the 12pm one.. then eventually you skip a tutorial or seminar and then it starts having an impact. I think online is better though, sometimes if it’s an interesting topic I go there and just listen because you’re mind is free to think deeper and development on their ideas (don’t be that guy who copies the entire PowerPoint on a word document, waste of time!)
Original post by bones-mccoy
Go to bed earlier if you're not getting enough sleep before 9am lectures
Easier said than done. I don’t think going to bed early works, you’ll just end up lying there for hours.
It's a personal thing, people have their reasons for going or not going to lectures and so it's best to make your own decision and be responsible for it 
. In the same way that you learn better outside of lectures i do too, but what I've learned is that it's very important to take care of my physical and mental health. I'm not saying that you fit that bill, but if I've learned anything from not attending lectures, it is that it can lend to very unhealthy attitudes and mindsets and so taking time to recharge is important. With all that said, I think it's okay to do what makes you more productive, it shouldn't be proving a point because this is a more personal thing than anything in my opinion.
. In the same way that you learn better outside of lectures i do too, but what I've learned is that it's very important to take care of my physical and mental health. I'm not saying that you fit that bill, but if I've learned anything from not attending lectures, it is that it can lend to very unhealthy attitudes and mindsets and so taking time to recharge is important. With all that said, I think it's okay to do what makes you more productive, it shouldn't be proving a point because this is a more personal thing than anything in my opinion.(edited 5 years ago)
Original post by AspiringUnderdog
lecturecapture can be watched a 2x speed so I can go through the content of slow lectures quicker
Whilst you can obviously listen to info at 2 speed, i find it hard to believe you retain information for use in exams many months away by watching something through at 2x speed.
time that could be used working is used up by walking from my accommodation to the lecture hall (10-20 mins total but it adds up)
Good exercise, which is good for concentration and information retention.
my concentration is disturbed if I private work to go to a lecture and I probably won't bother working after that
Huh? Just do work after your lecture. Or before. Whatever.
I don't have to get myself tired from running as I'm not great at getting to lectures at time
Get more punctual then.
It makes me not have enough sleep as I have four 9ams
Omg 9am how do you cope.
Lectures are at least partially there in order to motivate you to get up and get working. You could sit on your ass in your room 24/7 and hope you pass through self-study alone, but you will get more out of things if you participate.
There is no point IMO.
I don't go (usually). I try to go to all the Seminars though, they are quite helpful.
Lecturers are just shite. They don't know how to keep you engaged.
I don't go (usually). I try to go to all the Seminars though, they are quite helpful.
Lecturers are just shite. They don't know how to keep you engaged.
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