Biology remains a content heavy subject, with not only concept to learn but facts and figures and details. This means trying to cram this subject really doesn’t work.
1. Have a set of base notes (e.g. the typed notes, printed out)
I create these based off textbook readings and summaries. This counts are revision one. At this point, you don’t have to understand the nitty gritty details, just know the general concepts and what sort of things you will be addressing. I tend to do this at the start of the week for all the units which are going to be covered in that week.
The night before the lecture/workshop/contact/tutorial/practical where that material is covered, I go through the information provided by uni, whether that may be lecture slides, a prac manual, tutorial worksheet etc. I write information my base notes are missing in red. Once complete, I read through all of the notes. This is the second time of reviewing the material with new, additional information.
Now I go to all my uni hours and lectures in person, rather than reviewing online because this is what works best for me. During this time I take detailed notes of what the lecturer is saying (instead of what is on the slides!). [Review number 3 of content]
4. Pulling it all together
Within two days of that lecture/tute/prac/whatever, I go through the notes and additional materials I have collected from these things. Reviewing my base and red notes, I add in anything else (in greeny-blue) that wasn’t already in these notes. [Review number 4 of content].
This method, if done progressively throughout the semester means that the content is reviewed a minimum of 4 times, and very nice, summarised notes result. Using the combination of materials allows a succinct, yet detailed version of studying, and the repetition highlights important points in your mind as they are repeated throughout all the materials.
Let me know what you think!
