How to Make College Courses Easy and How *Not* to Practice "Self-Care"
This is the fourth in a series of videos intended for first-year college students, tentatively titled "How to Do Well in College." This video explains that the common question "Is this course easy or hard?" is misplaced. Really, what determines whether a college course is hard or easy is not so much the course itself, but rather how one goes about taking that course. I talk through several examples to illustrate this. And then I go on a little rant about the phrase "Self-Care" and how it can mislead students. Giving oneself a break from the reading or note-taking required for a course makes the course harder than it needs to be, and really amounts not to self-care, but to self-sabotage. Alternatively, if by "self-care" you merely mean treating yourself to guacamole on your burrito, then go for it.
It is amazing that how such minor changes in your pattern to study, leads to your grades sky rocketing.
Will my grades actually sky ro keto or just improve slightly?
@@putinsgaytwin4272yes
I will trust a philosopher to teach me how to study
When taking a multiple choice test, if you have eliminated the obviously incorrect answers and you have absolutely no idea what the correct answer is, choose the answer containing the most syllables. Wrong answers tend to have a generalized tone to them versus correct answers that need to be very specific and require more and longer words.
Additionally, make a mental note of the type of question. There’s a decent chance a question of a similar type will come up again and if it does, the question and answer choices may help you to choose between your remaining answers. Obviously don’t waste tons of time going back and forth if you’re strapped for time, but, especially on really long multiple choice tests, you may, for instance, get a question about a topic and later get a question with a graph for that same topic and the combination may allow you to rule out answer choices because you just didn’t quite remember what the axis for the graph were or whatever.
I just had my UoL jurisprudence exam and to be honest...I'm lazy, reading is tough for me....and because I'm lazy and love self-care I started studying months in advance by watching your videos and reading study guide...then I reviewed the exam past papers and pulled the common topics... prepared 4 essays and then waited for the exam... to my surprise the topics I prepared for came and because it was open book I was able to copy and paste my essays straight in....Thanks for the great lectures and study advice...it is 100% accurate!
The self-care rant was refreshing.
Another helpful suggestion is to join (or form) a study group of about four students taking the same classes. Meet on a regular basis at the same place. This is also a great way to make new friends.
Incredibly helpful series. As a student who got it wrong the first time around, these videos are invaluable. Thanks so much! Looking forward to the rest.
I had bad luck going to office hours for professors in engineering. They were rude, didnt care, or were dismissive and judgemental. I hope that professors in other majors are nicer than that. Also, I found out, too late for the midterm, that in one of my courses, the professor had given old exams to the engineering society club, and people could check them out to study for the exams. It turned out to be almost exactly the same exam that I ended up taking. One more thing, I wrote an essay once in my freshman year, on my take on atoms where I tried to make the claim that matter was made of interacting forces, rather than atoms. I took the essay to my physics 1 professor and asked if she could read it and give me her take on it. She was super nice and explained to me that the reality of atoms was much more complex, but I think she was happy to see me trying and thinking outside the course. So I did have a good office hour experience.
Thanks for sharing. It can be Russian roulette re profs and office hour question period.
Indeed some professors are dismissive
I had good engineering professors in general, of course there are a few professors in every field that should not be in the teaching profession because they seem to view students as an interruption. They should realize that without students they wouldn't have a job.
All right. Self-care is identifying why you weren't able to do the normal things that are expected of you that you even expect of yourself. Self-care is not a list of actions. There are no actions with self-care. Self-care is like the scientific method. It is a stepped plan that allows you to get from a to b. You do not practice self-care by taking the night off or forcing yourself to do anything. You practice self-care by identifying the problem by making sure that you can see the goddamn flashing blinking light on the dashboard that says hey my oil levels low and that's why the engine is grinding. That self-care has identified a solution to my problem and then I can enact that solution. I then put oil in my engine which is not self-care. That's called maintenance. Self-care is not taking the day off. Self-care is oh. I haven't given myself a consideration so what do I want to do? Well I want to do nothing for one day.
I am a law student and your videos are really helpful for me. Thank you so much professor.
Hi Professor, just wanted to say that you definitely convinced me with this one! Thanks!
Thanks a lot for this series !
I will be sure to use these tips. Thank you so much!
Write and divide between easy vs hard Ones you don't know the answers to and get someone else to explain Hard stuff you translate into a question Then have it answered until you understand the things on the hard list 5:26 took statistics course 6:33 examples that will describe how to make course easier 15:51 15:54 Take notes 2 reading before class 3 take notes during class 4 review notes after class; while all of it fresh 16:03
Keep the critiques of self-care coming. I love it.
That rant about self care was great to hear
Really valuable content Jeffrey❤ also the self care vs self sabotage stuff is real.
3) Exam Question Bank; in my university (PUJ Cali, Colombia, South America), 455 questions, only 3 will be picked for the final oral exam, the way I passed was actually asking questions in class, taking notes and really trying to understand the class I was taking (Labor law/ work place law), there's always some logic to the class. I can't imagine what it would be like for students that didn't take notes and tried to memorize all 455 questions.
They might try finding answers to the 455 questions by attending lectures and asking questions in the class throughout the semester
You are hilarious! An amazing professor 🤘🏼
Had an intro to psych course with a professor who -- well, I have no idea to this day what he was trying to teach. He mostly rambled and walked back and forth, and gave crazy advice like what to do if you were ever attacked by a psychopath. The next semester I took Philosophy instead; it made tons more sense and covered many of the same writers.
This idea about analyzing the task and working smart is valuable on the job as well. It is really a basic life skill. Lincoln is supposed to have said that in an timed log splitting contest the wisest use of time is to use some time sharping the axe. Kids that were not exposed to this before college were did not receive a good education in life skills.
you're the goat. as a freshman philosophy major You're the damn goat
My god I love the sass so much! I hope you show these videos to your actual students. Maybe some of them might feel a bit attacked 😂
2:55-4:18 i want to take this 83 seconds of the video and send it to my Professors 😂
I found the savior of my entire career. 👽♥️♥️♥️
Man why did you delete the playlist it was so helpful
I was the one who forgot the calculator, I did it without. I am proud because I did pass the test with a good grade but probably should’ve brought it.
The one thing i like to do is study the subject before the class, because you'll just focus at the details than learn everything and forgetting it afterwards.
Will you do an introduction to logic curse? Like the one on ethics
Personally, I think there is a lot of value in trying to tackle the hard problems yourself. Yes, it may be painful and time inefficient, but you get a ton out of it. Asking your professor each time you get stuck on something is the definition of dependent learning.
Absolutely. There's more value in doing it yourself than literally depending on others. But, I used that an excuse to avoid social interaction even when there's an objectively better way to learn. If that's you, admit what you're afraid of and try make improvement. I see it in my students and still in myself sometimes, but it's possible to improve - and it really makes life easier.
This is mint!
You are great❤
As they say they can help you with your homework but you don’t get them to do it.
Nice one,
Excellent..
I wish I had such a teacher in my times ...
Nice
This is the smartest way of studying
If I don't understand how to fill in a truth-table (with the book, lecture, google etc), how could you possibly expect me to be able to follow these considerably more complicated instructions?
You are hilarious.
TRUTH TAB-LES 🙌🙌 TRUTH TAB-LES 🙌🙌 TRUTH TAB-LES 🙌🙌💯
🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation: 00:00 📚 *The professor introduces a "cheating" method for college courses that involves identifying easy and hard topics and seeking help for the latter, emphasizing it requires effort and participation in the class.* 01:50 🤔 *Converts hard topics into questions to ask during professor's office hours, revealing the method involves actively engaging with course material and seeking clarifications to understand difficult concepts better.* 03:40 😏 *Highlights that this method, though referred to as "cheating," is actually a legitimate and effective study strategy that leverages professor's knowledge and office hours to excel in exams.* 04:28 🎓 *Discusses how course difficulty largely depends on the student's approach and study methods, with examples illustrating how strategic preparation can significantly ease course challenges.* 06:48 📝 *Offers specific examples of how students can make courses easier by leveraging available resources and adopting efficient study habits, such as utilizing open-note exams and preparing properly for various types of assessments.* 09:08 🏆 *Shares a strategy for handling courses with an exam question bank by preparing in advance, highlighting the importance of proactive study behaviors.* 11:00 🚫 *Warns against common pitfalls that make courses harder, like ignoring professor communications or not utilizing provided study materials and opportunities.* 13:17 🧘♂️ *Critiques the misuse of "self-care" as an excuse to neglect study responsibilities, arguing that true self-care involves disciplined study habits that reduce stress and improve academic performance.* Made with HARPA AI
Amazing lol
What? I little studying makes helps me get good grades? Well, why didn't yall say so?
how are you writing on the screen like that? shouldn’t it be backwards to us?
It is, but he mirrors the video. It’s a cool technology called “learning glass” where the teacher just records themselves writing on the glass normally, then the video is flipped so it looks normal to the viewer. I remember my mind being blow when I first found this out studying Chemistry and watching Chemistry teachers draw benzene or Physics teachers making diagrams of projectile motion.
Do you have to have a glass wall to be able to do it?
@@putinsgaytwin4272 yes, since the point of the glass wall is to see the side that the person writing is opposite to. The writing person partially covers the wall of the side they’re on. Good luck seeing the opposite side of an opaque wall.
"they're like the ultimate student whose already taken the course" haha
Nah you're right man.
But wait, how is he writing backwards so proficiently 😂
How do u write backwards so well
He wrote normally and then mirrored the video
@@xtonibx5770 oh word
My professor doesnt have office hours
I really hoped the non calculator guy made it you ruined my day
Why even make the "easy" list?
To clarify what should be on the hard list. Can just move down it quick rather than having to do any thinking.
Just drop out and so something real .. maybe a business or something... It's waste to spend time on most college degree....🤧
Thats your perspective
An education in business and financial literacy is pretty helpful for running a successful business lol
My best advice is to be prepared for an innindation of bombardment of liberalism from your proffessors. Many of them view this as the object of their teaching duties.
thank uu philosopher, the only jew I can trust