Claas Röver's Teaching Pages - Study Advice

Here I list a few points which when followed, I believe, make studying mathematics easier and even enjoyable. Most of these points are also relevant for computer science courses. The colors mean nothing.

1. Try to understand the logic and main ideas behind the concepts taught.
This reduces the amount of stuff you need to learn by heart.

2. Learn continuously, mostly definitions and technical terms, along with the lectures.
This will help you to actually understand what the lecturer is saying. Studying involves a certain amount of learning vocabulary.

3. Do exercises regularly, i.e. at least once a week.
This way you get practice which is needed for exams and you may find things you want to ask. It is also a great feeling when you solve a problem. Both mathematics and programming can only be learned by doing. Lectures are there to help you to move on in an organised fashion. In short: solve problems/exercises or write programs.

4. Do ask questions whenever you have problems.
You can ask fellow students as well as the lecturer or tutor, or even a book. Ask during the lectures, not afterwards. This way the whole class can benefit. Usually, there are others with the same problem, but don't rely on them to aks. Go for it!

5. Read about the material in books.
Repetition or a slight change of viewpoint or different explanation can help a lot. Everybody has different ideas and preferences about style, so choose a book you like.

6. Discuss or solve problems together with other students.
Discussions often help to solidify knowledge and streamline thoughts. What you find easy others may find difficult and vice versa.

7. If there are tutorials/labs on offer, then do take part regularly.
Tutorials/labs are often less formal and hence it may feel easier to ask questions. There you learn how one writes up solutions to problems.