How to prepare for your classes
We know you've heard it over and over again that showing up to class is incredibly important. But we get that finding your way to class can be difficult sometimes. That's why we've pulled together a list of things you can do to make it easier to get to class, and help your semester sail a little smoother.
Prepare
The start of the semester can feel overwhelming, especially if you're new to university. That's why it's important you're prepared. Making sure you have enough time to get to class, knowing your travel route and ensuring you have packed everything you need can help your day run smoothly.
Check your bus, train or ferry timetable as regularly as you check your class timetable!
Check your travel route
No matter how you're getting to campus, it's vital you check your travel route before you head off, as it may have changed. If you plan on taking public transport, ensure you bring your Opal card with you before leaving home, always check for any planned or unplanned disruptions to your normal travel route, and leave yourself some extra time for getting to class on schedule.
Export your timetable to your calendar
There's nothing worse than being perfectly on time for class after racing across campus, and then all of a sudden realising you didn't check the room number properly. Now you're running late, and frantically trying to log into your timetable.
To avoid the above scenario, sync your timetable to your calendar to export all of your class details, including time, room number and any other notes. Your timetable also automatically updates, so if the room number changes last minute, or one week the class time is slightly different, it will reflect this in your calendar.
Check the Canvas page
Canvas is another tool where you can see all updates and last minute information about your classes and studies. Your courses on Canvas include important information such as your Unit of Study (UoS) outline, required readings and staff contacts, so it's important to familiarise yourself with this content before class each week.
Other tips
We know that sinking feeling when you realise your laptop doesn't have enough battery to take notes in your next class and you forgot to pack a notebook. Think ahead and make sure your devices all have enough charge before you leave home, and bring your charger with you to top them up during the day.
Along with your charger, it's essential you pack water and snacks, a sunscreen and a hat, plus your notebooks and stationery. Check the weather to see if you need a jumper or umbrella as well.
The class syllabus is a very helpful tool for you, and not just for accessing assessment details. It tells you what you should expect from your classes week to week, and what's expected of you. The weekly schedule covers what topics are being discussed and how the class will be structured or delivered. It's one of the best places to get an overview of what your upcoming study will look like.
Engage
You've successfully made it to class! The most important thing now is to engage with your learning and do the best you can. Set yourself up with good study habits early to ensure you keep up with your coursework and stay motivated.
Introduce yourself
At the end of class, take some time to introduce yourself to the people around you. Your classmates can be some of the best resources to help you later in the semester. Knowing your classmates will help if you are assigned groupwork, and you might find you're more motivated to go to class if you make friends in that class.
Ask questions
If you're confused by something, someone else probably is too. Don't be afraid to ask questions if you don't understand something, even if you think it seems silly.
If you miss out on asking a question in class, you can approach your lecturer or tutor to see if there's an appropriate time to discuss after class, ask your classmates, or write it down to put in an email later.
Other tips
It's easy to get distracted in class. One of the most powerful tools to help you stay focused is to remove the things that could distract you. Think about what you are likely to get distracted by, and find ways to get rid of the distraction, so you can make the most of your time in class.
Set your phone on do not disturb, and if you're likely to check any particular apps, consider blocking your access to them while you're in class. Put your phone in your bag instead of you pocket to lessen the chance of being distracted by it.
If you think you'll be distracted by your laptop while taking notes, bring a pen and notebook instead.
For the most part, it goes without saying that if you're in class you should be taking notes. Write down things that stand out to you as well as things that don't make sense yet. Knowing your strengths, interests, and gaps in understanding can help you later down the line with assessments and exam preparation.
If you're not sure how to take notes effectively, check out our note-taking guide for some helpful tips.
Commit
You've been to class, it's over, and now you don't want to think about it until next week, right? Not quite. Now is the time to commit to doing your best this semester. Taking a bit of extra time to make sure you took in all of the information from class and ensure you are prepared for the next one will set you up for success in your studies.
Check over your notes
After you've left class and preferably on the same day, take a look back over the notes you took. Check that what you wrote still makes sense to you, and see if you have any answers to the questions you jotted down. If you were given instructions about an assessment, make sure you take special note of that.
Prepare for your next class
Carve out some time to see if there's anything you need to prepare for your next class. See if there are any readings or activities to get a head start on, and reach out to fellow students you met and ask if they want to go over what you learned before or after class next week.
If you finished class and felt completely lost, help is available. The Learning Hub provides learning support for free, including individual consultations, to help students at any stage in their studies.