It is hard to imagine anything as challenging as writing down your lecture notes online. Just think about your Internet connection always breaking down or Zoom swallowing half of what has been said. Some people at Nerdify reviews even compare it to some odd writings made by the nursing students. Jokes aside, however, we decided to share the tips that have helped us in 2020 and before when getting a hold of our lecture notes online. It is also helpful for various online conferences and those times when you have to get ready for some online exam and need to take helpful notes.

1. Ask questions. Do not be afraid of asking questions. The majority of students that we spoke to at Nerdify reviews have told us that they were afraid of asking this or that because college professors online would easily become irritated. Still, you are there to learn, which is why it is completely normal to ask something that you have misunderstood. Asking for some clarification is your legal right, which is only natural when someone has an unstable Internet connection or misses the point that is hard to understand when you are online.

2. Write down the key phrases. Write down the key phrases that you hear. You don’t even have to do it right away. Take your time to do it the way they always seem to implement at international conferences. Act just like a good journalist and take notes that come to your mind. This way you can use any break from the lectures or any free moment to write something down. You can easily type it into your Notepad online or save it somewhere where you can easily find it. Just write it down in your own words and reference it later by rephrasing things.

3. Share Notes With Your Friends. Do not forget about sharing your lecture notes with your online friends. Some of you may be more tech-savvy, which is a good way to share your tips and ideas. You do not even have to go outside or sit waiting at your friend’s porch because you can share audio recordings, screen captures, or anything that has been used to write down your lecture notes. Learn about the culture of sharing and assist the best way you can. It will always pay off and will help to make sense out of all the mess that you may have had in the beginning.

4. Ask For Sources. Another great lecture tip that has been proposed by our experts at the Nerdify reviews is asking your college professors for sources that would help you see where the information is coming from. You may not hear something well, yet sharing a link online by posting it as a text message is much easier and will save you a great deal of time. Think about this idea the next time you are participating in an online lecture and make sure to share this great tip along. It will also help you to keep the links at hand when you compose your Bibliography or References page.

5. Make Audio Recordings With Your Phone. Since you might be watching your online lecture via your laptop, remember that you can use your phone to record the lecture and playback things later. We often did so at the Nerdify reviews and it has helped us to notice some things that we could not capture before. Since you can playback things more than once, it helps a great deal to determine what has been said and write down an exact quote for your next assignment. It is a handy trick that you must try and see if it helps you to keep your lecture notes in control.

6. Record Yourself Talk. Alternatively, you can try a different approach by recording your thoughts with a voice speaker by using your phone as well. Remember how famous detectives always do so in the movies? It is exactly the same approach! Just record your thoughts during the lecture and playback them later when you have to start with your assignment.

7. Organize Additional Sessions. When all things fail and if you could not write down your online lecture notes for some reason, ask your friends for help. If they are in the same boat as you are, organize additional online sessions, and ask each other for some assistance. While it may not be always possible to approach your college professor, unite your efforts together, and think of a good solution to this unpleasant situation.

Most importantly, remember that you have a right to contact your college’s online help center and explain the situation in case there were any technical troubles. Just make some screenshots and share your and your friends’ evidence as you do!

What is Active Listening?

It’s more than just hearing someone speak; listening is about truly connecting with the person sharing their thoughts.

An active listener focuses entirely on the speaker, striving to grasp not just the words but also the feelings behind them. This means blocking out distractions – no zoning out or thinking about what you’ll say next – and really tuning in to the conversation.

Active listening is an “intentional communication skill” that transcends simply hearing. It’s about immersing yourself in the dialogue to understand and empathize with the speaker’s message.

For college students, mastering active listening during lectures, discussions, or labs can significantly enhance your learning experience. In fact, researchers point out that strong listening skills are crucial for academic success: they boost comprehension, improve retention, and can even lead to better grades.

Why is Listening Important?

Listening is super important, and it’s a question worth asking! It plays a vital role in how we learn and communicate.

Experts are on the same page: if you work on your listening skills, you’ll become a better student and communicator.

For instance, teachers often highlight that in an engaging classroom, being a good listener allows students to ask sharp questions and think critically about what they’re learning. In simple terms, effective listening means you won’t overlook important instructions or details during lectures. Research supports this idea too; one study found that students who engage in structured listening activities, like group discussions or quizzes, tend to be more involved and perform better in class.

But it’s not just about academics. Strong listening skills are the foundation of all communication. When you listen attentively, you get to know your classmates and teachers better, build trust, and even boost your own confidence. Active listening can enhance students’ confidence and their ability to express ideas, making the classroom experience feel more collaborative and less frustrating. In a nutshell, being a good listener helps you learn more effectively and connect with others on a deeper level.

How to Be an Active Listener?

Looking to sharpen your listening skills? Check out these handy tips tailored for the classroom:.

Focus your attention: Make sure to face the speaker, whether it’s your professor or a classmate, and eliminate any distractions. Stow your phone and maintain eye contact. This straightforward action – physically directing your focus – already shows you’re engaged. A helpful reminder from teachers is that a genuine listener “thinks about what the teacher is saying” rather than letting their mind drift off.

Give nonverbal signals: Use nods, smiles, and facial expressions to convey that you’re following along. A reassuring “mm-hmm” or a quick “yes” now and then can really encourage the speaker. These little cues (“I’m listening and I care”) help others feel more at ease when sharing their thoughts.

Summarize and question: After a key point or example, take a moment to paraphrase it in your mind or even say it out loud. For example, you might say to a peer, “So what you’re saying is…”, or jot down a quick summary in your notes. This reflective practice helps you catch the details. If something isn’t clear, don’t hesitate to ask a question: seeking clarification not only boosts your understanding but also shows you were truly paying attention.

Be patient and open-minded: Allow your classmates or instructor to finish their thoughts without jumping in. Resist the urge to mentally craft your response while they’re speaking. Make an effort to absorb their entire perspective first. Even if you don’t agree, keeping an open mind is essential – grasping another viewpoint is a key part of effective listening.

Show empathy (when appropriate): If someone is sharing a personal story or expressing frustration, listen with empathy. A simple “That sounds tough, I understand” can really make them feel heard. In a group project, acknowledging a peer’s concerns by saying something like “I see how that could be confusing” demonstrates that you value their input.

Active Listening Activities

Listening doesn’t have to be a chore; it can actually be a lot of fun! Here are some engaging active listening activities that college students can dive into.

Dream Vacation Pair Exercise: In this activity, you’ll team up with a partner. One person, let’s call them Person A (the Speaker), has 60 seconds to describe their dream vacation – talking about everything from the weather to the sights and food – without revealing the destination. The other person, Person B (the Listener), simply listens. Once the minute is up, Person B has to summarize what they heard and even guess the location based on those clues. This exercise sharpens your ability to catch details and paraphrase effectively.

Peer Summaries: After a lecture or during a study session, pair up and take turns summarizing key points for each other. For instance, Student A might explain a slide to Student B, who then rephrases it back. Switching roles keeps everyone engaged. Research shows that interactive classroom activities like discussions and recaps (as opposed to just listening to lectures) boost engagement and comprehension.

Active Note-Taking: Try a method that encourages reflection, like Cornell notes or concept maps. For example, split your page into a main column and a narrow question column. While you listen, jot down the main ideas on the right and write questions or quick summaries on the left. This approach helps you actively organize information. Later, you can use your questions to quiz yourself. Even something as straightforward as circling points you don’t quite grasp and following up on them makes your listening more intentional.

Question Roundtable: When working in groups, establish a rule that everyone must ask or answer at least one question about the topic. This way, everyone stays focused – you’ll listen closely so you can come up with a thoughtful question or response. It transforms passive listening into an engaging dialogue.

Takeaway: Practice and Reflect

Listening is a skill you can definitely improve over time. You know that saying about skills being like muscles? Well, it’s true – the more you exercise them, the stronger they get. So, why not try out one of those techniques in your next class or study group? For instance, challenge yourself to summarize a discussion point afterward, or keep your phone tucked away for the first 10 minutes. Then take a moment to reflect: What new insight did I gain by really tuning in?

Good listening isn’t just about boosting your grades; it’s a way to show respect to your classmates and make the learning experience richer for everyone involved. The next time you’re in class, ask yourself: “How well did I listen today?” You might even set a goal like, “Tomorrow, I’ll paraphrase two key points I hear.” Over time, these little habits will help you become an active listener who truly absorbs the material and enhances classroom discussions.

Greetings, Nerdify fans! Imagine that you’ve been working on your resume for several hours, then sent it to different companies in the hoping to get an invitation for the interview. Finally, it happened, but you started panicking, as you don’t know what to do and how to behave.

Don’t be afraid! Follow Nerdify recommendations that will help you cope with stress and pass the interview successfully.

Before the interview:

1. Pick proper clothes

Good clothes open all doors. So try not to contradict the corporate style. Perhaps in the organization, they prefer to dress in casual. Then don’t stand out and don’t come in an office suit. Just from the doorway, you will be perceived as a stranger. Conversely, in areas where every employee must wear a suit, jeans and a sweater will look weird. Anyway, the clothes should be clean, ironed and neutral.

2. Explore the company

Most companies have websites where you can find all the information: from the history and the founders to the mission and contacts. Spend an hour or two on this site for a deeper study of the organization. Find out what qualities and skills the company values in employees and whether you have them. Knowledge is power, but it also shows that you are serious about it and you care about which company to work in.

3. Review your resume

You think that you already know your resume throughout and across but read it again, thinking about the possible questions of the employer. Try to correlate your answers with the position you are applying for.

4. Write an elevator pitch

Еlevator pitch is a short 30-second presentation of yourself, answering questions: ‘who are you?’, ‘what can you offer?’, ‘what contribution can you make to the company?’. It’s always difficult to write about your strengths and benefits, but you have to learn how to sell yourself as a professional.

5. Make a repetition

Invite a friend or family member to have a mini-interview with you. Tell them your elevator pitch. Ask them to ask you some typical questions, and you give them the best answers. You can also ask them for the feedback. Rehearsal interview allows you to get used to this process so that you feel comfortable and confident in a real interview.

6. Prepare questions on important topics

As you gather information about the company, write down the questions that arise. On some questions, you can find answers in the process of studying the company. The rest you can ask the interviewer. Don’t forget that the interview is primarily a dialogue. Moreover, interesting and reasonable questions characterize the applicant positively.

7. Prepare answers to typical questions

A good improvisation is a rehearsed improvisation. Prepare answers to potential questions whenever possible. Definitely, you will not define all the questions that you will be asked. And yet it does not prevent you from getting ready. Look at the lists of typical questions in the interview. Think about your answers. Most often, the interviewer will ask you the text of your resume: your last job, why you quit, etc.

Pronounce the prepared phrases aloud. Not everyone has an innate oratorical talent, so you should develop this skill at every opportunity. Especially before the interview.

During the interview: 

1. Follow the posture

Sit straight, spread your shoulders, don’t bring your head down. Nothing in your behavior should say that you are a lazy student. You are not a lazy student and you don’t want the interviewer to accept you for who you really are not. So, don’t slouch!

2. Maintain eye contact

By maintaining eye contact with the interviewer, you demonstrate your sincerity and confidence.

3. Do not apologize for lack of experience

Instead, emphasize your education, skills, and strengths.

4. Answer questions honestly

Never lie. Even if some of the interviewer’s questions make you uncomfortable, don’t lie and never change the subject. You have to tell the truth, only the truth and nothing but the truth. This is what is appreciated the most at Nerdify.

5. Omit some details

No one needs to know the details of your background. The more you explain these or those situations, the more you create an impression of yourself as an exculpatory and protective person. As it was mentioned before, don’t lie, speak about the facts but omit the details. Hold confession for your therapy session.

6. Use a professional language

Even if the interviewer is being rude, don’t follow his example. Maintain a professional level, refraining from the tartness, inappropriate jokes. As a student, you can’t boast of extensive experience, but you are able to show your ambitions, fresh and new look and readiness to work.

After the interview:

Send a thank you note by e-mail to your interviewer within 24 hours after the end of the interview. Thank him for the time and confirm your interest in this work. The letter shouldn’t be too long and make sure that it doesn’t contain grammatical errors.

You are still a beginner in the labor market and it will be difficult for you to pass the interview right away. Hever, these recommendations from Nerdify will help you prepare for all the pitfalls that may meet you on the way to getting a job.

Good luck!