In today’s post we are going to see , as far as A level physics Classes are concerned , what actions have really helped me to enjoy the subject , and how they might help you too.
One of the key things that had really helped me is learning to solve problems on my own. This might look like common sense , you may even say , ‘ Hey bro, don’t we know this simple thing?’
That being said ,common sense is not common practice.
Most of you know , if you look around in your physics class , many students would rather like to let the instructor to write down the solutions for the problems, that are being presented. Simply would copy it , not daring to ask a question or even bothering to understand why we are doing ,what we are doing in the first place.
And this , my friend , would lead to nothing but getting good at writing down solutions by looking at them.
You might say , “Dude, we are coming to the classes , so at least here ,we could be free of the bothering we get at our schools and homes.
Now you want us to do the questions, even before the instructor?”
Well my friend , that’s not what I am really meaning.
Let’s look at my own experience regarding it. Fortunately or unfortunately , I have been privileged enough to go to tuition classes for nearly 6 months. It is sure a strange and interesting experience for someone who is not a fan of tuition classes.
Anyway , in our physics class , I always ensure to get the spot where you can always talk clearly with the instructor. As the new materials is being presented , I would keep a handbook on the subject on the table and a smart phone ,which is used for referring Past papers , Model Questions , Guides and Resource books during the Class.(Of course , During the Class , Since I really pay attention to the class , my instructors are ok with it.)
Since I had did a stint for all subjects ,for the entire syllabus ,before coming to tuition classes, I had been mostly well versed in the keywords and the content that is being presented . So I would be able to clarify doubts as they arise during the class.(Lucky I am , since , in the latter parts of the class ,where the monsoon rain had begun in the East part of Sri Lanka , attendance for class would go very low , often just me being on the right side of the class , where boys sit.(Girls are quite good when it comes to regular attendance for classes relative to boys ,and in our classes , it had not been an exception.))
And another lucky fact is , our instructor is open and engages with students closely. he ensured that the atmosphere is not one of dictatorship oriented , where the instructor some how try to ‘rule’ over the students. This is one of the many reasons , why I really came to enjoy the class and the subject.(Many students assume , the instructor is not important , but what he presenting is.
But that is not true , There are many , many students who go dabbling in a subject , just cause they do not like the way the subject is being presented or they simply do not approve the behaviors of the instructor.
So if you are certain , a particular class is not working , ensure to carry out alternative approaches. Especially if you depend on classes for most of your learning.)
That being said , as our instructor is very open and there are very few students in our class (relative to other classes in the area , where usually 200 students come to a single class) , I always ensure to note down questions as they arise in small pieces of papers. during the class. Get clarifications on most of them as practically possible in the class time , and clear the rest of them after the classes.
This way , there would be a very solid understanding of the Subject matter that had been just been presented. And as I am not a fan of doing much of the class works in home ( I mostly do my own work in home) , as a particular topic is being presented ,I try to do the Past paper questions on it using the phone I bring to class , as it have got ,all the Past paper questions categorized by topics ,in it.
This way when a doubt arises , I would mostly try to clear it right there.( Lucky I am here in another way , in the classes , it is just a few people ,who show real engagement with the material, that is being presented , so most of the time ,I would be able to clear it right there.)
After getting the clarifications on particular topics or questions , I would write a short elaboration on it , in a small piece of paper with a reference to the question or Topic ( like 2019F/50 , if it is the 50th MCQ from 2019 Final Paper)
And would keep these small pieces of paper in a file in my room . (Not that I regularly , go over these again and again. That’s not the point. The point is you pay proper attention for the weak spots of your understanding . So you could develop the necessary clarity around them.)
This way I had been able to really enjoy the process of learning. Cause , if there is a system, that takes care of the usual challenges that arise during a particular activity , the activity becomes enjoyable. You really begin to see the next levels of it , which previously you had missed through investing your energies on just juggling what the system takes care of. And that my friend is the real thrill of learning , to Explore uncharted territories on your own.
One Step at a time.