Bdtyk

I'm 3rd Physics & Mathematics student, and I almost hate taking and attending lectures; it is not because what is taught, I just don't like sitting in uncomfortable chairs with a lot of people around me for 50 min. unstopped with my clothes on, and listening.

I'm sure, up to this point of the question, I'm most misunderstood, so let me describe an ideal learning environment for me, which was what I had during this last winter break (it was like a paradise);

I was studying Quantum Mechanics from the video records of a graduate course recorded by one of my professors; they were actual recordings of a lecture, but I was in my home with my pyjamas. While I was watching the lectures if I don't understand something, I would stop and think on it, make some research, checkout the book that I was using etc., and after all those tries, if I still cannot find it, I would take note, and think on it for days while I was still making progress. Moreover, in a single day, I were completing almost 4 hours lectures and the next day, I was taking detailed notes of those lectures (which were actually taking much more time than the previous day). This was like a paradise for me; I was studying in my own pace, taking breaks whenever I feel that I need. There was no worry of grade; I was doing this in a "holiday" just because I want learn quantum mechanics, not because I need study just to get a diploma, which I need to pursue a Phd.

But, in a regular lecture, most of the time, I don't want to attend to lecture because I'm force to take that lecture from a single professor with a curriculum s/he prepared, not I chose, and most probably, I don't like his/her teaching. Moreover, even though I'm the most talking student in the class (even in graduate courses I'm taking), at some point, I stop thinking, which make me sleepy.Also, I have take good grades in order to pursue my Phd in the university that I want which is in abroad. (There are lots of other reasons, but let me stop here; I think everyone understood the point.)

Now, considering the fact that, even most of Phd/Master's programs have course loads, and even as a professor, you need to give lectures (not take them anymore), can such a person survive in academia ? Is it really possible ?

Just a side note: I actually like teaching things, but not giving lectures to a whole lot of people; I mean I have friend who asks me lots of question, I take pleasure of thing on those questions and explaining to him, but giving lectures is totally a different experience, which I despise.

I can sympathize. I'm extremely susceptible to "Power Point" hypnosis: 10 slides in and my head is staring to nod, 30 slides and I'm in danger of snoring. This isn't limited to dull talks, or the amount of sleep I got the night before, it's apparently a quirk of my physiology.

However, part of your education is learning to exercise your skills in suboptimal conditions. Schwarzschild wrote three important papers on gravitation while serving on the Russian front in WWI. Attending lectures may not be optimal for you, but is it really such a huge hardship?

If you stay in academia you are probably going to need to listen to talks at conferences, listen to presentations by your students, and attend seemingly endless faculty meetings. There are equivalent obstacles in the non-academic world. By all means, arrange your days and your study environment as you find most effective. But learn to work with the fact that world is full of friction, and learn to cope with the minor inefficiencies it imposes on you.

Ultimately you are responsible for your own learning. This is true whether you have lectures available or not. True whether the lectures are helpful or not.

If lectures are required or attendance is graded you will suffer from non attendance, but you know that, of course.

But the opinion that your professor has of you is also important. But attending lectures is only one way to affect that. If you really don't want to attend lectures, I'd suggest that you have a face to face conversation with the professor so that you can meet your goals without upsetting a person with some authority and who may be in a position to help you along the way.

My own opinion about lectures is that they are a poor way to teach. Student practice and reinforcement is much more important than listening to a speech. In the 17th century, lectures were an efficient way to reach more than a small number of students. Books were expensive and other learning aids non existent.

I'd suggest that if you have a way to learn that isn't like what the masses are comfortable with that you discuss it with the prof. who may be able to supplement your ideas on learning.

But you may also, just have to yield to the system to avoid getting penalized for things that shouldn't really matter.

I'll note that if you came to me, I might want to put you to work helping others, rather than attending lectures, and even giving you exams that were a bit different than the normal ones. Probably harder exams.

It's definitely a negative factor. But of course one factor among several.

I personally enjoy lectures more when I pre-study the material (even doing some drill) so the lecture becomes more of a review or alternate viewpoint rather than initial learning. But if you tell me next, you don't like textbooks...

But then again I sort of enjoy lectures, feels like a performance I get to watch.

I'm a physicist, and I felt essentially the same way when I was a student. Lectures are a ridiculous custom. For physics at the freshman level, there is a great deal of research showing that lecturing is an ineffective way to teach, even for professors who work hard at it and get wonderful teaching evaluations.

Just work around these issues. If there's no reason to go to class, don't go to class. Sit in a cafe and study instead. If there's a reason why you really need to go to class, you can always sit in the back of the room and study.

Lectures often suck, but they're pretty much unavoidable until candidacy. Same thing with using books you don't like or studying material you don't find well-motivated.

It's best not to waste energy fighting these inevitabilities. Of course you should take whatever chances you get for self-study and supplementary reading from sources of your choice, but you won't escape classes completely.

When it comes down to it, what you're really fighting against is most likely that you think the academic system should be better. It should be, but it isn't. Accept what you can't change, and try to make the best of what's there.

I think you can survive in academia even if you hate lectures.

I hated them myself but I pushed through and did a PhD. What I would say is that there seems to be a much higher emphasis in the US on taking lectures than there is in Europe ! I've spent time in both academic systems. In my opinion, I think there is much less of a focus on attending lectures during postgraduate study in Europe!