Staying focused, interested, and engaged in class is the number one challenge for all students. However, by adopting a few simple strategies, you can transform passivity and disinterest into rich and dynamic learning experiences. After all, you can’t rely on your teacher to radically change their teaching style. Here are two essential strategies to enhance your learning, considering that listening in class accounts for about 50% of the memorization process.

1. Ask Yourself What’s Interesting About Today’s Topic

One of the best ways to stay engaged in class is to find a personal angle of interest in what’s being presented, or to consider its real-life application, either now or in the future. Regardless of the subject or topic, there’s always a way to identify something that sparks your curiosity or could impact your life or future plans.

Tip for Students: Ask yourself, "What’s interesting about this topic for me?" or "How does this help me understand the world or society better?" or "How can I apply this to my interests or goals?" Finding a personal connection with the content helps you stay attentive, makes learning easier, and fosters interest and motivation.

2. Adopt an Active Learning Approach

Rather than remaining a passive observer, becoming an active participant in your learning is crucial for staying focused. This can mean taking notes proactively, asking questions, joining in discussions, or sharing your ideas, or trying to connect new concepts with your existing knowledge. This method directly engages you with the course material and enhances memorization. Active participation not only helps you stay focused but also improves your understanding and retention of the content.

Tip for Students: Instead of just listening, try to rephrase the information in your own words, summarize the key points, or even imagine explaining the concept to someone else. This active approach not only boosts comprehension but also makes the learning process more interactive and stimulating. The more you participate, the more engaged you’ll be, and the more the content will become relevant and memorable for you.