How Drawing Can Help You Not Get Lost In Lectures

An overview of this blog post.
Pirate tour guide not included.

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 [Edit:  If you're studying for finals, you may find this other post helpful.]

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Ever been in a boring lecture?

The difference between reading materials and lectures in class is that, in lectures, you usually have no control of timing of content.

Seriously, almost no one seems to stop the professor, no matter how many times they say "stop me if I'm going too fast".

A class lecture is actually like a friend telling a long-winded story.
Long-winded because you're being told tons of details.
And long-winded because it can be hard to keep track of all the details.
...But these are details that you need.  

Remember, it's a class lecture.  You're begin tested on this stuff. 

Some proactive professors might give you lecture notes to read ahead of time.  But if you're like me, you usually get around to actually thinking about the content only during lecture time.

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Powerpoint lecture slides are very popular.  But powerpoints can be hard for you as a student to follow when you're busy focusing on the details during a lecture.

Why?  You might spend no time time thinking about the title of each slide, which is actually the only vague link showing you how the lecture fits together as a whole.  And then, without realizing it, you forget what was mentioned earlier.  And then you quickly fall into the lost zone of slides/life flashing before your eyes...

Unless you find a way to simplify the reading before the lecture so you know what's going on---at least roughly.

But reading beforehand is usually seen as onerous, or too much extra work.
But it's actually easy.
But but but how?

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GET A MAP*

*A simple one.

Different people might say this in different ways, but basically you can look at the main structure of a whole lecture, or get the "big(ger) picture".  This "big picture" is like a road map of the "logic" of the lecture.  You map out the main points. 

It's like seeing where the lecturer will go before they actually go there.  

It's sort of like being a tourist.  Your tour guide will show you the details themselves, but having a map is good in case you get lost.  You know the general route and can catch up.  

This figurative tourist map can get simplifiied even more in your head when you only care about one certain path for the time being. 

Doing this can make up for some poorly-made presentations too.  Presentations with lengthy sections.  Trains of thought that skip around.  Trains that seem to crash.  Trains that are actually tangents...

Because some profs write presentations like textbooks, and with even less pictures.

Speaking for science or math-oriented lectures, you might remember a professor going into great detail on a technique or a sequence of steps.  

And then you realize you're lost.  And wondering why you're doing all of this (not necessarily your studies in general, just the steps in the lecture material...hehe).  I've had the same feeling when I took some humanities courses too.

Having a road map of some kind can help you focus by the sheer decluttering of your brain.

For example, for some of my digital signal processing courses, I could summarize a bunch of courses as:  "how to use fourier transforms for everything**, and how to get them to work better for real life use".  Even though that was never a real course title, I had an overview of the curriculum in my head and could connect it to what I was learning that day and in the lab.

I've also seen highschool students struggle with math because of a lack of a "bigger picture" in mind.  When I tutored a student on derivatives, they got stuck on a question for a while, until I prodded them by reminding them to think:  "What are we trying to do, again?". 

Simple question.  "What are we trying to do?" 

But just by asking that, it made the next step so obvious:  Answer the original question.

.
They were solving an optimization problem.  
And they used derivatives for that problem, by turning it into a derivatives problem. 
So, earlier, they took a detour down derivatives lane to solve a secondary problem on the way.  So to speak. 
So now all they had to do was remember to head back to the original question to get their final answer, by taking one final step. 

They just had to remember why they did the derivative in the first place. 

Do you remember why you were reading this blog post?  :)

Making a road map of a lecture is helpful, because then you're less likely to get lost with a roadmap.  It reminds you why you're at the current step, and how all the details fit together. 

Some details are just more important. 
Some details are okay to forget. 
Some details you can reconstruct. 

Just like my experience with the highschool student, sometimes we focus so much on the details that we forget about the bigger picture.  (This happens even if the lecturer described the bigger picture in the first minute, although usually no one seems to write it down.  Sadly, sometimes even the lecturer themself doesn't write it down when they say "this is important").

Sometimes we get lost before we realize it, if we don't have a road map.

Getting a roadmap can be done by starting with a resource:

1. Lecture notes from your professor.
2. Lecture notes from your professor, from previous years.
   (Try googling the course code.  I was surprised how many profs re-use slides, or share slides when profs "take turns" teaching the same course.  I found old websites for the same course, with all the slides already posted.)
3. Notes from students who already took the course.  (You still need to make it your own though, for it to actually stay in your brain.)
4. Reading materials.  Like textbooks, etc.  (Which you can make use of these reading motivation ideas for.)

Of course, these might be things you already have anyways.
So what's the difference?

The difference is:  how you use it.  (i.e. lecture notes, reading materials, etc.).

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 MAKE A MAP



Here are the "How"s:

--> Three action items:

• Get one sheet of paper (medium to large size preferable),

• Write down the main points of the lecture beforehand, with space for details.  (If you don't have slides or textbooks to map things out beforehand, pay special attention to any slides that say "contents".  Write them down fast!  Usually the lecturer zoops so fast through this slide that no one remembers it anyways.  Zoop is a word.)

• Recommended:  draw shorthands of the main points using a pre-made set of pictures/icons.  This enables yourself to make a quicker visual sweep during review time (versus plain text notes, as described in this post).  Being prepared has a bonus of speeding up writing and thinking.  Personally, I just reuse a small set of symbols that are versatile enough.  I very seldom "invent" symbols for myself.  But when I do...I use google images and usually search icon images for inspiration.  Otherwise I write single words and "process" it later (i.e. review it).

(The basic process.)

Here are the "Why"s:

Why paper?  Compared to typing, physically writing things down slows your brain down, forcing it to focus on the essential details.  This is when a lazy hand is sorta helpful.  On the other hand, drawing instead of writing makes the process slightly faster, while still using your brain.  Plus looking at pictures is faster than reading words for meaning.  I started using a sketchbook from Michael's (at a discount) when I realized I was typing away on my laptop with no real brain processing.

Why only one sheet of paper?  And why a medium-to-large paper?  This is all a set-up for having one, quick visual sweep of the lecture contents.  This is just like how using pictures can compress writing and are processed faster by the brain (like computer icons).

Why leave extra space?  Because you'll use this note sheet during the lecture too.  You can even add quick self-test questions for after the lecture.

Here's a real example:  a lecture on "Sleep Apnea"

• One sheet of medium-sized paper.  Check.

My sketchbook of many one sheets of paper. 
And yes, this sketchbook's cover got printed upside down.

• Main points with space for details.  Check.  (I used wiktionary definitions and etymology to realize that apnea is just "stopping breathing".  Note:  the picture shorthands are very personalized.)  This is an example with details cropped out to show you what I started with:

Click to enlarge image.  Basic map of the Apnea lecture. 
Note the titles+pictures+shapes for the 4 main sections:
Definitions, Pathophysiology, Diagnosis (Dx), Therapy (Tx). 

• Some of the pictures/icons shorthands.  

Personal picture shorthands.
Click to enlarge.

 Final product:  (After adding details during lecture and refining things after lecture.)

Click to enlarge.  More details added to the "roadmap" outline above.

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More Examples:

(Disclaimer:  the shorthands are very personalized.  These are just full examples of final products after adding details and review self-test questions.)

"Shiftwork & Circadian Rhythms", with side notes on the presentation techniques they used:

Click to enlarge.  Notice the main headings having "icons" in blue circles.

"MagnetoEncephaloGraphy" (MEG):

Click to enlarge.  Notice the main headings are in red circles.

"Technology in Hospital Pharmacy", with self-test questions I added for rapid review sessions:

Click to enlarge.  Notice self-test questions on bottom right testing memory of main points.

Hopefully you find the techniques above helpful as another tool in your toolbox.  If you find a way to stay alert in lectures and engage your brain in a meaningful way, you'll be "safe" and won't get lost.  I now leave you with a message from Bert and Gert:

"Stay alert, stay safe." - Bert and Gert

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LINKS TO OTHER STUFF: 

Favourites
Programming
Original Art
Games

Chinese Learning Projects:
 - Book
 - HSK 1
 - HSK 5
 - Homonyms Mnemonics

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Footnote:

**That description was sort of an exaggeration.  Fourier transforms did dominate the latter half of my undergrad by spontaneously manifesting during lectures and scaring students.  And that was a dramatization.  XD
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My First Android Apps

Shiny vision for the future?

With websites like KhanAcademy, it is now easier than ever to learn how to program.  Still, it's nice to be able to make something that goes beyond the computer screen, and maybe instead...exists on a phone screen?

I learned how to make and test my own apps on an Android phone in just a few hours.  Here's my progress so far: 

Pictures of apps I made using MIT's App Inventor 2 for Android: 

"Talk_To_Me" [1]

"Gravitas" [2]

Pretty simple.  App descriptions at the end of this post. 

Dropbox link to download them to your phone: 
My Android Apps
You can test the apps out by downloading the .apk file of your choice to an Android phone. 

Instructions to run the apps: 
http://appinventor.mit.edu/explore/support/packaging-apps.html#download
Basically, when I tested the games on my Android phone, this is what I did: 

1. I enabled developer apps on my Android phone (Settings > Applications > checkmark Unknown Sources (Allow installation of non-Market applications),
2. I emailed myself the app (if you're seeing this on an Android phone you can go straight to step 4),
3. I opened the email on the Android phone,
4. I downloaded and installed the .apk file (one step when the pop-up showed on my phone), and finally, 
5. I ran the app.

You can make your own Android apps for free using App Inventor 2:
Go to appinventor.mit.edu/explore
...and hit the big orange button on the top right that says "Create!" 

You can test and edit apps on the fly, with the app updating/running in real-time on an Android phone, or using an emulator on your computer screen. 

This is the lego block-like programming interface.  Reminds me of Scratch.

[1] The first one, "Talk_To_Me", is based off of a tutorial.  Two buttons.  One button plays a recording.  The other button lets you take a photo to use as the background.  Swipe the bouncing dot and you can change the direction/speed while drawing lines (a sound plays if you actually affected the dot).  If you shake the phone, then the lines disappear, and a counter on the top right counts up, which I guess could be used as a step counter, but it depends on your phone's senstivity settings. 

[2] The second one, "Gravitas", is a crude gravity-like simulation.  Just like for "Talk_To_Me" you can change the direction that the dots are moving by swiping (although it takes some skill to figure out the timing...or spamming). 
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LINKS TO OTHER STUFF: 

Favourites
Programming
Original Art
Games

Chinese Learning Projects:
 - Book
 - HSK 1
 - HSK 5
 - Homonyms Mnemonics

How to Make Speed Sketches

Before we get into quick sketching techniques, here are some sketches I made for my report in real time during an observership:

Speed Sketches of Surgery Medical Equipment

 

(Original art, Howard C.)
 Two surgeons working at the same time, using one large microcope.

(Original art, Howard C.)
 A "fluoro" (not floral) x-ray machine.

(Original art, Howard C.)
 Detailed sketch of the microscope "head" end effector.
This view looks like something from out of a sci-fi movie.

As you can see, the last two sketches have text and extra lines or colours added for the report.

And all the sketches are cropped versions of photos...taken from my lined notebook (can you see the blue lines?).

These are all nice add-ons after the fact.  But the original sketches---and copious loads of notes to the point of illegibility to everyone but me---I did in real time.

But why sketch?  Why not just take a photo?  Or a video?  Well...this was during a live surgery.  And I avoided taking photos and video for privacy reasons, and instead I brought a pen and notebook, which were allowed.

Which brings us to "speed sketching".  Usually a phone camera is better for capturing a scene, but a sketch is nice for adding---or in my case removing---details or notes on the spot.

Plus, it trains your eye to notice visual details, or even to see the "bigger picture" (more on that later).

Plus it's fun.  Sometimes I had to pass the time during some long procedures.

***Disclaimer:  Stick to cameras if you're investigating a crime scene!***

According to Wikipedia, a sketch is a fast drawing done by hand: 

"A sketch...is a rapidly executed freehand drawing that is not usually intended as a finished work." (Wikipedia.  Accessed March 21st, 2015.)  (Wiktionary agrees, unsurprisingly.)

Just think:  Get the essence of what you need.  You can always add more details later, if you get more time.

In the meantime, here are some ways to get started on teaching yourself to draw faster:

• Straight lines:  Practice makes perfect, young grasshopper.  So practice drawing grass.  Or at least straight lines.  Straight enough but also consistent when you do rapid strokes, like when you play Fruit Ninja on your phone.  Good for drawing equipment and boxy things with edges.  (You can practice with scrap paper if necessary.)  Try making a bunch of straight parallel lines in a row.  This also helps with hatching shadows (see later on).

• Circles and curves:  Practice drawing (near) perfect circles.  Circles form the basis for curves, rounded edges, ovals, eggs, and scrambled eggs.  Good for more organic shapes like water.

• Build your repertoire:  Practice different lines, curves, and shapes.  "Techy shapes":  squares, triangles, rectangles, pentagons, zigzags, angular designs.  "Organic shapes":  circle, oval, blobs, squiggles, loops.  Try different variations. 
  
  The point is to see if you can use straight lines and curves to quickly make any shape.  Sometimes you'll keep the pencil on the page.  Other times you'll lift the pencil when the line changes direction to keep a clean, controlled look of the overall shape.

 

• "Bigger picture first":  You might want to squint for this one.  Look at what you want to draw and (if it is safe to do so) squint while looking at it.  This helps blur out the details.  Getting the "lay of the land" first helps your rapidly map out your sketching area before you commit any to details.  At first, you could try doing this with your paper in the corner of your eye so you can instantly match the object with your drawing.

 

• "Break it down":  Sometimes the big picture is still complicated.  So what I like to say is "go with what you know"; look for how simple shapes you know. 
  
  Remember:  lines make up shapes, and shapes make up objects.  I'm not making this stuff up---the lines are.  (haha corny joke)  But seriously, think of it like every new detail making the drawing more accurate.  The first few outlines will be a bit off, but will serve as a framework to work with.  Keep the next lines thoughtful but don't waste time trying to get the first few lines right.

And if you find a few extra seconds of time on the spot:

• Shading:  Practice hatching to add shadows quickly.  Good for finishing touches of shading to indicate shape details.  Basically a bunch of straight lines pointing in the same direction for the same material.  If done right, it won't look like shading or texture, and not ambiguously look like some pattern on the material.  In the end, it's much faster than colouring things in.

• Clothes/folds:  One strange exception to isolating shapes/lines I find is clothing, or anything clothing-like, such as plastic bags, towels, etc.  Just keep the pen on the page, and "follow where your eye goes" along the edge of the cloth.  This one takes some practice but makes for faster sketches of folds, like this sketch of a hideous pants lying on a chair:

Advanced stuff:

• Some knowlede of underlying structure --> "break it down" x-ray vision!
• How do you draw different materials like metal?  water?  glass?
• Google it.  :)
• Oh, and practice, practice, practice!  Time yourself.  Try a technique at least 10 times.

I leave you with what advanced techniques can bring you, just by knowing how to Google it:

See the bigger picture?  Now break it down!

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LINKS TO OTHER STUFF:

• Motivate Yourself to Finish Required Reading Materials
• Customize Blog Pages and Blog Posts 
• Hacking My Ocarina
• My Petrify Game
• Many Homomnems Chinese Learning Project
• More ways to remember:  Chinese Vocab Mnemonics Storybook - HSK 1
• eBook version
• Black-and-White edition
• Free book preview
• Book announcement post
• Practice HSK Level 1 list
• Practice HSK Level 5 list