Preparing before a lecture with class primers
Walking into a lecture cold means spending the first half just working out what it is about. A short warm-up the evening before (the key ideas plus a few questions you try to answer) gives your brain hooks to hang the new material on. Research on the pretesting effect found that even unsuccessful attempts to answer questions before learning can improve later recall (Richland, Kornell and Kao, 2009).
- Add your timetable
- Classes are matched to your material
- Get a primer the evening before each class
- Walk in knowing what to listen for
| Part of a primer | What it does | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Key ideas | A handful of bullets on what the lecture will cover | 2 minutes |
| Priming questions | A few questions to attempt before you know the answers | 3 minutes |
| Weak-spot review | Quick review of related topics you have struggled with | 3 minutes |
| During the lecture | Listen for the answers to the questions you missed | No extra time |
Why preparing before class works
Trying to answer a question before you are taught the answer makes you notice the answer when it arrives. Knowing the outline in advance also frees attention for the hard parts of the lecture, instead of the basics. And linking tomorrow's topic to what you already struggle with turns the lecture into targeted revision.
A ten-minute routine you can do by hand
- Check tomorrow's timetable and pick the lectures that matter most
- Skim last year's slides or the objectives for the key ideas
- Write three questions you expect the lecture to answer, and try them
- Note related topics you previously got wrong
- After the lecture, answer the same questions again
Class primers in recalled.fyi
Add your timetable (upload a PDF or photo of it, or send it to the Telegram bot) and recalled.fyi matches each class to your study material for that subject. The evening before each class you get a short primer: the key ideas, a few priming questions, and a review of your weak spots on that topic. It arrives in Telegram if you have connected it, otherwise by email.
Class primers are part of the Elite Clinician plan, or available as an add-on.
Try it on your own lecture. Upload a PDF or slides and get a summary, a quiz and Cue in minutes. Free plan, no card needed.
Start freeQuestions
What is a class primer?
A short preparation sheet for one lecture: the key ideas, a few questions to try first, and a quick review of related topics you find difficult.
What is the pretesting effect?
The finding that attempting questions before learning the material, even if you get them wrong, can help you remember the material better afterwards.
How long should I prepare before a lecture?
Five to ten minutes is enough. The goal is to know what the lecture is about and what you need to listen for, not to learn it in advance.
Do I need to upload material for primers to work?
Primers are built from your study material for that subject. If there is none yet, recalled.fyi reminds you to add some so the next primer has something to work from.