“More people would learn from their mistakes if they weren't so busy denying them.”

— Harold J. Smith

Thinking only in terms of grades and how much one can get away with is a dangerous attitude toward college education. The real issue is whether you’re trying to get the most out of your education.

Miss a class and you’ll miss something, even if you never know it. Even if a friend gives you notes for the class, they cannot contain everything said or shown by the instructor or written on the board for emphasis or questioned or commented on by other students. What you miss might affect your grade or your enthusiasm for the course. Why go to college at all if you’re not going to go to college?

Your final grade often reflects how you think about course concepts, and you will think more often and more clearly when engaged in class discussions and hearing the comments of other students. You can’t get this by borrowing class notes from a friend.

Podcasts, lecture recordings, and similar learning methods can supplement lectures but cannot replace all the benefits of attending, and participating in, class in person.

Research shows there is a correlation between absences from class and lower grades.

1. Participating in class discussions is a good way to start meeting other students with whom you share an interest. You may form a study group, borrow class notes if you miss a class, or team up with other students on a group project. You may meet students with whom you form a lasting relationship, developing your network of contacts for other benefits in the future, such as learning about internships or jobs.

• Asking the instructor questions, answering the instructor’s questions in class, and responding to other students’ comments is a good way to make an impression on your instructor. The instructor will remember you as an engaged student—and this matters if you later need extra help or even a potential mentor.
• Paying close attention and thinking critically about what an instructor is saying can dramatically improve your enjoyment of the class. You’ll notice things you’d miss if you’re feeling bored and may discover your instructor is much more interesting than you first thought.
• Students actively engaged in their class learn more and thus get better grades.
• When you speak out in class and answer the instructor’s questions, you are more likely to remember the discussion.

"We are interested in what we understand. Understanding is hard work." (unknown)

<aside> ❓ What can you do as a student to be more engaged during a lecture if you are finding it boring?

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https://open.lib.umn.edu/collegesuccess/chapter/7-1-why-attend-classes-at-all/