💡	In this module, you will learn - what it means to truly understand course material, - where difficulties may arise, - which tools (both with and without GenAI) can help facilitate a deeper understanding of the material.

Click the arrow to the left of the titles below to learn more about this study skill.

1. Understanding course material: an example

Do you understand the excerpt below?

A group with a single eye can be captured by first surrounding it, ten filing the eye with a stone. The group needs tot be completely surrounded before attempting to fill the eye, otherwise the suicide rule forbids the move. The reason the suicide rule is not applicable in the above case is because the opponent's captured stones are first removed, then liberties are computed for the stones on the board (rules of Go).

Probably not—but what is the reason for this?

there are several concepts you may not be familiar with (eye, liberty, suicide rule, chain);
you do not “see” the relationships, cannot visualise the situation, and/or are unable to assess its implications.

Understanding operates at different levels:

📚 Knowing: being familiar with the concepts themselves (e.g. eye, liberty, …)
🔄 Understanding: grasping the relationships between concepts (e.g. eyes play a role in liberties)
🧪 Applying: applying concepts in different contexts (e.g. applying the rules of the game)
🌟 Mastery: mastering the material to such an extent that it can be transferred to other contexts (e.g. distinguishing it from other board games)

2. Why should you aim to understand course material before you start studying?

What type of questions might an instructor ask in an exam on the rules of Go?

❌ NOT		✅ YES
State the exact rule for moves played inside eyes. Complete the following sentence: “A group with a single eye can …”		I give you a game board … Explain what the next possible move is and why. Define “liberties” and apply this definition to the given situation. Win a game of Go without consulting the rulebook.

Suppose (a part of) your course material closely resembles the rules of Go above. In order to play the game successfully or pass the exam, you will need to actively seek out …

the meaning of unfamiliar concepts (📚 knowing)
the relationships between concepts (🔄 understanding)
opportunities to apply these concepts (🧪 applying & 🌟 mastering)

3. Seeking external support (resources)

What if understanding does not come easily?

Ask a fellow student.
Ask your lecturer or teaching assistant.
Ask a tutor or study advisor.
Consult external resources such as Google, Wikipedia, or YouTube

or… ask a GenAI tool.
You can read more about this on the following pages.