Workshop#4 Reading to ReadTips on how to read for understanding

Goals of workshop

• Develop an understanding of how information is organized while I read

• Identify reading strategies to help understand what I am reading

• How to use reading strategies with my assigned readings.

Determining a strategy• What are you reading?

– Novel– School textbook– Directions on how to bake a cake

• Why are you reading?– Novel = for fun!– School textbook = for fun & learning!– Directions on how to bake a cake = to eat cake!

How readers process and store presented information

Cognitive theory– “a reader comes to the

reading task with a vast storehouse of existing knowledge.” (Cook & Meyer, 1983)

Tips and Strategies

Taking the SQ3R* Reading Method…a step further

• Survey– Looking through the pages, titles, section titles, etc.

• Question– Write questions to help guide you through your reading.FURTHER– What did you discuss in class, read in your last assignment and

how does this text draw upon this or extend this information?

*Adapted from: The Learning Centre, The University of New South Wales. [PDF document] Retrieved from: http://www.lc.unsw.edu.au/onlib/pdf/sqw3r.pdf

• Read– Read through the information without making notes/highlighting;

then reread.FURTHER– Pay special attention to the structure of the text, introduction,

first sentence and last sentence of paragraph, and extract main ideas.

• Recall– Write down what you remember about what you read.– Being able to write what you read into your own words helps you

recall and relate to the text!FURTHER– Explain it to someone else; start a study team or find a study

partner.• Review

– Read through your notes and questions*Adapted from: The Learning Centre, The University of New South Wales. [PDF document] Retrieved from: http://www.lc.unsw.edu.au/onlib/pdf/sqw3r.pdf

Active Reading Strategies• Note-taking*• Summarizing• Underlining• Highlighting• Post-it notes (or stickies)• Notes on edges of copies/book pages

*“Note-taking activities may serve not only to focus attention but also to limit the amount of attention available during learning.”(Cook & Mayer, 1983, p.106)

Questions/commentsTHANK YOU!

References• Cook, L. K., Mayer, R. E. (1983). Cognitive strategy research:

educational applications. M. Pressley & J. R. Levin (Ed.),  New York : Springer-Verlag.

• The Learning Centre The University of Wales, Reading to remember the SQ3R method of study. Retrieved from: http://www.lc.unsw.edu.au/onlib/pdf/sqw3r.pdf

• 10 Tips to Improve Your Reading Comprehension Improve Your Reading Part I. Retrieved from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgbG5lo5Usg