Active Reading

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Active Reading

• Mike Walker
• UNIV1011 University Success
• October 02, 2002

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But before we begin . . .

• Any questions on last weeks lecture or handouts?
  
• We addressed
• developing a Learning Attitude
• learning takes place before, during and after
  class
• listening actively maintaining your attention
• three major note taking systems
• three alternate/supportive strategies
• the Study Smarter Not Harder. . . Top 9
• the Master Student Top 20

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Question about the KOLB?

• Seems to be a conflict in the descriptions of
  characteristics
• Strengths
• Too much
• Not enough
• to develop your __________ learning skills,
  practice
• More slides from text, Chapter 1

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Stages of learningStage 1 Green - Diverger

• Seek purpose for information
• Need personal connection
• Observe and plan before acting
• Enjoy working with other students

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Stages of learningStage 1 -- Green

• Learning Strategy
• Ask questions to help you understand why it is
  important to learn information

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Stages of learningStage 2 Blue - Assimilator

• Crave ideas and facts
• Eager to learn
• Understand theories and concepts
• Enjoy lectures and individual class assignments
• Prefer solitary time

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Stages of learningStage 2 -- Blue

• Learning Strategy
• Ask questions to help understand what youre
  learning
• Ask instructor to point out highest priority
  topics

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Stages of learningStage 3 Red - Converger

• Like to experiment with the information you have
  learned
• Want to see if the facts really work in daily life

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Stages of learningStage 3 -- Red

• Learning Strategy
• Ask questions to help understand how something
  works
• Experiment with new ideas
• Allow time for hands-on practice

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Stages of learningStage 4 - Yellow -Accommodator

• Enjoy group activities
• Create on their feet
• Usually vocal in a group
• Skilled at teaching others
• Enjoy challenge

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Stages of learningStage 4 -- Yellow

• Learning Strategy
• Ask to demonstrate your understanding
• Teach another student
• Report results of your experiments

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Reminder

• Midterm
• next
• Wednesday, October 9

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Major Concepts

• Reading rates purposes
• Purpose principles of study reading
• Methods of study reading
• SQ3R
• Muscle Reading
• SQRW
• Applying a note taking system to reading
• Using resources print online

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• The man who does not read good books has no
  advantage over the man who cant read.
• Mark Twain

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Reading kinds rates

• He has only half learned the art of reading who
  has not added to it the more refined art of
  skipping and skimming.
• Lord Balfour

• Kinds
• skimming
• scanning
• glancing
• devouring
• Rates
• skimming
• rapid
• normal
• careful

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Reading rates purposes

• skimming
• find a specific reference
• locate new material
• locate answer to a specific question
• get the general idea of a selection
• review

• rapid
• review familiar material
• comprehend the main idea/central thought
• retrieve information for short-term use
• read light material for relaxation/pleasure
• understand the basic plot

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Reading rates purposes

• normal
• answer a specific question
• note details/solve problems
• comprehend material of average difficulty
• understand relationship of details to main ideas
• appreciate beauty or literary style
• read for later retelling

• careful
• master content including details
• evaluate material
• outline, summarize, paraphrase, analyze
• solve problems
• memorize
• determine literary value
• read poetry

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What about speed reading?

• the jury is still out, so
• consider your purpose
• consider your comfort
• evaluate your results
• make your own decision

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Why do your readings?

• Demonstration
• Instructions
• listen to my lecture
• take notes if you wish
• put the information in your own words
• repeat the information back to me

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What is Active Reading

• It is not passive!
• It is interacting with your book
• talking to it
• questioning it
• writing in it
• making it work with you
• Study Reading Active Reading

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The purpose of Study Reading

• study reading is the most satisfying of all
  reading. All other forms serve a purpose, but
  only study reading changes you. dont
  underestimate the power of knowledge that you
  accumulate as course after course of information
  becomes part of you.
• Study Smarter, Not Harder, p. 116

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Principles of Study Reading

• 1. Map out your route
• read the chapter title
• examine table of contents
• look for summary or outline
• look for review or discussion questions
• read introductory concluding sections or
  paragraphs
• read all major headings

• read all subheadings
• read the first sentence of each paragraph
• examine all graphics
• take 60 to 90 seconds to review and rehearse main
  points in the chapter and the important material
  contained in it. Its best to do this in writing.

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Principles continued . . .

• 2. Use a flexible method
• adapt previous steps
• 3. Be deliberate do it right the first time
• 4. Be active
• activate prior knowledge
• question conclude
• anticipate
• 5. Vary speed to suit purpose

• 6. Make the material part of you by making good
  notes
• think about the material
• write in your own words
• write key words in margin
• underline or highlight key words only
• draw simple diagrams or graphs

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Principles continued . . .

• 7. Check your physical environment
• light
• temperature
• ventilation
• 8. Eliminate roving eye syndrome
• identify sources distraction, lapses in
  concentration, and where your eye travels
• use pacers for focus finger, pen or pencil,
  ruler, recipe card

• 9. Consider your study time
• 10. Consolidate
• review, review, review

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Methods of study reading(making reading Active)

• SQ3R
• survey
• question
• read
• recite
• review

• Muscle Reading (Master Student)
• before pry out questions
• preview
• outline
• question
• while root up answers
• read
• underline
• answer
• after recite, review review
• recite
• review
• review again

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Methods of study reading(making reading Active)

• SQRW
• survey
• question
• read
• write

• SQRW Group Activity
• break into groups
• each group take a reading
• decide, by group consensus, the heading,
  question, and answer
• record

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Apply to Cornell system?
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Text dense materials

• such as history, philosophy, some sociology texts
  and English novels
• typically will not have chapter outlines,
  summaries or review questions
• Strategy?
• Take good notes (see previous slides)

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Keep a Diary/Summary - Great for English novels
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My favourite Master Student tips (p. 124)

• When reading is tough
• Read it again, Sam.
• Look for essential words.
• Hold a mini-review.
• Read it aloud.
• Use your instructors.
• Stand up.

• Find a tutor.
• Use another text.
• Pretend you understand, then explain it.
• Ask whats going on here?

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Be an Active Reader (ICPAC)

• The handout outlines strategies such as SQ3R
  including tips on
• strategic reading techniques
• differences in reading textbooks, literature and
  poetry
• organization of material
• skimming
• memorization

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Mikes tips

• Talk to others - try their techniques
• Talk to your professor - use his wisdom
• Go for understanding - be resource full
• read with a dictionary in your lap
• collect reference materials (secondhand)
• use the Net
• use the Nipissing library online
• People will think youre a genius
• - you are!

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Your tips

• Reminder
• Midterm
• Wednesday, October 9

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Mikes Reading Resources Online

• A web of Online Dictionaries - from English and
  history to medicine and psychology (over 80)
• http//www.yourdictionary.com/
• Online Libraries - including Project Gutenberg
• http//www.promo.net/pg/index.html
• http//www.mun.ca/library/internet/reference/ebook
  s.html
• http//digital.library.upenn.edu/books/

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Electronic Readers

• Electronic Readers - freebies
• http//helpread.net/
• http//readplease.com/
• Electronic Reader (text to .wav or MP3)
• http//www.nextuptech.com/
• Note electronic readers typically read .txt and
  .htm files. If you want to read your textbooks or
  handouts, you have to scan the pages and convert
  the image into text using OCR (optical character
  recognition) software.

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Super Resources like . . .

• Early Canadiana Online (ECO)
• http//www.canadiana.org/
• Early Canadiana Online (ECO) is a digital library
  of primary sources in Canadian history from the
  first European contact to the early 20th
  century.The collection is particularly strong in
  the subject areas of literature, women's history,
  travel and exploration, native studies and the
  history of French Canada.
• Study Guides
• http//freebooknotes.com/
• www.sparknotes.com/
• www.pinkmonkey.com/

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More Internet Resources

• Internet Resources for Readinghttp//www.lsc.cc.m
  n.us/programs/read/internet.html
• Merriam-Webster Online (pronunciation
  feature)http//www.m-w.com
• Mind Tools-Improving Reading Skills(info on
  speed reading comprehension techniques)http//w
  ww.mindtools.com/
• James Cook University's Study Skills
  OnlineInteractive Effective Reading
  Workshopwww.jcu.edu.au/studying/services/studyski
  lls/effreading/

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Treasure-Hunting On The Internet (from text book)

• The Internet Public Libraryhttp//www.ipl.org
• The Library of Congresshttp//lcweb.loc.gov
• Libweb-Public Libraries in the United
  Stateshttp//sunsite.Berkeley.Edu/Libweb/usa-pub.
  html
• LibDex - Index to over 18,000 libraries
• http//www.libdex.com/

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In summary, we discussed

• Reading rates purposes
• Purpose principles of study reading
• Methods of study reading
• SQ3R
• Muscle Reading
• SQRW
• Applying a note taking system to reading
• Using resources print online

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In Conclusion

• Any Questions?

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If you had read . . .

• Waltzing Matilda - travelling, carrying a blanket
  roll
• swagman - migrant farm worker
• billabong - waterhole
• Coolibah - Australian tree
• billy - can to heat water for tea
• jumbuck - sheep
• tuckerbag - knapsack
• squatter - rancher
• trooper - sheriff
• Waltzing Matilda - A. B. Banjo Patterson, 1895