Strategies for Active Learning II

212:189Fall 2011

Previewing and Predicting

• Previewing: Familiarizing yourself with the content and organization of an assignment before you read it.– Scanning, skimming

How to Preview Textbooks• Read the chapter titles/subtitles.• Read the introduction or first paragraph.• Read anything in boldface, italics, or color.• Read the first sentence under each heading.• Note typographical aids

– Bullets– Numbering

• Note graphic aids– Charts, pictures, tables

• Read the last paragraph of summary• Skim end of chapter/article materials (questions, discussions, etc.)

How to Preview Non-textbook Materials

• Read titles/subtitles• Identify author and sources• Read first paragraph carefully, searching for

statement of purpose, theme or thesis.• If no headings, read first sentence of each

paragraph• Pay close attention to last paragrah.

Why Preview?

• Helps you make decisions about how to approach the materials.

• Puts you in the right place.• NOT a substitute for reading.

Activating Background Knowledge

• Ask question, and try to answer them.• Draw on your own experiences• Brainstorm

Positive Comprehension Signals

• Feeling comfortable in your knowledge of the topic.• Recognizing most words or figuring them out in

context.• You can express main ideas in your own words.• You understand why the material was assigned.• You read at a regular, comfortable pace.• You are able to make connections between ideas.• You see where the author is leading you.• You understand the important keypoints.

Negative Comprehension signals

• The topic is unfamiliar, but the author assumed you understand it.

• Many words are unfamiliar.• You must reread the main ideas and use quotes to explain

them.• You do not know why the material was assigned after reading

it.• You often slow down and re-read.• You do not see relationships, or understand the organization.• You are frustrated or struggling.• Nothing or everything seems important.

Checking for Comprehension

• Use your guide questions.• Ask application, analysis, evaluation and

creation questions.• Rephrase content in your own words.

SQ3R

• Survey• Questions• Read• Recite/Re-read• Review