UNIT 5

READING & NOTE-TAKING STRATEGIES

Prof. Judy Kelly

Academic Strategies for the Business Professional

Agenda

Assignment overview

How we learn

Memory Principles

Application of Memory Principles to reading effectively

SQ4R

Cornell Note-taking system

Outlining & Visual Note-taking strategies

Case Study

Open the floor to questions

Unit 5 Assignments

Complete the Unit 5 Reading

Participate in the Unit 5 Discussion

Complete the Web Exploration activity

Complete the Unit 5 Exam

This Exam consists of 45 multiple-choice and true/false questions (1 point each). The questions for this Exam are based on information contained in the Reading, Challenge Activity, and Vocabulary areas from Units 1 – 5.

You will have 90 minutes to complete the Exam and will only be able to enter the Exam once. Make sure to complete the Exam on or before the last day of the unit.

How we learn….

Our brain’s outer layer (the neocortex) is Our brain’s outer layer (the neocortex) is where higher level thinking occurs! The where higher level thinking occurs! The neocortex has 100 billion brain cells or neocortex has 100 billion brain cells or neurons.neurons.

How we learn….

A dendrite, a threadlike branch, grows out A dendrite, a threadlike branch, grows out of each brain cell (neuron).of each brain cell (neuron).

How we learn….

When a dendrite from one neuron grows When a dendrite from one neuron grows close enough to the dendrite of another close enough to the dendrite of another neuron, a connection is made. neuron, a connection is made.

Learning = growth and the connecting of Learning = growth and the connecting of dendrites.dendrites.

How we learn….

If you practice a new skill many times, the If you practice a new skill many times, the dendrites get coated in a protein called dendrites get coated in a protein called myelin.myelin.

Thinking can now occur more quickly, & Thinking can now occur more quickly, & you will remember the skill for a long time.you will remember the skill for a long time.

How we forget….

If we only practice a skill once or twice the If we only practice a skill once or twice the connection between neurons is weak.connection between neurons is weak.If you do not practice the skill again the If you do not practice the skill again the dendrites wither & die.dendrites wither & die.The result: You will forget the new skill!The result: You will forget the new skill!

Twelve Principles of Memory

Memory Principles Selectivity: The process of identifying & separating main ideas and

important details from a larger body of information.

Association: The process of linking or connecting together two or more items or chunks of information.

Visualization: The process of making pictures and sometimes "movies" in your mind.

Elaboration: The process of thinking about, pondering, or working with information in new ways in order to increase understanding, learning, and recall.

Memory Principles Concentration: The process of focusing the mind on one task or

item at a time without interruptions to the thought process.

Recitation: The process of explaining information out loud in your own words and in complete sentences.

Intention: The process of identifying a purpose or a goal to act or perform in a specific way.

Big and Little Pictures: The process of understanding that concepts and details are different levels of information: the big pictures are the concepts or the main ideas, and the little pictures are the supporting details.

Memory Principles Feedback: The process of verifying how accurately and thoroughly

you have or have not learned specific information.

Organization:The process of creating a meaningful, logical structure or arrangement of ideas or information.

Time on Task:The process of using sufficient time and effectively spacing the contact time used to process information.

Ongoing Review:The process of practicing previously learned information.

Which memory principle do you use most?Which one do you use least?

APPLICATION of MEMORY PRINCIPLES TO READING

SUCCESS

The way to apply memory principles to reading success is

to be an active reader!

What steps do you take currently to be an active reader?

Benefits of Active Reading

As an active reader, you will.....

• Be less likely to slip into automatic pilot• Be using powerful multisensory strategies• Increase your reading comprehension• Know how to select effective strategies for

different kinds of materials

Strategies for Active Reading

• Begin with a clear intention to understand what you read

• Use an organized system for reading textbook chapters or academic journal articles

• Be inquisitive• Relate new information to existing schemas in

your long-term memory

SQ4R is a preeminent strategy for reading success at the college level!

Step 1:   Survey

Step 2:   Question

Step 3:   Read

Step 4:   Record

Step 5:   Recite

Step 6:   Review/Reflect

Overview of the SURVEY Phase

• Surveying is the process of previewing or skimming through information to get an overview or a big picture of the content before you begin thorough reading.

• Survey the text entails looking at titles, headings, subheadings, pictures, graphs and charts, bold or italicized print, or questions in the book.

Importance of the SURVEY Phase

• Activates existing working memory• Connects to existing schemas in LTM• Sets the stage to create new associations• Enhances motivation and interest• Breaks inertia or tendency to procrastinate• Provides information about length and

difficulty of the reading material

Questioning: To make the reading process a critical thinking exercise and to focus your attention on what information you need to get from the reading.

Reading: Read one section at a time to understand the material and answer your questions. Do not read to memorize the information.

Record: By incorporating the motor activity of writing information down, you will have review notes and you will better establish the information into your LTM.

Recite: Activating long-term memory storage is aided tremendously by hearing and verbalizing the material. If you can explain the concepts to another person, you have mastery of the material.

Review or Reflect: This is a meta-cognitive activity to make you a more self-aware learner. It also enhances long-term memory storage for successful retrieval at a later date.

NOTE-TAKING

Cornell Method of Note-taking

History of Cornell Note-taking

Developed in 1949 at Cornell University by Walter Pauk

Designed in response to frustration over student test scores

Meant to be easily used as a test study guide

Adopted by most major law schools as the preferred note taking method

The Five R's of Cornell

Record: Write headings and numbered notes in the right column.

Reduce: Write key words & questions in the recall (left) column.

Recite: Cover the right column. Recite from the left column.

Reflect: Think about and work with information in new ways.

Review: Use immediate and ongoing review.

Formal Outline Method of Note-Taking

Formal Outline Note-taking

• Indent and align items to show levels of Indent and align items to show levels of informationinformation

• Show at least two subtopics under each Show at least two subtopics under each categorycategory

• Use Roman numerals for main topicsUse Roman numerals for main topics• Use Arabic numerals for supporting detailsUse Arabic numerals for supporting details• Use key words and short phrases throughout Use key words and short phrases throughout

the outlinethe outline

Visual Note-Taking Strategies

Types of Visual Note-Taking Strategies

Visual Mappings, pie charts, tables, bar graphs, line graphs, flow charts, diagrams, time lines, informational charts

Power of Visual Note-taking

Visual notes are powerful because they…..Visual notes are powerful because they…..

incorporate the use of colors, pictures, incorporate the use of colors, pictures, symbols, and graphicssymbols, and graphics

provide you with visual cues and associations to trigger provide you with visual cues and associations to trigger memorymemoryprovide structure to organize and rearrange information provide structure to organize and rearrange information logicallylogicallyshow relationships and levels of informationshow relationships and levels of informationprovide a way to personalize information in creative, provide a way to personalize information in creative, interesting waysinteresting wayspromote effective recitationpromote effective recitationinvolve multisensory approaches to learninginvolve multisensory approaches to learning

Case Study

The Case of Janice

She knows that college will mean she must do quite a bit of reading and some note-taking. She has never had very good concentration for reading things other than a magazines for pleasure and hasn't taken notes in a very long time. But Janice is determined to do well in school and be a positive role model for her family.

Considering the information you have here and reflecting Considering the information you have here and reflecting back on some of the strategies we just focused on, what back on some of the strategies we just focused on, what are some specific tips and strategies you could offer are some specific tips and strategies you could offer Janice to help her to improve her reading Janice to help her to improve her reading comprehension and concentration?comprehension and concentration?

Case Study Questions

How can Janice improve her concentration while reading?

How can a reading method help Janice understand the material better?

How should Janice approach vocabulary?

What kinds of note-taking might Janice use for various assignments and projects?

Reflection

What would you tell Janice if she asked What would you tell Janice if she asked you the following question: you the following question:

"What is the KEY to becoming a stronger "What is the KEY to becoming a stronger reader?reader?

"What is the KEY to taking effective "What is the KEY to taking effective notes?notes?

Questions

Please feel free to post any Please feel free to post any questions that you have. questions that you have.

Thank you!

Thank you for your participation!

You have accomplished a lot so far so enjoy the moment.