3 Basic learning skills needed for scoring better

The Three basic learning skills needed for scoring better are listening, reading and writing.

 Reading your text.

We all read a text or listen to  a lecture. But only some can understand, relate to, and apply the information as they read it.

A critical reader is not someone who doesn’t blindly accept everything they read as absolute truth. They constantly question as they read and in this way assess the validity of each idea or resource.

In order to think and read critically, you should ask the following questions to yourself.

• ·         What is the author’s assertion?
• ·         Do you agree with the author’s ideas?
• ·         Is there any evidence to support their ideas?
• ·         Does the author present opinion as fact?
• ·         Does the author use valid reasoning?
• ·         Is the issue presented in a balanced manner?
• ·         Are complex ideas oversimplified?
• ·         Does the author present views out of context?

Another useful tool for reading effectively is the SQ3R model.

This  includes

·         Survey

·         Question

·         Read

·         Recite

·         Review

Survey

You are not trying to read in detail for understanding here, just to get an overall idea of the content of the text. Focus more on reading subheadings, the abstract, the section summary, the first and last paragraphs and/or review questions.

Question

As you survey ask yourself questions. You may do this by turning chapter or section headings into questions, or by asking yourself how this new information relates to previously learnt information.

Read

 As you start to read look for answers to the questions you first raised. Note any words that have been underlined, italicised or bold printed. Study any diagrams, charts, graphs, etc. Slow down your reading and if necessary re-read parts which are not clear. After a short section, stop and recite what you have understood.

 Recite

 Summarise the text in your own words and say your summary aloud.

 Review :

 You can use the following tools to review the text

•      Flashcards -Use flash cards to learn the new terms or ideas, to develop questions about the content and then answer them.
•     Mind Map / Concept Map – Develop a mind map of new ideas,
•     Mnemonics – use mnemonic devices to remember the material.
•     Glossary page- create a glossary page with key terms.

          Adapted from:

Open University. (2008).” What good readers do ?”University of Wollongong. (2000). Australian College of Applied Psychology