Chelsea Lee
EDSP 579
Strategy 4: Study Skills
SOAR Study Method
Students have trouble with note-taking and studying; and are rarely taught how to study.
Many students’ weak study strategies include taking sketchy notes and then not remembering
what they mean and including unorganized ideas or information. This is where the study
strategy, SOAR comes into play. Jairam and Kiewra (2009) explains that SOAR is an
“integrated study plan that includes the components of Selection, Organization, Association, and
Regulation”. Each SOAR component is used to target a weak study strategy commonly used by
students. The following table shows the ineffective and effective strategy related to each SOAR
component, which targets one of the commonly misused study strategy conducted by students:
SOAR Activities
Ineffective
Effective
Selection
Incomplete Note
Taking Complete Note Taking
Organization
Construct Linear
Notes Construct Graphic Organizers
Association
Piecemeal Learning
Build Associations
Regulation
Redundant Strategies
Self-Test
According to Jairam and Kiewra (2009) note taking is crucial because it boosts attention during
a lesson and students who review their notes perform better than those who don’t. Students who
construct graphic organizers will be more effective in their organization skills to showcase
relationships among their previously noted ideas. Associations can show relationships between
facts and prior knowledge and improve students’ learning. Jairam and Kiewra (2009) stated
“effective students monitor and assess their understanding- know whether or not they knowbefore their learning is assessed formally, and one effective means of self-regulation is selftesting” (p. 611). The SOAR study system can be an effective way for students to study because
its components are aligned with cognitive theory.
Resources
Jairam, D., & Kiewra, K. A. (2009). An Investigation of the SOAR Study Method. Journal Of
Advanced Academics, 20(4), 602-629. Retrieved from
http://web.ebscohost.com.proxy.library.ohiou.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=9&hid
=108&sid=ef8f1f4b-1449-47ff-8758-0a47fe173359%40sessionmgr104