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 (20 questions)
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
where higher level thinking occurs! The
neocortex has 100 billion brain cells or
neurons.
How we learn….
A dendrite, a threadlike branch, grows out
of each brain cell (neuron).
How we learn….
When a dendrite from one neuron grows
close enough to the dendrite of another
neuron, a connection is made.
Learning = growth and the connecting of
dendrites.
How we learn….
If you practice a new skill many times, the
dendrites get coated in a protein called
myelin.
Thinking can now occur more quickly, &
you will remember the skill for a long time.
How we forget….
If we only practice a skill once or twice the
connection between neurons is weak.
If you do not practice the skill again the
dendrites wither & die.
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:
Step 2:
Step 3:
Step 4:
Step 5:
Step 6:
Survey
Question
Read
Record
Recite
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 selfaware 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
•
•
•
•
information
Show at least two subtopics under each
category
Use Roman numerals for main topics
Use Arabic numerals for supporting details
Use key words and short phrases throughout
the 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…..
incorporate the use of colors, pictures, symbols, and
graphics
provide you with visual cues and associations to trigger
memory
provide structure to organize and rearrange information
logically
show relationships and levels of information
provide a way to personalize information in creative,
interesting ways
promote effective recitation
involve 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
back on some of the strategies we just focused on, what
are some specific tips and strategies you could offer
Janice to help her to improve her reading
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
you the following question:
"What is the KEY to becoming a stronger
reader?
"What is the KEY to taking effective notes?
Questions
Please feel free to post any
questions that you have.
Thank you!
Thank you for your participation!
You have accomplished a lot so far
so enjoy the moment.