My first blog

During the workshop, “learning how to learn”, we learned about new reading and note taking strategies.  During the fall semester I plan to take these strategies and use them for my classes. I plan on using the reading strategy, “Survey” and “before you read” both helped me through my summer classes. I plan on using these strategies mainly in classes where there is a lot of readings. I plan on checking my surroundings, making sure there aren’t any distractions. Before, I used to talk to people or watch tv while reading. I couldn’t remember what I read and had to go back and read it over again, wasting time for other classes. Also, I plan on reading the head titles and the questions throughout the reading to get a somewhat understanding of the text before reading. I believe my goals with these strategies are specific enough in order for me to accomplish the goal.  I believe the goal is measurable because I can see if i’m active while reading in classes in the fall. I will have a full understanding of what i’m reading, and it will be able to show in my grades. I also believe it’s achievable because it’s not an impossible goal. I just need to focus to be able to reach the goal. Yes, I believe it’s realistically taking into time, because I will be able to reach the goal within in the school year.

In the workshop, “Learning How To Learn”, we learn about different type of note-taking strategies. The three type of methods we learned were : Cornell method, concept method, and visual method. Also we learned about many tips with note-taking. We were asked to apply one or all that we learned to the classes we are taking over the summer time.

I found that the concept mapping helped me a lot with the two classes. In Dr. Gracia I applied this to a lecture that took place during class. I placed the main idea of the whole lecture which was, “language”. I put language in a big bubble, and surrounded it with little bubbles. I put what he was saying into each bubble. Same with Dr. corkery’s class. When going through this process it helped me intake information better about what was being discussed. I also used the note-taking tip, Abbreviation. This helped a lot because it made it quicker to move on and listen to what the professor had to say next.

The note-taking tip, abbreviation helped me as learner to be able to quickly process information quicker. When it came to note-taking I was usually behind trying to write every single word that the professor said. This strategies helped me a ton with being able to process information.

After participating in the work shop, “learning how to learn” we talked about what makes an active reader active, and what makes a passive reader a passive reader. A passive reader doesn’t completely comprehend when reading. An active reader is a reader who comprehends what they are reading. While learning about the two different types of readers, I learned that I was a passive reader. In the workshop I learned how to become a active reader by implying the reader strategies we learned. In the two courses i’m taking over the summer,  I used the reading strategies before you read and survey. Before you read is a strategy that involves observing your surroundings, and clearing out anything that may be a distracting.  This helped me by helping me to be able to concentrate on my reading instead of focusing on something else. The reading strategy survey is a strategy that involves doing a little bit of reading before doing your actual reading. Anything that involves reading in the beginning such as questions, summary, etc.  This helped me because it gave me a bit of insight on what I was reading beforehand. These are the reading strategies that helped me through the reading in my classes.

Even though there were reading strategies that worked, there were also strategies that didn’t work so well. The reading strategy pose question did not work for me. Pose questions is being able to turn each chapter heading into a questions or to write questions in the margins. Not only did it seem like I was doing extra work, I found myself overthinking how to turn the chapter headlines into questions. Which made me more stress than just reading the the article. Also, I focused on trying to answer my own questions that I wasn’t paying attention to what I was reading. I was only trying to find my question through the article. In my opinion, this was the one I didn’t enjoy working with.

In the future I definitely will be using the the two strategies I discuss in the first paragraph: Before you read and survey. I would use these because it helps me to comprehend what I’m reading better. It also keeps me interested in what i’m about to read, because I want to found out the answer to a question I read before the reading. This is why I would continue to use these strategies.

Using the SMART goal model I can make these strategies a learning habit. “Specific”, I want to be able to become a better reader with these strategies, and comprehend what I’m reading. “Measurable” I will know I will reach my goal when I start enjoying and comprehending what I’m reading. “Achievable” Yes, it’s in my power to accomplish it because I want to become a better reader. “Realistic” Yes, I can realistically achieve because it is not far out of my reach…at all. “Timely” I would like to accomplish it through my years of college.

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