Beyond "Just Reading"

For the most part, “just reading” your textbook is not enough.  You have to do something more with the information while you are reading it to truly understand and start to remember.   The most common strategy is to highlight, although the tendency is to highlight everything!    Many college students, especially freshmen, just color everything without really thinking.   Here is a more effective way to use highlighting:

1. Read the paragraph or section
2. Think about what is important
3. Highlight that information (about 25% - 30% of the text)

You can see that you are now doing three things with the information as opposed to simply reading.  An even more effective strategy is to take notes, either annotations in the margins or separate notes.  In this case you are adding one more step:

1. Read
2. Think            
3. Put the information into your own words
4. Write the information

If your goal is to add variety and repetition to your learning, you have done so!

Taking notes involves more time and effort, but the increased learning is well worth it.  An added bonus is that you will more than likely not have to reread the chapter before the exam.  You can reread your notes for a very effective review.
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First Semester Success: Learning Strategies and Motivation For Your First Semester (or Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available at amazon.com, wordassociation.com and barnesandnoble.com.  Click on the upper right link.