Learning Strategies Development
Queen's University-
Graduate Students
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Critical Reading
-
Reading Module
- Be Aware of Yourself as a Reader
- Speed
- Comprehension
- Critical Reading
- Retention
- Volume of Reading
- Focus and Concentration
- Reducing Stress
-
Reading Module
- Learning Strategies for International Graduate Students
- Motivation
- Presentation Anxiety
- Stress Management
- Time Management
- Expanding Horizons Workshops
- Supervisory Relationships
- Thesis Support Group
- Other Groups
- Useful Links
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Critical Reading
Being Aware of Yourself as a Reader
Issues
It's important to be aware of your style, knowledge, skills, and attitudes to the text you are about to read.
Before you start reading, reflect on the following 4 areas:
1. Learning Style
Your learning style is your preferred way of understanding the world, not your only or best way of learning.
Ask yourself: What is my personal learning style and how can I use my style to help me read better?
You can determine your own learning style by using a free on-line assessment tool such as:
Index of Learning Styles: www4.ncsu.edu/unity/lockers/users/f/felder/public/ILSpage.html
VAK: www.businessballs.com/vaklearningstylestest.htm
Myers Briggs: www.teamtechnology.co.uk/mmdi/questionnaire/
For more information and strategies:
Go to the Undergraduate Student tab. Download the module "Academic Reading". In the pdf version, go to the TOOL "Learning Styles & Approaches to Reading" on pp. 14-15.
2. Background Knowledge/Schema
How much background knowledge do I have of the topic?
3. Attitude
What is my attitude to the reading? e.g. Do I feel motivated? Do I feel like putting it off?
4. Concentration and Focusing
How well will I be able to concentrate and focus on the reading?
