Information Skills :1 Information Skills UCDC Training Activity


An Introduction :2 An Introduction Good information skills is required for successful and effective professionals. Benefits of good info. skills: Be able to digest a huge volume of information Be able to assimilate the information Become highly selective in what you read Become clear and easy to understand and quick to make review (by using note-taking) Increase efficiency and effectiveness in digest and assimilate the information


SQ3R :3 SQ3R SQ3R is useful to fully absorb written info. Survey: scan the contents, chapter introduction, and chapter summaries just to get a shallow overview. Question: make a note of any questions on the subject, or esp. the interests from your survey. Read: read through useful sections in detail, taking care to all relevant points and make ‘concept map’. Recall: after reading, run through the document in your mind several times. See how they are linked. Review: after recalling, read through the document again, expand your notes, discuss with study buddies, and/or teach someone else.


Effective Note-Taking :4 Effective Note-Taking Read the section of your material Only read, do not take note! Or you will simply copy without understanding Review the materials Locate the main idea, as well as sub-points Set the book aside and paraphrase the info. Keep in mind that, “take note in outline form” Write the paraphrased ideas as your notes Do not copy info directly from the textbook Add only enough detail to understand Review your notes, periodically


Speed Reading :5 Speed Reading Benefits of speed reading: Read and understand written info much more quickly. Become more selective about the info. you need. Use Speed Reading trick to improve your efficiency. How to use tools: Increase the number of words in each block. Reduce the length of time spending on each block. Reduce the number of times your eyes skip-back to previous sentences.


Speed Reading (cont.) :6 Speed Reading (cont.) Increase the number of words in each block Try to expand the # of words you can read at a time. Hold the text a little further from your eyes. Reduce fixation time Try to read each block using only ¼ second. Practice with confidence. Reduce skip-back Run a pointer along the line as you read. Read forward with concentration.


Reading Strategies :7 Reading Strategies Six different strategies to read more effectively: 1. Know what you need to know & read it appropriately. 2. Know how deeply to read the document. 3. Use active reading techniques. 4. Understand how to extract info from different materials. 5. Use your own table of contents for effective reading. 6. Use indexes, tables of contents, and glossaries to help you assimilate technical info.


Reading Strategies (cont.) :8 Reading Strategies (cont.) Know what you need to know Ask yourself why you’re reading this document Read the heading or intro of the chapter will give an overview of the structure of whole document. Know how deeply to read the document Shallowest knowledge Just skim through the heading, chapter intro, and summaries. Moderate knowledge Scan the intro and summaries of the chapter in detail, Speed read the contents, pick out the key words and concept, Pay attention to illustrations and figures. Detailed knowledge Make an overview of the text, Apply SQ3R to absorb most from this piece of document.


Reading Strategies (cont.) :9 Reading Strategies (cont.) Use active reading techniques Highlight, underline, and annotate the document will help you in your later review. It’s your book, do it your way! Extract info. from different materials From opinion article: Most info contained in the intro and summaries. From feature article: The most important parts is in the body of the text. From news article: Most important info and key points are presented first. From magazine: Scan the content tables or indexes, turn directly to the interesting articles, if you find it useful cut and file them. From newspapers: The paper is arranged in sections, find the section which is useful to you and scan it through.


Reading Strategies (cont.) :10 Reading Strategies (cont.) Use your own table of contents Compile your own table of contents Use table of contents to read doc. that you want Be able to spot detail omission and irrelevant info. Use indexes, tables of contents, and glossaries to help you assimilate technical info Keep the glossary of the related topic beside you Help you to assimilate technical information


Review Techniques :11 Review Techniques Benefits of having good review techniques: Confirm your understanding of the material. Reduce time needed to relearn the info. Build a well-remembered foundation. Improve the quality of future learning. How to use tools: Learn 3 time: before-, in-, and after-class Read before class (first note) Learn in class (second note) Tidy up notes after class (1st + 2nd note) Jot down what you can remember, periodically*


Learning Styles :Index of Learning Styles by Richard Felder & Linda Silverman 12 Learning Styles Sensory learners prefer concrete, practical, and procedural information. They look for the facts. Intuitive learners prefer conceptual, innovative, and theoretical information. They look for the meaning. Visual learners prefer graphs, pictures, and diagrams. They look for visual representations of information. Verbal learners prefer to hear or read information. They look for explanations with words. Sensory learners prefer concrete, practical, and procedural information. They look for the facts. Sensory learners prefer concrete, practical, and procedural information. They look for the facts. Sensory Intuitive Visual Verbal


Learning Styles (cont.) :Index of Learning Styles by Richard Felder & Linda Silverman 13 Learning Styles (cont.) Sequential learners prefer to have information presented linearly and in an orderly manner. They put together the details in order to understand the big picture emerges. Global learners prefer a holistic and systematic approach. They see the big picture first and then fill in the details. Active learners prefer to manipulate objects, do physical experiments, and learn by trying. They enjoy working in groups to figure out problems. Reflective learners prefer to think things through, to evaluate options, and learn by analysis. They enjoy figuring out a problem on their own. Active Reflective Sequential Global


Learning Styles (cont.) :14 Learning Styles (cont.) What it helps? Help you learn in a variety of ways Be better in learning and gather info. Make better decision & choose better course of action Be able to communicate the message in a way that many more people can understand How to get this help? Identify your learning preference in each dimension Analyze your result and identify your weak style Improve your weak style* (balancing is the key!)


Learning Styles (cont.) :15 Learning Styles (cont.) Sensory - Being innovative and adapting to new situations. - Seek opportunities to learn presumptive info then find fact to support or negate them. Intuitive - Force yourself to learn facts or memorize data to defend or criticize a theory you’re working with. - Slow it down and look at detail you may typically skim. Visual - Practice note-taking. - Seek out opportunities to explain info to other using words. - Verbal info is still the preferred choice for delivery of info. Verbal - Look for opportunities to learn through audio-visual presentations - Group info according to concept and create visual links. - Try to create charts, tables, diagrams – etc.


Learning Styles (cont.) :16 Learning Styles (cont.) Active - Act before you think may result in ill-informed judgment. Concentrate on summarizing the situation and take time to digest the info before jumping into discussion. Reflective - Thinking too much is the risk of doing nothing. - Involve in group decision-making Try to apply the info that you have in a practical manner. Sequential - Understand why you’re breaking things down into small chunks. - See how it is connected to the overall purpose or objectives. - Do some more “big picture” thinking and look for long run. Global - Don’t run before you walk! - Take time to ask for explanation & more info to make things completed. - Force yourself to complete all problem-solving step before coming to conclusion or making decision.


Summing Up :17 Summing Up Information is important to everyone, so absorb it effectively and disclose it properly. Apply SQ3R to increase your retention of written document. Use Speed Reading to boost your efficiency in reading materials. Understand the Reading Strategies to read the text faster and wisely. Implement Review Techniques to keep information fresh in your mind. Learn in the way that suits you, but try to balance your weak styles. Keep on study hard, but Do Study SMART!