The majority of Indian students
are "holistic" learners. They learn
more easily if they see the whole
picture first, then learn the
details as a part of the whole
Sandra J Fox, 1944 Oglala Sioux
Course information can be delivered
through a variety of formats:
Lectures
by teacher or guests Textbooks Fictional story/novels
Interviews and biographies
eyewitness accounts or commentaries Duplicates/hand-outs
of (text) chapters, magazine articles Original source material
as diaries, government documents,
proceedings, minutes
Electronic media
such as videos, radio programs Internet
web site pages, discussion groups
Stahl, et al (1998) found that using multiple-text sources can only be effective if we are taught to use them properly. As beginners, we tend to be more consistent in what information we select from short, well-constructed texts. Longer, less structured documents tend to be more confusing.
Text books
* provide a foundation of facts and viewpoints to provide an overview
* sequence information and facts to understand issues
* create a context for comparing and understanding other sources
* are written in a neutral, objective tone
Problems with a single text
for a subject or course include:
* information is often "academic"
lacking the drama of real life experience, adventure, and experimentation
* bias is hidden or concealed
ignoring competing facts, priorities, minority viewpoints
* a single interpretation limits how reported facts are prioritized/sequenced
restricting viewpoint (Euro/Caucasian) or subject testing (white male)
* original/eyewitness sources of information are secondary to interpretative accounts
Additional readings and alternative sources
of information can assist you to
* create a richer understanding
with additional information and perspective
* interact or engage with facts, actors, circumstances
of the material
* practice and familiarize
yourself with new subject vocabulary and concepts
* process opposing, even conflicting,
points of view in order to assess, evaluate, defend
Conflicting information however can impede your learning,
unless you can
* analyze it for commonalties
* reorganize or synthesize
your model for understanding it
* consider the impact of, and evaluate, conflicts
* filter it with athe context presented in the basic text
Some Recommendations:
* Read your text
to provide the factual framework from which to begin
(see also Taking notes from a text book)
* Proceed to shorter, more focused sources
of information expecially if you are inexpereinced in the subject
* Practice with multiple texts to improve your evaluative skills:
o compare and contrast your sources
o analyze them for bias or viewpoint
o note when and where they were written, and how that affects the viewpoint
* Understand the connections
between events, actors, and circumstances rather than learn a series of "facts" which can be easily be forgotten
* Use in-class or on-line discussion time
to test your understanding and ask questions!
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