Course information can be
delivered through a variety of formats:
Lecture
by teacher or guests |
|
Textbook |
Original
source material
as diaries, government documents,
proceedings, minutes |
Duplicates/hand-out
of (text) chapters, magazine articles |
Interview
and biography
eyewitness accounts or
commentaries |
| Fictional
story/novel |
Electronic
media
such as videos, radio programs |
Internet
web site pages,
discussion groups |
Stahl, et al (1998) found that using multiple
texts 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 the 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 especially if you are inexperienced in the subject
- Practice with multiple texts
to improve your evaluative skills:
- compare and contrast your sources
- analyze them for bias or viewpoint
- 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!
Study
Guide Index |
