Use the KWL Method to Retain What You’re Studying
The KWL chart is a popular tool for speedier, more entertaining study sessions in elementary schools, but it may be used by students of any age. The chart is simple to create, but it improves the effectiveness of your study sessions by making them more engaging. All you need is a notebook and a pen the next time you read, watch, or listen to something new. (For $10, you can even acquire a notebook full of pre-made KWL charts, saving you the effort of drawing them yourself.) This is how it works.
What is the KWL chart?
KWL stands for “Know, Want to Know, and Learn.” It is often used by teachers of young children, but universities also recommend it for more older learners. It’s simple to use, as all you need is a paper and pencil, yet it has a complicated history and foundation. KWL charts are a component of the constructivist teaching technique, which is founded on the constructivist theory, which holds that individuals learn better when they actively participate in the meaningful process of producing knowledge rather than passively receiving information. To put it another way, constructivists believe that interacting with your material is more effective than simply reading or hearing about it. A sprinkling of academic research suggests that KWL charts are more beneficial for reading comprehension than traditional, passive strategies.
All of this is excellent, but you’re more interested in what KWL charts can accomplish for you and your studies than in the history of why professors adore them.
How To Use A KWL Chart
Using one of these is straightforward. Similar to the SQ3R approach, you’ll use a pencil and paper to take notes while studying. On your paper, create three columns and title them Know, want to know, and learn. (If you purchase one of the KWL notebooks I suggested, this is already completed for you.) With or without the pre-made notepad, attempt to accomplish this by hand rather than digitally, as handwriting is more effective for retention. While it’s easier to do this in a word processing document, and you may even believe you should, so you don’t run out of place for all your thoughts, the limited space provided by real paper is a positive thing: Similar to the SQ3R approach, you should focus on little bits of material, such as a chapter or a brief section of text, rather than a larger area.
Before beginning to study a certain chapter or section (or view a portion of a recorded lecture, listen to an assigned podcast, or whatever), put down all you already know—or believe you know—about it in the Know column. Then, go to your Want to Know section and write down what you hope to learn or get from the subject. If you don’t know much about the subject, it’s acceptable to write that you want to know what it is or to scribble down general questions, but for an easier method to make precise goals, look at things like chapter subheadings, summaries, or tables in your resources and base your questions on those. For example, if your chapter includes a graph indicating that a particular disease is more widespread in a specific country, one of your queries could be why.
As you go through the content, pay special attention to anything that can assist you answer the questions you posed in your want-to-know list. Take notes elsewhere on the page if required, because after you’re finished, you’ll think on what you’ve learned, go over the materials and your notes, and record it in the final column. You can write about anything you’ve learned, but be sure to include the answers to the questions you presented in the second phase.
Try this for a variety of purposes, including personal recreational reading. KWL is effective not only for improving reading comprehension, but also for taking notes during lectures, participating in classroom activities, attending workshops, or simply viewing a documentary. The goal is to keep you focused and intrigued while you absorb material, so you may stay engaged as you seek solutions to the initial questions you posed.