Chapter Summary

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Chapter 8: Learning and Retention Strategies

Learning and retention can be greatly increased by being aware of the structures that authors provide for navigating textbooks and by applying review and recall strategies. Textbook learning aids such as chapter previews, summaries, marginal notations, etc. are discussed and exercises are provided for increasing awareness of these organizational cues. Also, two types of review, immediate and periodic, are examined as ways to increase retention of textbook information. Other methods for increasing recall discussed include: intent to remember, organization/categorization, association, use of sensory modes, visualization, mnemonic devices, and the SQ3R system for reading and learning. Considerations for adapting the SQ3R to various types of content are also included.

Scientific and technical texts are compared with other areas of study. The special considerations that are discussed include technical vocabulary, dense writing, abbreviation and notation systems specific to the topic, large numbers of illustrations and examples, and sample problems.

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