As we all know, reading is fundamental to learning. Reading and remembering what you read is a must for any professional regardless of profession chosen. The very first thing that must be accomplished is an understanding of the vocabulary used. I would be absolutely lost, or it would take a long time, if I chose to read a document on medical practice, say cardiology. I simply would have great difficulty in understanding the vocabulary and would be looking up the meaning of every other word.
There are several subjects that remain difficult or very difficult to read and absorb, such as any religious text, and text involving STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) subjects. These may involve multiple “reads” but can be simplified by the process given below. I personally do not use the PQRST method when reading a fiction novel or (obviously) a book to my three-year-old grandson. You get the picture. Subject matter you really need to remember, try the following process.
There are environmental factors that may influence reading efficiency such as:
- Proper lighting. If you can’t see due to dim lighting you can’t really concentrate on the subject matter. If you want a light on your desk for daily reading and writing, a bulb of four hundred and seventy (470) lumens should be perfect. But, if you are looking for a light that will ensure you can read for long hours in any part of the room and without any stress on your eyes, a bulb of eight hundred (800+) lumens is necessary. (NOTE: Lumen output is a measurement of the total quantity of visible light emitted by a light source. It’s also commonly known as brightness or light output. The reference point: A standard 100-watt incandescent light bulb produces about 1,500-1,700 lumens.)
- Proper Vision. This one is a no brainer. When I was studying at the university, I had frequent headaches. I mean mind-benders. I wore reading glasses so the last thing I suspected was a problem with vision. WRONG. During an annual eye exam, my doctor, Dr. Molly Seal, indicated contacts or glasses? Which? I was shocked to find out that was the problem. I know this sounds nuts but impaired vision is an impediment to reading. This impediment has a solution—glasses.
- Comfort. Just about every expert on effective reading will tell you you must be comfortable to read efficiently. Too cold, too hot, not enough sleep the night before, etc. all contribute to less comfort prior to taking on a reading assignment either for work or pleasure.
- Surroundings. When I was studying at the university, I had a good friend who studied at a local mall, in the food court. I went with him one evening to study. Bad idea. Too much noise and too many distractions. I could not study in my room at the dorm either. There was always a party atmosphere, especially Friday and Saturday night, and a great deal of noise. I did find a very quiet location in the engineering library with good lighting, a nice comfortable chair, AND a table long enough and wide enough to spread everything out.
- Noise Level. If you are the type not distracted with the TV blaring or headphones blasting out the latest Taylor Swift song more power to you. I CAN’T. Too distracting. I need total quiet or as close to it as I can get.
- Social Media, Please do not think you will be effective if you check your social media account every nanosecond. Put your cell phone down, complete your reading assignment then check your messages.
- AM/PM. I’m definitely a morning person. I function much better right after a good night’s sleep. Some people are P.M. Determine what block of time you are most efficient; most awake. This will definitely help you get through your reading.
If you look at the various reading techniques you will find several methods that facilitate the process. I personally like the following: PQRST
P—Preview—Do a brief overview or skimming of each topic prior to reading. Look at the heading and each sub-heading and try to find a trend or direction the author is going. You might look at the first and last sentence of each paragraph under the headings to get an idea as to where the author is taking you. I think it is very important to read the table of contents and associated comments relative to the text. Also, if there is a list of figures, list of tables and list of nomenclature, read those before you preview.
Q—Question—Write down questions you wish answered from the sub-section and general text. This comes after the preview. Exactly what do you want to know from the text?
R—Read—I would recommend you read at your normal rate. In other words, don’t speed read unless you are very proficient and confident you can derive the full meaning from the text.
S—Summarize—On one page, summarize what you have read. It does not have to be an elaborate summary. Use short-hand. Keep it brief. Many people use a mind-map or a pictorial to make the summary.
T—Test—Did you get all of your questions answered? You may need to re-read portions of the text to get the answers.
I really hope this works for you.
cielotech
Cielotech Online 
PQRST
January 9, 2023
As we all know, reading is fundamental to learning. Reading and remembering what you read is a must for any professional regardless of profession chosen. The very first thing that must be accomplished is an understanding of the vocabulary used. I would be absolutely lost, or it would take a long time, if I chose to read a document on medical practice, say cardiology. I simply would have great difficulty in understanding the vocabulary and would be looking up the meaning of every other word.
There are several subjects that remain difficult or very difficult to read and absorb, such as any religious text, and text involving STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) subjects. These may involve multiple “reads” but can be simplified by the process given below. I personally do not use the PQRST method when reading a fiction novel or (obviously) a book to my three-year-old grandson. You get the picture. Subject matter you really need to remember, try the following process.
There are environmental factors that may influence reading efficiency such as:
If you look at the various reading techniques you will find several methods that facilitate the process. I personally like the following: PQRST
P—Preview—Do a brief overview or skimming of each topic prior to reading. Look at the heading and each sub-heading and try to find a trend or direction the author is going. You might look at the first and last sentence of each paragraph under the headings to get an idea as to where the author is taking you. I think it is very important to read the table of contents and associated comments relative to the text. Also, if there is a list of figures, list of tables and list of nomenclature, read those before you preview.
Q—Question—Write down questions you wish answered from the sub-section and general text. This comes after the preview. Exactly what do you want to know from the text?
R—Read—I would recommend you read at your normal rate. In other words, don’t speed read unless you are very proficient and confident you can derive the full meaning from the text.
S—Summarize—On one page, summarize what you have read. It does not have to be an elaborate summary. Use short-hand. Keep it brief. Many people use a mind-map or a pictorial to make the summary.
T—Test—Did you get all of your questions answered? You may need to re-read portions of the text to get the answers.
I really hope this works for you.
Share this:
Related