Reading to Learn

Reading to Learn strategies get students into the primary scientific literature related to the class content, but provide students ample strategies and purpose to get the most out of their reading. In my Ecology class, students dive into five articles related to the lecture material throughout the semester. The articles are presented in pairs, along with a short video lecture that explains an inquiry skill that we'll explore through the papers. The lectures below are for three strategies: REC tables for active reading, scientific argumentation, and reading figures and tables in scientific literature. While learning these skills, we reinforce ecological concepts like evolutionary ecology, range limits, extinction, mutualisms, and community assembly. The lecture video goes through one of the scientific papers to explain the inquiry skill, and the students are expected to read both papers and practice the skill on the second paper by themselves. Assignments can be turned in and graded, or show up on future quizzes.

Reading to Learn I:

The REC Table for Active Reading

Reading to Learn II:

Scientific Arguments

Reading to Learn III:

Figures and Tables