Reading Your Textbook From Back to Front
You’re probably thinking this is a crazy idea, and I doubt you’ve ever thought of doing this on your own — I sure hadn’t! It’s kind of counter-intuitive to start with the end of a textbook chapter, but if you spend a moment thinking about it, this might actually be a good strategy.
Typically at the end of textbook chapters there are study questions. If you start by reading these first, you will be more aware of big concepts! You’ll know what you should be looking for while you read.
Reading a textbook takes up a lot of time. If you’re in college, you’ve probably gotten pretty good at skimming a textbook chapter. But here are some steps to saving time while you’re reading for class.
1. Read the end of the chapter first
Look at the summary, end of chapter questions, and bold font vocabulary words. This will give you an idea of what you’re getting ready to read. It’ll focus your attention on the things that matter instead of wasting your time trying to pick out the big concepts.
If you’re taking notes while you’re reading, make sure to take note of vocab words you don’t know — you’ll want to look back on those as you work through the chapter.
2. Set up your notes by headings and subheadings
These will also play a role in focusing your reading and note-taking. Outline the chapter after you’ve read the summary so you know how it all fits together.
I would also suggest doing this in a color-coded fashion. You’re actually able to recall information better if you can visualize it in your head, which is much easier when you’ve coded it by color.
3. Find importance in reading the introduction to the chapter
Now, once you know what the chapter revolves around, read the chapter introduction with a new set of eyes. Now you’ll know what to look for when you go through the chapter with a magnifying glass.
Having already read the end of the chapter questions, the introduction will give you the broad overview you need to successfully learn the chapter.
4. Go back and read examples for each concept
Once you have your outline of the chapter filled out, go back and fill in the blanks with the examples the textbook gives. This is especially helpful if you’re a little fuzzy on some vocab or overall ideas. Examples will be your best friend when studying for a test.
Further your understanding of these examples by drawing pictures, creating mnemonics, etc.
5. Test your own understanding
Make up your own examples in order to further your understanding (and test what you know) from the chapter. You’re more likely to remember examples you made up yourself when it comes time for the test than to recall examples from the textbook.
What’s the point?
Learning is an interesting concept — people use the word “learning” to mean lots of different things. When you “learned” your multiplication tables, did you memorize them, or did you conceptually understand them? You probably memorized them. If you try to learn everything by memorizing it, you won’t be able to perform well long-term. I wouldn’t suggest approaching college this way.
Ever heard of Bloom’s Learning Taxonomy? It’s a pretty cool concept:
It’s the idea that deeper understanding and true learning comes from interacting with information in different ways. If you just memorize things, you’re simply recalling information. If you’re understanding, you can actually teach it to someone else. Applying knowledge is when you can use it out of the context in which you learned it to other areas of life. Analyzing information is recognizing similarities and differences between this concept and others as well as how parts of this concept work together. Evaluating can be looked at like making an argument. But creating is when you actually produce new, useful ideas.
Reading your textbook backward could play a big part in what level of learning you achieve with that information. If you really want to master a subject, work through all of these levels. You’ll be able to remember the concept long-term and put it to good use.