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Are schemas related? Schema should not be confined to a subject or content area. It is meant to flow freely between subjects. A concept you learned in science can provide prior knowledge (schema) for a story in your literature class. A book you read in literature, a movie you saw over the summer, or a conversation you had with your grandpa, can provide a schema for a history topic. Let your schema flow! Look for connections across all subject areas. Try to link information to something you already know. What can your schema do for you? When you’re faced with the task of learning something new, don’t assume you know nothing about it. Get your schema on! Activating your schema fires up Brainy’s dendrites, axons and synapses to prepare them to link to new information. That improves comprehension, makes learning more meaningful, and information easier to recall. What are schema activation techniques? Teachers often start a lesson by reviewing a prior lesson, or by engaging students in a discussion or brainstorming session about the lesson topic. Those are schema activation techniques. It’s like stretching before a workout. Those activities help you summon prior knowledge so you can more easily link to the new information. Here are some techniques you can use to activate your schema when you are learning on your own: Class Notes Class notes are like a “do-over” of important parts of a lesson, and are an excellent way to activate your schema. Review class notes prior to doing the homework for that class. Don’t rush through your notes and toss them aside. Read them, asking What was the objective of this lesson? What information did my teacher want me to take away from this class? Circle unclear or incomplete information to identify potential weak links or gaps in your prior knowledge. Reviewing your notes brings relevant information from your memory into your conscious thought. PRODUCT PREVIEW Brainstorm Before reading new material, brainstorm what you already know about the topic. Don’t jump in and start reading without a warm up. Scribble down words, notes, names, ideas or events. Don’t worry about being neat. It’s just a free-form technique to call up information from deep in your brain. Old Worksheets and Quizzes Don’t toss out old worksheets and quizzes. File them in your binder or study folder at your workspace and review them to activate your schema whenever you are building on a skill you previously learned in a class.
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THE 21st CENTURY STUDENT’S GUIDE TO STUDY SKILLS
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