Understanding What Are Comprehension Strategies and How to Use Them Effectively

Understanding What Are Comprehension Strategies and How to Use Them Effectively

As learners, we all strive to understand concepts thoroughly. For that, we require a comprehension skill set that helps us make sense of what we read or listen to. Comprehension strategies are one such skill set that we can use to make meaning of language and further develop our abilities to learn and understand. In this article, we will explore what comprehension strategies are and how we can use them effectively to improve our learning.

What Are Comprehension Strategies?

Comprehension strategies are the set of skills that enable learners to understand what they read or listen to by making use of prior knowledge, asking questions, making inferences, visualizing, synthesizing, and summarizing information. These strategies are the essential tools that facilitate learners to comprehend the information presented to them in a better manner.

The Importance of Comprehension Strategies

Comprehension strategies play a vital role in learning, as they help students gain a deeper understanding of the content they are reading or learning about. Without these strategies, learners may struggle to read and make sense of written texts, leading to poor performance in the classroom. Effective comprehension strategies can help students:

• Develop a stronger understanding of texts and lectures
• Retain information over a longer period
• Engage with the content actively
• Increase motivation and learning engagement
• Improve essay writing and other writing tasks

Types of Comprehension Strategies

There are various types of comprehension strategies that students can utilize to enhance their comprehension skills. The primary comprehension strategies are as follows:

Activating Prior Knowledge

Activating prior knowledge refers to what the student already knows about the topic that they are going to learn. By relating new information to prior knowledge, students can enhance their ability to understand and remember that information. This technique is commonly known as ‘Schema Theory’.

Asking Questions

Asking questions helps students to think more deeply about the text they are reading or the context they are studying. By asking questions, students are actively engaged with the content and can identify the main points of the material and identify where to focus their attention.

Making Inferences

Making inferences requires students to use context clues and critical thinking skills to determine information not explicitly stated in the text. By making inferences, students can read between the lines and gain a deeper understanding of the text they are reading.

Visualizing

Visualizing involves creating a mental image of the text by using descriptive words to create a picture in the reader’s mind. By using visualization, students can more easily understand the context and ideas presented in the material.

Synthesizing

Synthesizing involves combining and understanding information from multiple sources or texts. By synthesizing information, students can gain a deeper understanding of the topic and develop a more holistic view of the subject they are learning about.

Summarizing

Summarizing involves creating a shortened version of the text that highlights the key points or ideas presented in the material. It promotes active engagement and helps learners to condense information in an easy to understand format.

How to Use Comprehension Strategies Effectively

Now that we have a better understanding of what comprehension strategies are, let us discuss some tips that can help you use these strategies effectively.

• Use a variety of comprehension strategies
• Start by activating prior knowledge
• Ask yourself questions before, during, and after reading/learning
• Visualize as you read or listen to material
• Make inferences based on what you learn
• Summarize the information you collect
• Practice using comprehension strategies regularly

In conclusion, comprehension strategies are an essential skill set that can lead to more powerful learning experiences. It is not enough to read or listen to content. One must actively engage with the material to fully grasp its meaning. By using the tips mentioned above and incorporating comprehension strategies into your learning process, you can create a more engaging and effective learning experience.