This powerpoint was used to help frame a roughly 45 minute conversation about how to read social science texts for my p544, Applied Cognition and Learning Strategies course. In this course we are examining both cognitive and sociocultural theories of learning and so this presentation was geared towards exploring our growing understanding of those theoretical frameworks as well as providing some concrete tips for those who are new to the discipline and / or graduate school as they struggle with how to effectively read primary source material.

1. Reading in the Social Sciences One Set of Cognitive and Sociocultural Interpretations

2. First, take a minute and jot down some notes Pick your preferred theoretical framework How might it examine reading a paper for this course?

3. A Cognitive Analysis The reading Situative… Situative Cognition Individual cognitive approach Interactional approaches Individual cognitive approach Interactional approaches Example…

4. A Cognitive Analysis The reading Situative… Situative Cognition Individual cognitive approach Interactional approaches Individual cognitive approach Interactional approaches Example… Tip 1: Use the text as an “advance organizer”

5. A Cognitive Analysis The reading Abstract Situative… Situative Cognition Individual cognitive approach Interactional approaches Individual cognitive approach Interactional approaches Example… Tip 1: Use the text as an “advance organizer” Tip 2: Use the abstract and summaries as a guide

7. Distributed cognition

8. Prior knowledge

9. Metacognition

10. Problem solving

11. Assimilation and AccomodationTip 3: Remember the task and timeframe (develop understanding over the entire semester) Situative… Individual cognitive approach Interactional approaches Example…

13. Distributed cognition

14. Prior knowledge

15. Metacognition

16. Problem solving

17. Assimilation and AccomodationTip 3: Remember the task and timeframe (develop understanding over the entire semester, write a paper on the topics studied) Situative… Individual cognitive approach Interactional approaches Example…

19. Distributed cognition

20. Prior knowledge

21. Metacognition

22. Problem solving

23. Assimilation and AccomodationTip 4: Use the syllabus to frame the topics Syllabus Framing Key terms Situative… Individual cognitive approach Interactional approaches Tip 5: (also) develop notes and highlighting for referring back to Example…

25. Distributed cognition

26. Prior knowledge

27. Metacognition

28. Problem solving

29. Assimilation and AccomodationWiki reflection Recap, frame, extend, contrast Notes Situative… Gist? Individual cognitive approach Cognitive reading Key relationships / differences Interactional approaches Clarification Example… Other readings

31. Distributed cognition

32. Prior knowledge

33. Metacognition

34. Problem solving

35. Assimilation and AccomodationTip 6: focus on your understanding Wiki reflection Recap, frame, extend, contrast Notes Situative… Gist? Individual cognitive approach Cognitive reading Key relationships / differences Interactional approaches Clarification Example… Other readings

37. Distributed cognition

38. Prior knowledge

39. Metacognition

40. Problem solving

41. Assimilation and AccomodationTip 7: Use other texts / people’s ideas to expand your understanding Wiki reflection Recap, frame, extend, contrast Notes Situative… Gist? Individual cognitive approach Cognitive reading Key relationships / differences Interactional approaches Clarification Example… Other readings

42. A sociocultural analysis Tools (the text) subject object

43. A sociocultural analysis Tip 8: Focus on your object (e.g., how you will want to change and use these ideas) Tools (the text) subject object

44. A sociocultural analysis Tip 8: Focus on your object (e.g., how you will want to change and use these ideas) Tip 8: Make sure the text is a tool, not the object Tools (the text) subject object

46. Who is your community?

47. Note how interactions in class and with peers can help / extend your understanding?

49. Adapt to responses

50. Engage in a conversation bout the ideas

52. Adapt to responses

53. Engage in a conversation bout the ideas

55. Adapt to responses

56. Engage in a conversation bout the ideas

58. Adapt to responses

59. Engage in a conversation bout the ideas

61. Adapt to responses

62. Engage in a conversation bout the ideas

64. Adapt to responses

65. Engage in a conversation bout the ideas

67. Adapt to responses

68. Engage in a conversation bout the ideas

70. What problem are you solving?

71. How will these ideas advance that work?

72. That’s what the final (and other) papers will be on

73. Focus on changes in participation

74. They take time

75. They are individual

77. What problem are you solving?

78. How will these ideas advance that work?

79. That’s what the final (and other) papers will be on

80. Focus on changes in participation

81. They take time

82. They are individual

83. Progress is progressTip 12: Think about whether or not your participation is shifting

84. Sociocultural analysis Situated in… Prior knowledge Time Space Physical Social Tip 13: Think about how your thinking, reading, etc. is ALWAYS situated….

85. Coda Keep a dictionary handy (a concluding event, remark, or section) Reflect on your relationship to the text and the course Spend the time on the key elements Trust in the tools and community for the rest Rely on the re-visiting of the texts