OK, Cj. That said, one would need to look at "reading" and how it is used. Consider:

What reading techniques are used? Some form of speed reading? PhotoReading"?

What form of notes, if any, does the learner take? Outline? MindMap?

In what environment does the learner read? Quiet? Listening to classical music? Listening to particular sounds?

And how do you define its effectiveness?

I am just not sure one can quantify the learning effectiveness of technique X -- reading included.

Do read PhotoReading bu Paul Scheele. He has lots of information on improving the learning effectiveness of reading.

quote:

Originally posted by travelerjjm:
Consider:

What reading techniques are used? Some form of speed reading? PhotoReading"?


In what environment does the learner read? Quiet? Listening to classical music? Listening to particular sounds?

And how do you define its effectiveness?

I am just not sure one can quantify the learning effectiveness of technique X -- reading included.

John:

Really good points. And, why I am skeptical about such a blanket statement regarding learning retention and reading.

I’m a fan of the SQ3R strategy (Survey, Question, Read, Recall, Review).

Thanks for the reference.

Cj

I think attempting to discuss this while simultaneously refusing to entertain discussions about learning styles is more than a bit fallacious.

In any case, bottom line is -- who said that the old axiom was valid in the first place? What is the point of debating something that was never asserted as being the end all be all explanation of what is more or less effective than something else.

Depends on the learner. I think any assertion that tries to quantify something that varies depending on what is being learned and who is trying to learn it is really a waste of grey matter.

Ben Franklin learned how to swim first by reading about it and then (and here's the important part) by actually practicing and applying what he had learned from the book. Surely he could not say he knew how to swim if he had only read how to do it.

We are all engaged in reading and discussing this particular thread. We learning ?
Want to know an individual learning style, ask them to identify and discuss how they learn the best.
Managers are at a grave disadvantage if they do not know how their staff learns, especially in this present business environment.

Nero

Yes, we are reading and learning (or at least I am)...but there is a distinct difference here -- we are engaging in a conversation.

Additionally, I believe one may find research to show that when one is specifically interested in what one is reading, one is far more likely to learn from the process of reading. (As opposed to reading something because one is being forced to do so with no immediately recognizable personal benefit, for example.)

Seems to me that ANY mode of learning is only as useful/effective as the manner in which it is framed and used. If the learner sees no import in it or is not engaged in some way, it really doesn't matter what the mode is.