Where I want to Be.
As I try to give an assessment or an evaluation to the levels of reading, note taking and writing capacity, I come to terms with the thought there are correlations between my reading, note-taking, and writing essays abilities. Generally speaking, we could say that writing skills would improve by not only writing, but the practice of writing, meaning keep doing it while paying attention to what needs improve and keep improving it. And the quality of writing depends on materials obtained through note taking and readings. And since most materials nowadays is obtain through media, reading would be the main avenue to improve my writing skills and quality.
From my upbringing and my early years through my adulthood, I learned better my doing, doing it! In my early college years, I enrolled in programs that you are taught to work; something like 40% book learning and 60% hands on learning. I also went through apprenticeship program where the in-classroom learning is like about 6-8 hours a week, while working in the field is 40-45 hours per week. Even right out of high school, I went to a bible school where we went out on outreach ministries almost twice a month during weekends. It could be that what I went through growing up that influence the way that I learn better in my latter years in life, or maybe that is just the way it is easier for me to learn.
Among the valuable lessons that I have gathered from Mortimer J. Adler and Charles Van Doren, there are certain approaches to reading certain types of materials such like: practical books, imaginative literature, reading stories, plays, poems, history, science and mathematics, philosophy, and social science. What I gathered from this is that by understanding the natures and contexts of these types of reading gives us ways to understand more clearly. These makes me think that maybe the reason why I like learning by doing is that I like reading practical books. Practical books are easy to understand and easy to follow; not a lot of thinking work involves. Therefore, I need to work hard and a lot on my learning to learn skills so I can be able to learn from different types of learning materials and to be able to understands their natures and contexts.
“Knowing that more than one book is relevant to a particular question is the first requirement in any project of synoptical reading. Knowing which books should be read, in general way, is the second requirement. The second requirement is a great harder to satisfy that the first (Adler & Van Doren).” Even though I do not know much about this “synoptical reading” by now, this phrase sounds really well in giving a guidance in researching or learning from reading or absorbing relevant information through reading. To read more than one book on the subject and to know what kind of books to read is a good lesson to remember.
To close it out, I would like to share “The Five Steps in Synoptical Reading,” by Adler & Van Doren. Following are the five steps: (1.) Finding the Relevant Passages, (2.) Bringing the Authors to Terms, (3.) Getting the Questions Clear, (4.) Defining the Issues, and (5.) Analyzing the Discussions. I wrote this as something I would like to understand more to assists me in my endeavor to learn more on how to learn more.
About the Author
Noel Liemam
12 responses to “Where I want to Be.”
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Hi Noel, It sounds like you have some great goals set for yourself as you take on more reading in this journey.
How do you think you can connect the dots between “doing” and reading so it makes sense to you?
Hi, Nancy Blackman, thank you for the comment. I am not really sure yet. But this week’s readings is a good start. I will try to learn more and practice more and more these techniques of reading to improve both my reading comprehension and to improve the quality of my writing.
Thanks
Noel, I could easily relate to your preference and experience of practical learning. Experiential learning has always been my preferred learning method, but I never correlated it to my professional career choice nor to my preference of practical books. Your blog helped me make those connections. In my training in health care a significant portion of my learning was directly with patients. There was plenty of reading and lectures involved, but I most enjoyed when I could take the theory to the bedside.
What are your thoughts on Adler and Van Doren’s idea that practical books are separate from other types of books because of the obligation that is imposed on the reader to act on the situation if agreeing with the author of the book?
Hi, Kari. Well, with regards to my personal experience, in my previous careers, I would say that carpentry and engineering technology textbooks are pretty straight forward. You don’t have to read between the lines; instructions are very clear to follow. I mean other authors might have different techniques or way of solving the same problems, but still straight forward instruction. That would be the only reason why I would be in agreement with them.
Hi Noel,
Thanks for sharing this. It seems in your college years, you had a lot of “hands-on” experiences, which, as we all know, helps accentuate our learning. I don’t know what your project is, but do you think there is an opportunity to be hands-on during this program?
Hi, Mr. Blackman and thank you for reading the post. I do hope there is that aspect of hands-on learning within this program. If I am not mistaken, the third or last year of this program is “kind of” an application part. It is when we launch whatever prototype we come up with as a result of our NPO. Thanks for your comment.
Noel, I appreciated reading more about your early education and the hands-on style of learning that shaped you.
While reading Adler and Van Doren, it was a new concept for me to modify my thinking based on the type of book I am working through. I suppose we do this naturally, but I never really thought about the importance of “pigeonholing” a book. This idea was also a valuable lesson for me and I will use it moving forward.
I still feel somewhat intimidated by the idea of syntopical reading. It feels like a complete shift from my regular habits of reading. However, I am looking forward to learning more and navigating the fourth and highest level of reading.
Thank you, Elysse, for your comment. Thank you for the encouragement that you are displaying. You said you were intimidated; however, you are showing us the courage to press on. I am intimidated and sitting back, but I think I will follow that example, “press-on.” The only comfort that I have from this type of reading is that I don’t have to read the whole book within this short time frame. Thanks again, Elysse.
Noel, It sounds like that through repeated reinforcement you have deeply ingrained habits of learning that feel comfortable. I admire that you are also open to learning new ways of learning that will help you in this season of life. I am inspired to grow in faith that I can learn to do things differently in order to execute better.
Hi, Julie, thank you for the comment. It is something that is not easy for me; I have to cross several crossroads in order to get there. If I have a choice, I would not choice to change with or adapt, but as we all know that teachability and adaptability are two essentials of growth and learning. Thanks again for the comment.
Noel, thanks for sharing this! You highlighted the power of writing, and it got me thinking. How many of us really put in the effort to up our writing game? Are we just moving from one assignment to the next, or do we have an intentional desire to write better? I am also a big fan of practical books too—some authors can make the ‘how’ come alive and not bore us in the ‘why’. Personally, it makes me eager to go out and strive to do better.
I agree with you, Noel. I, too, retain and synthesize more by doing. I appreciate practice more than theory. Give me something I do now and I will employ the tool readily. I never thought about more practical ways to take notes until now. Hopefully this new practice will make us all better writers!