Reading Across Disciplines: Demystifying the Complexity of Reading Skills to Support Students’ Learning

Effective reading is one of the most essential but least taught skills in higher education. To disciplinary experts, reading often looks effortless, yet effective reading comprises a complex set of skills. As academics, we employ different modes of reading depending on our goals, the conventions of our disciplines, and the contexts in which our reading occurs. In order to learn deeply, our students must also develop a nuanced understanding of the context- and goal-dependent nature of reading and cultivate the agility to switch between modes of reading as necessary.

This workshop invites faculty to examine how reading functions in their disciplines and to identify the specific reading challenges embedded in their courses. Through reflection, case studies, and practical design work, participants will articulate the course-specific goals they hold for students’ reading. Participants will also develop a practice, class activity, or assignment to support their reading goals and make a plan to implement it. Although this workshop will only scratch the surface of what reading pedagogies can achieve, we hope that it inspires participants to take an intentional approach to integrating reading pedagogies throughout their pedagogical practice.