'Skimming' tutor notes

The aim of the 'skimming' module is to help learners improve their skim reading skills at Level 1.

Other areas on the site which link in with this module are:
'Scanning'. Once students have completed the worksheet in the skimming module, they can use the same text to answer scanning questions in the scanning module.
'Types of text'. Types of text questions come up quite a lot in the quiz questions in this skimming module. If students would like to do more work on text types, they should visit the 'Types of text' module.

How does this tie in with the curriculums?

• England
  Rt/L1.5 - 'Use different reading strategies to find and obtain information'.
  
• Wales
  As England.
• Northern Ireland
  As England.
• Scotland
  See www.aloscotland.com for details of the Scottish curriculum.

In the Skillswise module you'll find:

Skimming factsheet
There is just one factsheet in this section, which explains what skimming is and gives some hints and tips on how to do it.

Skimming quiz
A three level quiz for learners to test how well they can skim read. Level A is the easiest and level C the hardest.
In this quiz each level is timed. We have done this so that students feel under pressure, which we hope will encourage them to skim read the texts. If you feel that these timings are too short (or too long!) please do let us know, as they are easily changed.

There is a system in place that allows students to print out a certificate if they score 50% or over in the quiz. This appears as a link on the results page - click on the link and the certificate will appear in a new window. Students can write their name on the certificate once it is printed.

Skimming worksheet
There is one worksheet in this section, a primary school prospectus.
Once students have answered the skimming questions relating to this text, they can go to the scanning section to tackle some scanning questions that relate to the same text.

Technical help:

If you are new to the web, why not try the BBC WebWise online course, Becoming WebWise? It's free, you can do it in your own time from any computer and it will take you through everything you need to know to use the web successfully in your teaching.
Get WebWise.

You can find out more about the technical requirements for Skillswise in our Help - Technical Information section.

Taking it further:

With Skillswise:
You can find more resources for teaching skimming on BBC Skillswise in the Lesson plans and Teaching inspirations areas.
If you have any worksheets or ideas about teaching skimming - don't forget to share! Just email us at skillswise.feedback@bbc.co.uk

On the web:
Here's some suggestions of places on the web where you might find useful resources for teaching skimming:

• 'Pulp Friction'
  Once they click the 'start' button students have just a few minutes to answer the comprehension questions on this text about Canadian forests and hemp production. A free interactive exercise from the University of Victoria in Canada.
  NOTE! This website also has a scanning exercise based around the same text.
   
• '42Explore' - Skimming and scanning
  Another Canadian site, full of free resources. It's primarily aimed at schools, but not only will you find a succinct introduction to the basics of skimming and scanning here, you will find loads and loads of useful links to other material on the web.
   
• Reading skills - class activity
  This is a free lesson plan from a UK English teaching resources website. It's a nice group activity where students have to answer questions about a text as a team against the clock.
  NOTE! This lesson plan is a PDF document. If you want to access it you will need to have the free Adobe Acrobat software on your machine. You probably have, so try it.
   
• Active reading guide
  Again designed for students in higher education, this is a clearly laid out and accessibly written guide to being an active reader, which includes hints and tips on skim reading.
  NOTE! This guide is a PDF document. If you want to access it you will need to have the free Adobe Acrobat software on your machine. You probably have, so try it.
   
• Hospice text
  A text about hospice care, with three skim reading comprehension questions. A student can submit their answers for a mark, but you might just want to print out the text and use it.
  This resource is free, but comes from the US higher education publishers McGraw Hill.

Please note that the BBC is not responsible for the content of other websites.

Do you know of any great online resources for practising skimming? Tell us about them!