Alternatives to SQ3R: Exploring PLAN and KWL Plus

Reading textbooks can be overwhelming, especially when you’re studying for a challenging professional course. While the SQ3R method (Survey, Question, Read, Recite, Review) has long been a popular reading strategy, it doesn’t work equally well for everyone. Some learners need visual frameworks, while others prefer starting from their existing knowledge base. That’s where PLAN and KWL Plus come in-two powerful alternatives that can transform how you engage with academic content.

Why look beyond SQ3R? 🔗

SQ3R was developed in 1948 as one of the first structured reading systems, and it remains widely used today. However, research shows that learners have different cognitive styles. Some students struggle with SQ3R’s linear approach and benefit more from strategies that incorporate visual mapping or activate prior knowledge more explicitly. PLAN and KWL Plus offer such alternatives, each with unique strengths suited to different learning preferences and text types.

Understanding the PLAN strategy 🔗

PLAN stands for Predict, Locate, Add, and Note. This strategy was developed to help readers use concept mapping as a way to organize information visually. According to the University of Cincinnati, PLAN is particularly helpful for students who are visually inclined and need to see connections between ideas. It transforms textbook reading into an active, engaging process rather than passive absorption of information.

Step 1: Predict 🔗

Before you begin reading in detail, scan the material to create a “predictive map” of what the text will cover. During this step, you should look for bolded or italicized terms, key people or concepts, headings and subheadings, charts and graphs, visual representations of data, examples, and summary questions. Using these clues, draw a preliminary concept map showing how you expect the information to be organized. Connect related ideas using lines or arrows, and distinguish between main ideas and supporting details.

Step 2: Locate 🔗

After creating your predictive map, review it to identify what you already know versus what you need to learn. Place a checkmark next to familiar information and a question mark next to unfamiliar concepts. This step serves two purposes: it acknowledges your existing knowledge and creates clear targets for your reading. You become aware of exactly what you need to look for as you read the text.

Step 3: Add 🔗

Now read the text thoroughly. As you read, add new information to your concept map. Correct any predictions that were inaccurate, fill in the gaps marked with question marks, and note which ideas receive the most emphasis in the text. This step transforms passive reading into active engagement-you’re constantly comparing what you’re reading against your predictions and updating your understanding.

Step 4: Note 🔗

The final step involves preparing the information for its intended use. Consider how you’ll need to apply this knowledge: Will you face a multiple-choice exam? Write an essay? Give a presentation? Different purposes require different organization strategies. You might convert your concept map into a summary paragraph, practice recreating the map from memory, or reorganize the information to match your upcoming assessment format.

The KWL Plus strategy explained 🔗

KWL Plus is built upon the original KWL framework developed by Donna Ogle in the late 1980s. The strategy is grounded in a key principle: meaning doesn’t reside exclusively in text but emerges through interaction between reader and writer. KWL encourages you to bring your personal experiences and existing knowledge to every reading task.

K – What I know 🔗

Before reading, brainstorm everything you already know about the topic. This activates your background knowledge and creates mental hooks for new information. As Penn State University notes, this metacognitive strategy helps learners identify and activate prior knowledge while making connections with new information. Create a list or mind map of relevant facts, personal experiences, and related concepts. Don’t worry about being comprehensive-even partial knowledge provides a foundation for deeper learning.

W – What I want to know 🔗

Next, formulate questions about what you want to learn. This step transforms you from a passive reader into an active information seeker. Look at gaps in your existing knowledge and turn them into specific questions. Consider what the headings and subheadings suggest the text will cover. These questions give your reading clear direction and purpose, making comprehension more efficient.

L – What I learned 🔗

After reading, document what you’ve learned. Go back to your questions and answer them based on the text. Note any new information that surprised you or contradicted your prior knowledge. This reflection solidifies learning and helps transfer information from short-term to long-term memory. If some questions remain unanswered, this signals areas for further research.

The Plus component 🔗

The “Plus” in KWL Plus adds two critical elements: mapping and summarization. According to research published in the Journal of Reading, this extension transforms KWL into a more comprehensive reading-thinking strategy. After completing the basic KWL steps, organize the information you’ve learned into a visual concept map or graphic organizer. Then write a summary that synthesizes the key points. This additional processing deepens understanding and improves retention.

How these strategies promote active learning 🔗

Both PLAN and KWL Plus share a fundamental philosophy: effective reading is an active, not passive, process. They require you to engage with material before, during, and after reading-a three-phase approach that research consistently shows improves comprehension and retention.

The KWL method scaffolds the entire reading journey-from activating background knowledge to setting personal learning goals and reflecting on new insights. Similarly, PLAN forces you to make predictions, which creates cognitive investment in verifying or correcting those predictions as you read.

Self-monitoring during reading 🔗

A key advantage of both strategies is that they build self-monitoring skills. When you read with questions in mind (KWL) or a predictive map to verify (PLAN), you naturally pay more attention to whether you’re understanding the material. You notice when comprehension breaks down and can take corrective action-rereading difficult passages, looking up unfamiliar terms, or adjusting your mental model of the topic.

Visual organization of information 🔗

Both strategies incorporate visual elements-concept maps in PLAN and graphic organizers in KWL Plus. Research on cognitive processing shows that organizing information visually makes it more meaningful and easier to recall. The act of creating these visual representations forces you to identify relationships between concepts, which deepens understanding beyond what surface-level reading provides.

Choosing between PLAN and KWL Plus 🔗

Both strategies are effective, but they suit different situations. PLAN works best when you’re reading dense, concept-heavy material like science textbooks or technical manuals. The predictive mapping approach helps you see how complex ideas connect to each other. Students who are visual learners or who benefit from seeing the big picture often prefer PLAN.

KWL Plus excels when you’re approaching a topic where you have some existing knowledge or strong curiosity. It’s particularly effective for subjects in health sciences, social studies, and any area where connecting new information to personal experience enhances understanding. The question-driven approach keeps motivation high and makes reading feel purposeful.

For nursing students specifically, both methods offer valuable applications. PLAN’s concept mapping suits studying complex physiological systems or pharmacology, where understanding relationships between concepts is crucial. KWL Plus works well for topics like patient care scenarios, community health, or ethics, where drawing on personal observations and clinical experiences enriches learning.

Practical tips for implementation 🔗

Start by experimenting with both strategies to discover which one matches your learning style. Try using PLAN for one chapter and KWL Plus for another, then assess which helped you understand and remember the material better.

Keep your initial efforts simple. Don’t try to create elaborate concept maps or exhaustive question lists on your first attempt. As you become comfortable with the basic steps, you can add more detail and sophistication to your approach.

Consider combining elements from both strategies. For instance, you might use KWL’s question-generation approach during the Predict phase of PLAN, or add PLAN’s concept mapping to your KWL Plus summaries. The goal is finding what works best for you, not following any method rigidly.

Finally, review your maps and charts periodically. Spaced review strengthens long-term memory, and having organized visual notes makes this process efficient and effective.

What do you think? Have you tried either PLAN or KWL Plus in your studies? Which approach do you think would work better for the subjects you’re currently learning, and why might that be?

References

1. https://asc.tamu.edu/study-learning-handouts/reading-strategies-the-sq3r-method
2. https://www.uc.edu/campus-life/learning-commons/learning-resources/notetaking-resources/plan-active-reading.html
3. https://bedrocklearning.org/literacy-blogs/how-to-use-a-kwl-chart-to-improve-reading-comprehension/
4. https://sites.psu.edu/pedagogicalpractices/k-w-l/
5. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ350560
6. https://creately.com/guides/kwl-reading-strategy/
7. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SQ3R