Cognitive Scaffold

Preparing your thinking workspace

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MENTAL MODEL · M6691

Know, Want to Know, Learned

Know, Want to Know, Learned
Learn & MetacognitionHigh supportCognitive Science
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Updated 2026-08-09

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INTRODUCTION

English translation pending.

CORE DEFINITION

KWL is a reading comprehension strategy introduced by Donna Ogle in 1986. It uses a three-column table completed across a reading. The Know column records what the reader already knows about the topic, which activates prior knowledge. The Want to Know column records the questions the reader brings, which sets a purpose for reading. The Learned column records what was learned, completed afterward. The strategy assumes that new information is retained better when it is anchored to existing knowledge and read against a stated purpose, so the first two columns are completed before reading begins.

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

psychology

Reduce cognitive load

- Use prior knowledge dump: write everything you already know about the topic before opening the text. - Use question setting: convert curiosity into specific questions the reading should answer. - Use summary comparison: after reading, check which questions were answered and which remain open.

anchor

Anchor fast decisions

Reading without a purpose produces shallow processing, because nothing in the text is being sought and nothing needs to be reconciled. Activating prior knowledge gives new information something to attach to, which improves encoding. Setting questions before reading creates specific targets, so attention is directed and the reader notices when an answer appears. Comparing the learned column against the want column afterwards turns the reading into a checkable outcome, and unanswered questions become the start of the next round.

MINIMUM ACTION

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Practice this model in one real situation:

Check to track your progress (stored locally)
Learning progress0%
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Source support: Explicit

  • link
    en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KWL_tableZH · Explicit
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