We ask similar questions after each time we preread or read the text. The questions can be divided into questions building our curiosity so we can focus on the text and questions we asked in order to ensure we understood the text properly. This post mainly deals with questions of the second kind. If we …
Law of diminishing returns when training your brain
Does learning more generate better outcome? This is a common question I am asked. For example here: JS: What are reasonable Speed-Reading goals? Hello. I started going through the course materials just over a week ago and I set an initial specific goal of reading 2000 wpm by April of this year (about 6 weeks …
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Quick tips for object oriented programming
Most of our students who are programmers use Java. This lecture is for them, and not only for them. Many students ask how to use our methods for programming. Actually we took many of the programming methodology and used it in wider context – so using it in original context will be easy. Let us …
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The Centipede’s dilemma
Some of our students think too much about how they do things. This reminds me an old story: A spider met a centipede while hurrying down the street, “How do you move at such a speed, with all so many feet?” “I do not have to contemplate to keep them all in line, But if …
Eidetic learning through observation
Many scientific discoveries have been found through luck and attention to details. Probably 80% of debugging any programmist performs involves attention to details. Good user interface and graphical design require immense attention to details. Ability to observe minor changes and make good and quick decision is important in all human endeavors I can think of, …
Reading coaching
Sometimes our training just does not work. I already recognise such cases and simply ask: for how many hours did you read last week? If the answer is below 2 hours, there is very little chance that the person will learn speedreading. There is a huge value in simply stop thinking and start practicing. Practice …
Mental models
Mental models are very useful for problem solving. Put simply, mental models are the set of tools that you use to think. Each mental model offers a different framework that you can use to look at life (or at an individual problem). Consider a toolbox: for every task there is a tool best suited for …
Generate obsessive reading habit
There is little point in reading fast unless you read a lot. Getting sucked into reading is simple and has to do with pleasure: Read the books that you enjoy reading. Enjoy the thought of reading the next book. Generate a list of stuff you would LOVE to read. Dive into reading for fun. Take …
Conciousness and attention dissociation
Many of our students read one thing while thinking about something else. This discrepancy is known as consciousness and attention dissociation and is counter-effective. For example, if you try to generate markers and worry about the quality of your markers at the same time, your attention is focused on the text, but your consciousness is …
Prereading sentences: grammar and meaning
Not every part of a sentence is equally important. When you are prereading/skimming text you need to understand what you are looking for. Is it an event, a definition or a feel? Accordingly you can easily summarize long texts into 1/4 of their original length. The summary words will form the basis of your markers. …
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