Are you claiming a bad memory? Well the truth is - the #1 one reason you forget is because you aren't pay attention in the first place! True or true? How many times has someone been talking to you and you were in another world, not paying attention to anything being said? Then you faked it and acted like you understood? That happens in class too, doesn't it? I know, because it used to happen to me too. How can you expect to get the benefit of what your teacher is sharing if your mind is on the other side of town? This is why you must know how to be APQ - Active. Purposeful and Questioning in your learning process. You must also get into the accelerated learning state. Otherwise, when you're listening, its in one ear and out the other and when you're reading, its in one eyeball and … [Read more...]

I love teaching at colleges because the students that show up in my courses are there because they want to be there, not because they have to be. I happily encounter the hungry, the thirsty, the eager and the willing learners who have inquiring minds that want to know, and it is a joy to share new ways of seeing books, school, themselves, and even life. Willing learners have open minds and open hearts which are essential ingredients to learning anything new and are fun to teach. And because the willing experience so much joy and fulfillment from their experience, and set such a great example for others, sooner or later, unwilling learners come to realize that as they too open their minds and hearts, they are able to resolve their present challenges and begin to enjoy learning faster and … [Read more...]

One of my favorites teachers is Milton Erickson, the grandfather of hypnosis. Erickson said you can pretend a thing and master it. Really? Let's talk about it. Take PhotoReading for example. It's is a new paradigm of processing information using your whole brain, meaning left and right hemispheres as well as the conscious and non-conscious parts of the mind, and that's definitely a new approach. Now, the old traditional methods teach us to read word by word, line by line - which is fine when we are just starting out as children. But when do we get to graduate and take our skills to the next level? PhotoReading is the answer. And because people are creatures of habit and deeply locked into the old way of reading, only the brave can really master this thing. So after teaching my … [Read more...]

My grand mother once told me, "Honey, start out like you want to end up." That bit of wisdom applies to so many areas of life, but definitely when learning something new and being in the right state so that your brain "gets it!" Otherwise you're dead in the water. You may find yourself consumed with Facebook and Twitter and not your reading until the 11th hour. Then you rush to produced a paper for class that is way less than what you're capable of and you know it. In this case, you're definitely not in the right state for learning or representing yourself. If you're hungry, or distracted, you're not in the right state for learning. If you just had an argument with your significant or not-so significant other - you're not in the right state for learning. You gotta start out like you … [Read more...]

Did you know that temperature is yet another factor that can affect learning? One camp likes the temperature to be warm to hot and are relaxed with fewer articles of clothing on. The other camp likes it cool when learning new information as it keeps them on their toes. Research shows that about 35% of your body's heat is lost through the top of your head (a great argument for hats in the winter!) and if it's either too hot, or too cold, this can affect your learning. It's amazing that there are so many factors that can alter your learning outcomes and whenever you are studying with others, you have to take responsibility for what works for you. If you like it warm and adjusting the temperature is either impossible or would make it uncomfortable for others, wear a sweater, make sure you … [Read more...]

Some people love to kick back and relax and hunker down to study in a nice, comfy bean bag - others want a chair. they want to sit up and focus. Who's right? Both are! As I've said in previous posts, there is no "one size fits all" way of learning. The trick is to learn what YOUR preferences are and work them to the max! In addition to the bean bag crowd and those who love to learn in contorted positions, other learners prefer to be mobile with the flexibility to move around or even pace at the back of the room. It's not that they're not paying attention, its just that their brains are hardwired to receive information differently. In any case, that would be preferable to falling asleep in class as we've seen many people do! If you're a mobile learner and have top be up and moving … [Read more...]

Did you know that as a unique, one-of-a-kind, learner, you have your own learning style? There is no such thing as a one-size-fits all way to learn, and knowing your learning style and adjusting your routine can help you learn more effectively. Educators like Howard Gardner, at Harvard School of Psychology are leading the way in the Theory of Multiple Intelligences.  The thing is, you need to understand your own information processing style to get the most out of your study time as well as your communications. From the brief definition of the three basic types of learners, try to determine which one might be you. Auditory learners 'hear' to learn best. They'd rather listen to an you explain things that to read about them. Showing up to class is a good idea for auditory … [Read more...]

You want to really learn something? Teach someone else! That's right teaching someone else - tutoring - will help you learn the subject more thoroughly. Tutoring another requires time, energy, patience but is a lasting gift. It is a gift to the one being tutored as well as to the tutor themselves. When you tutor someone and give of your time and knowledge and share with them how to learn the material that they are struggling with, not only do you pass along valuable knowledge, you reinforce that information inside of yourself. An old Chinese Proverb states, "If you teach something once, you've learned it twice." Imagine teaching it repeatedly! You'll create more connections in your own brain and the information will become second nature to you. Before you know it, you'll be an … [Read more...]

A very simple way to think about reading is that its just a conversation with the Author. When you are reading their writing, they are speaking into your listening. If you are really active in your listening, you can learn a lot! Think about these four aspects : Reading - Writing - Speaking - and Listening. They are the cornerstones of communication! To be really successful in life, you've got to be effective in these areas to receive information and to get your message across. Check it out: READING - Reading is Fundamental. Yet how many times do we neglect this all important step? Like when reading the instructions for a new device or software program. We have to stop and read! WRITING - It goes without saying that writing goes hand in hand with reading - that is, Reading the … [Read more...]

We all want money, and one thing for sure is this - we can do a lot more with money than without it! However, in order to get money so that we can do the things we say we want to do, we've got to have the knowledge or "know how" to get it and more important, how to keep it! Here is a short parable that illustrates the money priority... Once upon a time, in a far away land, a young man went to the forest and said to his spiritual master, "I want to have unlimited wealth, I want to help and heal the world. Will you please tell me the secret to creating wealth?" And the spiritual master replied, "There are two Goddesses that reside in the heart of every human being. Everybody is deeply in love with these supreme beings. But there is a certain secret that you need to know, and I will … [Read more...]

You can’t really teach people anything unless they are willing to learn. What I like most is working with willing and eager learners – people who are hungry and are excited about learning new things.  These people are GHB’s (growing human beings) and are usually optimistic, open-minded and curious. Those are my kind of folks.  You must be one of them if you are reading this post so thanks for showing up! Teachers who are GHBs make teaching and learning fun for themselves as well as their students. Teachers love GHBs who ask questions and push the envelope, GHBs who think for themselves and demonstrate an ability to spawn new ideas. Hallelujah for the GHBs of the world. GHB’s set goals for themselves and work diligently to achieve them. This includes everything from … [Read more...]

The thing I like about President Obama is that he is straight to the point with no hype. In a recent speech to address this nation’s schools, he said that everyone has a responsibility. Well, that’s a fact that I can’t argue with. He charged teachers, parents, students and governments to help turn around schools that aren’t working. The job belongs to us and he is right when he said that none of it will matter unless we each do our part. He was affirmative and said that we each have a responsibility to ourselves to discover the hidden talent within.  Of course! Whose job would it be otherwise? But we want to spend time breaking him down instead of receiving the truth of his message. He spoke simply of the possibilities for budding writers, innovators, inventors, or the next … [Read more...]

I’ve heard it said that a closed book can’t be read, a closed mouth can’t be fed and for sure, a closed mind is as good as dead. What’s the point of having a brain if we don’t delight in developing it to the max? My grandmother used to say, “Honey, they make a whole new world out of things you don’t know everyday so keep an open mind at all times.” The world we live in is changing rapidly and what we need are great learning strategies to help us keep up with the pace of change. I encourage the students that I work with to develop an insatiable curiosity for life, learning and discovery. Learning more about who you are and how your incredible brain can serve you is more important than learning about subject matter. Once you know who you are and how your hardware … [Read more...]

There are two kinds of people – Owls and Larks. Owls like to stay up late and do their best work when all of the fanfare dies down. They drag butt in the mornings and don’t get activated until mid morning or afternoon. On the other hand, Larks are morning people. They rise with the sun, sun shinny and smiles and they irk the daylights out of owls. Knowing which type you are will make a big difference with your study habits and results. Since most traditional college courses are held during the day, owls must adapt and even be at early morning classes long before they’d prefer. We’re creatures of habit, and being flexible and adaptable are certainly good characteristics to have as you will need to go with the flow in college and in life. Consider the best times for you to get … [Read more...]

Did you know that the most important skill for learning is reading? Think about it – you have to read in every subject, including math! The whole of our existence is about communication – and words are king in that they convey lots of detail, ideas, information and valuable genius insights. You must read in order to prepare for tests and even write your papers. Sometimes reading can see seem like a daunting task. Not to worry. The first thing to consider is that reading is simply a conversation with the author. If you can get yourself relaxed and in the right state of mind, you’ll find that you may be able to actually hear the author speaking to you.  You’re reading his writing and he is speaking into your listening. It’s a dynamic relationship and you are important to the … [Read more...]

I recently saw the incredible violinist Ken Ford play in Atlanta at Villa Christina for a summer concert series. It was an absolute knock out as I watched Ken play the heaven out of his violin! I witnessed musical and self-mastery at its finest and I was literally blown away. I was in awe at the high level of passion and energy and the way Ken moved the audience with his interactive presence and style. What does all of this have to do with learning? Everything. Ken Ford embodied a commitment and love for learning  in everything he did. He spoke to the audience at the end and answered some of his most frequently answered questions; He has been playing for 30 years and was encouraged by his parents. He was embarrassed by the violin early on and it took time to get used to it. He now … [Read more...]

When you study, you can’t afford to entertain distractions. To get the most of your study time, turn off the TV, PlayStation, Xbox, Gameboy, and whatever else! Now, the only exception is music! The key to effective learning is to be in the right state and the right kind of music can facilitate learning in an incredible way. And this doesn’t include rap and hip hop with a bunch of lyrics that all go together and a funky beat that makes you want to shake your groove thang. Studies by the renown Dr. Alfred Tomatis have shown that classical baroque music is by far the best music to study to. Dr. Tomatis has authored 14 books on music and learning and his work, now known as the Tomatis Method offers a variety of incredible benefits including better communication and improved … [Read more...]

Researchers at the Institute of HeartMath in San Jose California have discovered that your emotional state affects your brain's ability to learn. Your cognitive ability or higher order thinking centers can't be activated if you are dealing with drama. Negative and stressful relationships shut you down and bring you down too. Is it worth it? Hardly. As a facilitator of the HeartMath Resilient Educator program, I see the immediate benefit this program offers. Try this on for size: the next time you are confronted with energy that makes you feel anthing less than incredible, just stop and check in with your heart. You could even close your eyes, take in a few deep breaths and ask your heart, "What would be the best thing for me to do in this situation?" The heart always knows the right … [Read more...]

Can you really concentrate, study and learn well if it's too hot, too cold, or if you're hungry? How about if you have a headache, or gotta go the toilet? NO WAY!  Effective learning means being in the right state. Ideally, you want to be in a comfortable environment. Addressing all physical concerns, like an empty belly or thirsty mouth really helps. Otherwise the brain will switch off and focus on those more immediate needs. How about if you just had an argument with your significant other? NOPE. In that case, the brain is concerned with safety and security and learning is at the bottom of the list. So, emotional self-control and learning to let go of drama is important for your success. You are in charge and can create a place for yourself to get your studying done that is just … [Read more...]

No one rushes through a gourmet meal. You savor the flavor of each bite, appreciating the creativity and thoughtfulness of the chef. What if we transformed our approach to reading and learned to savor the reading experience in a similar way? Each author has put scads of time and energy into researching and writing the book for your benefit. However, many people read like they are eating fast food, gulping information down without savoring or appreciating it. Here’s a tip to stop stressing, overloading your brain and pulling all-nighters. Cramming is the most counter-productive thing you could ever do! Get smart. If you buy a $6 timer from Walmart you could set it for 20 minutes. After relaxing and establishing your purpose, begin to read for meaning, not just words. The secret is … [Read more...]

Great halls of learning shouldn’t be places to sleep! When I notice people sleeping in libraries, I often wonder, “Are our libraries becoming giant public bedrooms?”  I know what the problem is – people are passive in their reading, which bores the brain to death. The goal is to learn to be active in the reading process. Yes! This means sitting up! No slouching or chillin’. There’s plenty of time for that later. Take in a couple of deep breaths, and establishing a strong purpose for the activity. A beginning purpose might be stated as, “My purpose for going through this material is to find the most relevant points to help me develop my term paper.” Or perhaps, “My purpose for reading through this text book is to help me to prepare for my oral exam. My mind is alert to … [Read more...]

Knowing something about Accelerated Learning helps students improve their study skills. Simply stated, Accelerated Learning or ‘whole brain’ learning methods are designed to relax students, and open them up to learning using a holistic approach. Yes, it’s a little different from traditional classroom learning, but it works. The process starts with introducing students to real concepts about themselves and how their body/brain works. Once identified, AL emphasizes methods to activate our hidden human abilities and improve our results – not only for greater academic success, but for greater success in EVERYTHING. A well-run, AL-based course or workshop uses many experiential activities specifically designed to keep learners engaged and ‘in the game.’ (No ‘sit and git,’ … [Read more...]

Doubts, Disruptions and Distractions - These three Ds will choke off your learning so deal with them up front and get the job done. No more late assignments. No more less than stellar test scores. No more "the devil made me do it!" as an excuse. Doubts: "You are inherently brilliant!" Although that's not the message most of us received growing up! Your brain has miraculous abilities, and what you tell yourself about yourself becomes your self-fulfilling prophecy. Before any learning assignment, affirm the following or something like it: "I am an active and confident learner and reading comes easily for me." Stand up and affirm it out loud and then shake your arms and legs and body in a crazy motion for one minute, releasing all doubts about your ability. (There's that Brain Gym … [Read more...]

"When emotions are high, intelligence is low." Imagine yourself hungry, irritated or fresh out of a stupid argument with your significant other. You can bet you're not in the best state for learning! Gotta clear out the unnecessary drama first - whatever it is - and then get down to what's important! Believe it or not, you can get more learning done in a short 20 minute study period than with an all-nighter if you'll just follow a few simple steps. The bottom line: Effective Reading is State Dependent! Dependent on your mental and emotional state, that is. Here how to prepare mind and body for reading, studying or taking in new information so that it sticks! Prepare. That means gathering your materials, and put all else aside for the time you have available. I said put ALL … [Read more...]