Speed Reading Memory: Become A Learning Machine & Read Fast

We all have different strengths and weaknesses and it doesn’t matter what skills we’re trying to master there will be things we excel at and things that we struggle with and learning is no different. But fortunately by using the right techniques we can all learn to study more effectively and efficiently. One of the keys to speed learn is to identify your learning intelligence and apply appropriate study techniques. In the previous section we looked at the three basic learning styles but now we’re going to dig deeper and break this down into the seven learning intelligence.

In the previous lesson we looked at the seven key intelligences, now we’ll look at learning techniques that can be applied to each intelligence to increase learning speed and effectiveness. Remember that you don’t only have to stick to one technique so listen carefully to all the techniques because even if you don’t think they apply to your type of intelligence there may be useful tips. The first key intelligence we discussed was Mathematical Logical intelligence and if you fall into this category then you will benefit from creating sequences and linear mind maps that clearly place the information in a sequential order that makes sense to you. 

Speed learning is a collection of study techniques and methods of learning that enable you to learn faster without reducing your comprehension, retention and recall.  People who can process large amounts of information efficiently, grasp new concepts quickly and learn and apply new skills effectively have a huge advantage over people who take a long time to study. The ability to study and learn quickly is an asset but it is also a skill that can be learnt, practiced and mastered. The better you understand the techniques and the more you practice and apply them the faster you’ll be able to learn.

Speed learning is not just about how quickly you can learn the information when you study it, but also about preparation and paying attention in class. Because of the volume of work you need to get through it is vital to have a systematic and efficient approach to studying. Part of this process is being able to absorb information and take good quality notes in class that will be useful when you study. Notes not only help you study better but also make the passive learning experience of sitting in a lecture more active.

There are no right or wrong ways to study but some study methods are more efficient than others. You can read all the books and do all the speed learning courses you want to but if you’re not motivated to practice and improve your speed learning skills you’ll never achieve your true potential. Motivation is very important in everything we do and studying is no different. You need to be clear and honest about your reasons for learning and have specific learning goals, like improving your qualifications or job prospects, and use these to motivate yourself to improve your learning speed and to keep going when the work gets difficult. 

Speed reading is the ability to read rapidly by assimilating a number of sentences at the same time. In our modern, technology driven world we need to be able to read, absorb and filter vast amounts of information as effectively and efficiently as possible and this means that everyone can benefit from speed reading. However speed reading is not just about reading the words as quickly as possible, you also need to understand and remember what you have read. Fortunately there are different techniques and programs that you can use to improve the speed at which you read without compromising your understanding or retention of the work

Part of being a successful speed reader is developing good reading habits. The first step on this path is to change the way you think about reading and make it fun rather than just another chore or skill that you need to master. If you only associate reading with studying and it always feels like hard work then you will struggle to reach your full potential. Before you start reading it is important to define the purpose of the exercise as this will determine what you choose to read.

Being a faster and more effective reader means not only practicing speed reading techniques, establishing good reading habits and developing your reading skills but for most of us it also means breaking bad habits. We’re all susceptible to developing bad habits in certain areas of our lives and reading is no different. Everyone has a bad reading habit or two that slows them down and hinders their understanding of the text. A common bad reading habit that slows down your reading speed is sub-vocalization. This basically means pronouncing each word in your head as you read

There are three different types of reading. The slowest is mental reading, then auditory reading which is almost twice as fast as mental reading and lastly there is visual reading which is the fastest. Visual reading is nearly three times as fast as mental reading. Most people take one to two minutes to read the average page of a book. That means that they are reading approximately 250 words a minute. If you double the amount of words you read per minute you can get through a text in half the time and speed reading will enable you to do this.

Good learning strategies are critical to success in school and college but also later in life because being able to learn effectively is a useful skill and a powerful tool that can help you reach your personal and professional goals. Earlier in this course we’ve discussed identifying and applying learning strategies and styles to increase your learning speed and effectiveness. We’ve seen that good learning strategies are skills that can be learnt, practiced and improved and must not be confused with your learning style which is your innate ability to memorize information based on the way your brain works combined with your experiences and habits. 

A good memory makes studying easier and allows you to learn, retain and remember information more effectively. Memory is a complicated process and earlier in the course we looked at how memory works but, simply put, there are three steps to the memory process; creation, consolidation and recall. Long term memory is the ongoing storage of conscious and unconscious information and is created through the repetition and reinforcement of short term memories and often takes place without us being aware of it. 

Before you start studying you need to have a plan, you can’t just wing it and hope for success. A study schedule is an organized plan that you need to create to effectively manage your study time by blocking off time on your calendar specifically for studying. This important study tool will enable you to study more efficiently and without a good plan you’ll struggle to organize your time, get through your work and prepare properly for your exams

Planning is key to success in any field and studying is no different so having a good study plan is an integral part of a successful learning strategy. There are certain steps that you can follow to easily draw up your own unique study schedule that works for you and obviously you can do this on paper or you can use technology and draw up your study schedule on your laptop or smartphone. First make a list of all the subjects that you need to cover. By putting this down in writing you will get a good idea of how much work you need to do and how much time you need to get through it all.

Many people struggle to study for many different reasons. We procrastinate, we don’t concentrate, we’re easily distracted or we’re bad at time management and organization but fortunately there are many ways to improve your study habits and be a more effective learner. Motivation is key to establishing and maintaining effective learning strategies and one way to keep yourself motivated is to set and focus on clear study goals. You need to identify what you want to achieve from your studies, establish how you’re going to do this and reward yourself when you reach your goals.

Mind mapping is a technique that helps you study and learn more effectively and mind maps are tools that you can use to improve the way you retain and recall information and to enhance your problem solving skills. A mind map is traditionally a spider diagram that is drawn on a single sheet of paper and is used to visually represent and organize information and illustrate links between different aspects of a topic to give a broad overview of the subject

You can master all the study methods and speed reading techniques in the world but you also need to have a suitable learning environment in order to work effectively and efficiently. You need to consider where you study comfortably and most effectively. Many people study best at a desk and if you need a private space with no distractions then your room or a study is the ideal place for you. Make sure that the space is conducive to effective studying. It needs to be well lit, have enough fresh air, have a good ambient temperature, be neat and tidy and have adequate, appropriate work space.

We all get distracted, it’s totally normal. It doesn’t matter how clever you are, how hard you work or how good you are at focusing, there will always be things that distract you and draw your attention away from the task at hand, especially if you don’t like studying or if you find the work difficult. We all know that it is hard to stay focused on the things that we are forced to do when there is so much out there that we rather be doing. In order maintain focus and avoid distractions you need to remove as many temptations from your learning environment as possible

In almost everything you do or any task you approach preparation is important and studying is no different. You need to do some preparation before you start as this will enable you to study more effectively and efficiently. Preparation is not limited to just physical actions that you take, like getting all your study material ready, before you sit down at your desk. There’s also mental preparation that you need to consider. Approach your work with a positive mindset. If you’re anxious, stressed or worked up about something you first need to calm down and get into the right head space before you tackle your books

As the expression goes, you need to talk the talk. Every industry uses jargon and all industry insiders know the jargon. That specific jargon has developed within that industry for a reason and when you decide to study a subject or pursue a career in a certain field it is important for you to learn the jargon and be able to use it in the correct context. Jargon is defined as the technical terminology or characteristic idioms of a special activity, specific industry or group and it refers to the special words or expressions used by a profession or group and it is often difficult for others to understand

Nobody likes to work for nothing and you can train your brain to study better by rewarding yourself. We get paid for our jobs, we celebrate our achievements and we treat ourselves when we think we deserve it, so why not reward yourself for studying effectively and efficiently. For some people the marks they get in an exam are enough of a reward but for others the reward needs to be more immediate or something they enjoy and can look forward to doing. Think of appropriate ways to reward yourself for your hard work and make the incentives relevant to the amount of studying you’ve done