Learning By Teaching

Brainpower Newsletter

This week we start with a technique to try the next time you need to study something. : learning by teaching.

Want more effective learning? Of course it can be accomplished simply by spending more time memorizing and reviewing information. The problem with this approach is that you have only so much time to devote to any one pursuit. Here's a better way: Use techniques that make learning easier in less time. The following is an example of one.

Learning By Teaching

Let's suppose you are trying to learn about economics - specifically about the way that the money supply affects the economy. You read the books and materials, but it just doesn't "stick." Then a friend asks you what you are studying. You start to explain, and you have a book or some of your other study materials in front of you. You refer to these and tell him how the "velocity" of money - the number of times money is loaned out, deposited in banks and reloaned - can increase the money supply.

Soon it is starting to make sense to you. The more you explain what you are learning, the more you remember the material. This is normal. One of the most effective ways to learn something is to...

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- The first plane flight across the Atlantic ocean was from June 14 to June 15, 1919, by Captain John Alcock and Lieutenant Arthur Whitten-Brown.Charles Lindbergh was the first to do it alone - 8 years later.

- The Pacific Ocean is the largest ocean, covering over 64 million square miles, or 46% of the area covered by all the oceans on earth.

- The best odds for the player in a casino are usually on the craps tables, betting on a "pass" or "don't pass."

The Guardian newspaper recently reported that Takara, a Japanese company, will soon start selling a "dream control" device. Though scheduled to be released in the spring, they are still experimenting with the device, using their own employees as subjects. It seems to work for some and not for others, and they say they cannot guarantee customer satisfaction.

How does it work? Just before sleep, users stare at a photograph of what they would like to dream about. Then they record, in their own voice, how they want the dream to go. The device then uses that recording, as well as music, lights, and aromas to guide the dream. It is triggered by rapid eye movement - which normally accompanies dreaming.

The device, one of the "life toys," sold by the company, is called Yumemi Kobo, or Dream Workshop.

Count every " F" in the following sentence:

Finished files are the result of years of scientific study combined with the experience of years.

How many did you find? Check at the end of the newsletter to see if you found them all.

Ever notice how it is easier to rhyme when you're singing? It is because you are working from the part of your brain that recognizes patterns. Remember those kids who were given music lessons and were dramatically better at solving puzzles than the non-musical kids? (Covered in a prior issue.)

Make a song up to remember things. You may also want to try activating your right-brain by singing when you are working on a problem involving spatial reasoning. This latter idea is unproven, but worth some personal experimentation.

Imagine how much more productive you'd be if you could have total concentration whenever you wished. The good news is you can learn how to concentrate better. In fact, you can do so right now.

Concentration Is Automatic

When you start working on something, concentration is automatic until you are distracted, usually by your own thoughts. That might be every few seconds for some of us, but what if you had a method of removing the distractions, of controlling your wandering mind? When there's nothing interfering, you have easy and complete concentration.

Remove Your Mind Irritations

Here's a powerful method for clearing your mind. Start by...

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Until next time,

Steve

www.IncreaseBrainpower.com

Riddle solution: The letter F appears six times in that sentence. Most people think there are only four (although those who speak English as a second language seem to do better at this). For some reason the brain doesn't identify the Fs in "of".

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