PhotoReading: A Student Review

Hello!

Welcome back. If you are new around here welcome to you too! I’m very excited for this post because I have been wanting to do it for a while but, I was still figuring out the ropes on how to use Photoreading for my studies. Now that I have it 80% figured out, I think I am in a good place to give a review!

.I’d also like to apologize for the month late post! I changed my writing day from Friday to Monday and that clearly didn’t work out as well as I'd hoped it would. So I’m back to writing on Fridays!

Now let’s get into it!

Photoreading Is Not A Quick Fix

Photoreading helps you get the reading you have done, in the time you have, at the level comprehension you need. This means that you are able to read more and get a better level of comprehension as you read. It also means that you get work done in less time! This doesn’t mean that you can put your work off until the last minute. Yes, Photoreading takes less time than conventional learning techniques but it doesn’t work well with procrastination. The reason being that your needs time to sift through all the information you have Photoread and create the connections in your long-term memory that will serve you best as you. So, the longer it sits in your mind the better!

Layers of Comprehension

The four layers of comprehension are Awareness, Familiarity, Knowledge and Expertise. The wonderful thing about Photoreading is that you decide what level of comprehension you need with whatever material it is you encounter. As a student I know I’m expected to be between the Knowledge and Expert levels. Each time I interact with material I build up to this. By using the Photoreading and Postview steps of the Whole Mind System before class I build Awareness. Lectures and tutorials serve as an Activation step thus building familiarity of the work. Finally as I study on my own I end up getting to the level of Knowledge and sometimes, Expertise (depending on how determined I am). So even if you aren’t a Photoreader you could still apply all the other steps and skip the Photoreading step.

Ideal Learning State

For someone like me who feels overwhelmed just thinking about all the work I have to get through in one study session the ideal learning state really helps! Getting into this state of mind removes you from a state of boredom and anxiety, while at the same time enabling you to exert effort, focus and not worry about the end result. If this sounds confusing think about how kids play; they model the same relaxed yet purposeful state of mind. Even if you don’t freak out like me while studying, the ideal learning state is good to get you in a good frame of mind to take in the information you desire. It is really easy to get into this state by the 3-2-1 method.

Take Breaks

The Whole Mind System encourages studying in 20-30 minute interval with 5-10 minute breaks in between. This study method is widely known as the Pomodoro Technique. During each break re,ove yourself both physically and mentally from your work station. This allows for your brain to absorb, retain and recall the information you study. There are days when I really do feel like I could study for hours on end but I still take the breaks and I feel like it makes a difference in my productivity as I go into the next study session.

Don't Forget To Play

You read that right. Don’t forget to play. Studying doesn’t always have to be serious. You are allowed to bring in some fun. Add colour to you notes, doodle, create crazy analogies that only you understand, play some soft music. You are allowed to be as whimsical as you like when you study. Take your work seriously it is important but don’t take yourself too seriously. The more fun you have with it the more likely you are to recall what you studied. Trust me.

I hope this review helps anyone who is a student or life long learner and you are always welcome to send me an email or ask me anything on my social media accounts.

Love and light until we meet again.

Kombe