ACCELERATED

LEARNING

How can you learn most effectively?

~Or

Learning how to learn

THE BIG PICTURE

Physical and emotional

state

Environment

Relationships

Accessible and inclusive

Breaks and

review

Variety and

challenge

Relax

The correct diet

Hydrate

Temperature

PREPARE TO LEARN

Oxygen and light

levels

Reduce stress

Motivate

Sleep

RELAXATION

Basic meditation techniques can be learned. A simple

focus on breathing, in through the nose out through the

mouth is good. Count your breaths. A visualisation of

an activity or environment that makes you happy, that

can be recalled prior to learning or assessment.

DIET

Vitamins A/B/C/E help to make you alert, improve

vision, improve memory and help support proper brain

function.

Avoid starch, sugar and caffeine.

Never miss breakfast.

Eat regularly throughout the day.

HYDRATION

Hydration helps to maintain optimum brain

functioning.

Always keep a bottle of water next to you.

This will prevent interruptions to your learning

session.

TEMPERATURE

Be aware of the temperature in your room,

this will allow you to maintain an optimum

temperature that is not too hot and not too

cold.

OXYGEN AND LIGHT

LEVELS

Open your windows.

Keep plants in your room, they also filter out harmful

gasses from computers.

Allow as much natural light as possible, avoid fluorescent

lighting if at all possible.

REDUCE STRESS

Acknowledge the presence and importance of stress to

yourself.

Use music to relax.

Use basic meditation techniques.

Have plants in your room.

MOTIVATION

The most effective motivation is intrinsic

not extrinsic.

Establish “what’s in it for me”. Set your

own learning goals. Use SMART targets.

SLEEP

Sleep helps you to remember what you have

learnt during the day.

Remember, the hours before midnight are

more important than after!

The room in which you

learn should be a

multisensory environment.

Displays are an essential

part of this.

They should include :

A study time table

Deadlines for

examinations or

assignments.

Motivational posters.

Key words of the

topics.

ROOM TO LEARN

MUSIC TO AID LEARNING

Its not just baroque (classical) music that helps.

Remember, most students will listen to music at

home while studying.

You might even find silence unsettling!

MUSIC TO AID

LEARNING-PLAN IT,

DON’T JUST PLAY IT!

Upbeat positive music before you sit down to study.

Music linked to the topic of study.

Use relaxing background music (60 beats per minute) to aid

learning.

Part 1: put the learning in context.

Review learning from previous session- what do you know?

Relate learning to examination - what is in the exam?,

Make learning outcomes clear.- What do you want to know

by the end of your session?

STRUCTURING A REVISION

SESSION

STRUCTURING A REVISION

SESSION

Part 2: Starter

Engage your interest, look at a picture or read an article relating to

the subject, or even visualise using the knowledge for something

important.

Try to put prior knowledge in context, how does it relate to what

you want to know?

Prepare for main task.

STRUCTURING A REVISION

SESSION

Part 3: Main revision:

Learning should be multi-sensory and engage different learning

styles. Try to include many different forms of learning including,

mind maps, flash cards, association images or stories.

Work should be challenging and broken into achievable chunks, 45

mins is just about anybody's maximum focus.

STRUCTURING A REVISION

SESSION

Part 4: Plenary

Review what you have learned. Use these techniques:

Write out summary points

Draw a mind map of your session

Name the most important thing you have learned.

Prepare flash cards or summary diagrams.

Develop a technique to question yourself. Write and answer 5

questions on the main points you have covered.

HOW DO YOU LEARN? DIFFERENT

LEARNING STYLES

Auditory

Kinaesthetic

Visual

Characteristics

Listen to music when relaxing

Prefer to talk on the phone

Eager to talk

Forget faces but remember names

Talk when inactive

Outburst when angry

Don’t like reading books or manuals

AUDITORY: DO YOU...

Hearing a presentation

Reading aloud

Making a tape to listen

to

Verbal summaries

Explaining to another

student

Internal verbalisations

Practice saying words

before writing

AU DITORY: T HE BE ST LE AR NING ACT IVIT IE S FOR YOU :

Characteristics

Play games or sport to

relax

Prefer to talk while doing

something else

Talk slow, using gestures

and expressions

KINAESTHETIC: DO YOU.. .

Fidget when inactive

When angry you

clench fists, grit teeth

and storm off.

Copy demonstrations

Make models

Record information as

you hear it, preferably as

a mind map

K I N A E S T H E T I C : T H E B E S T L E A R N I N G A C T I V I T I E S F O R YO U :

Walk around as you read

Underline/highlight

new information

Use index cards for key

points

Characteristics

Prefer to watch a film or

TV or read a book to relax

Prefer to talk face-to-face

Talk fast, don’t enjoy

listening

VISUAL: DO YOU...

Forget names but

remember faces

When inactive you doodle

or watch something or

someone

When angry you remain

silent and seethe

Write down key facts

or draw a mind map

Visualise

Create pictures or

diagrams

VISUAL : T HE BE ST LE AR NING ACT IVIT IE S FOR YOU :

Use time lines for

remembering dates

Create strong visual

links

RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE

YOUR INTELLIGENCE

Everybody possesses all 8 intelligences to some

extent and the most powerful learning combines all

8. Each has value and you should identify your

weaknesses and strengths.

Intelligence

Bodily kinesthetic

Inter-personal

Intra-personal

linguistic

Logical

musical

naturalistic

Visual spatial

Good at sport

Never sit still

Like to touch

B O D I LY K I N A E S T H E T I C I N T E L L I G E N C E -

U S E D F O R T O U C H A N D R E F L E X

Good with your hands

Control of reflexes and body

Good timing

Characteristics:

Learn by doing

Role play and drama

Field trips

Making models

B O D I LY K I N A E S T H E T I C I N T E L L I G E N C E -

U S E D F O R T O U C H A N D R E F L E X

Writing bullet points/mind

maps

Changing activity frequently

Mental review during activity.

Best learning activities:

Relates to and mixes well

with others

Puts people at their ease

Has many friends

Sympathetic to others

I N T E R P E R S O N A L I N T E L L I G E N C E - U S E D

F O R C O M M U N I C AT I N G W I T H O T H E R S

Mediates between

people

Good communicator

Good negotiator

Co-operative

Characteristics:

Learning from peers

Working in

teams/groups

Sharing information

I N T E R P E R S O N A L I N T E L L I G E N C E - U S E D

F O R C O M M U N I C AT I N G W I T H O T H E R S

Comparing notes

Making use of

mentors

Peer teaching

Best learning activities:

Know your own

strengths

Private

Independent

I N T R A - P E R S O N A L I N T E L L I G E N C E –

U S E D F O R S E L F - D I S C OV E RY A N D

A N A LY S I S

Wants to be different

Keeps a diary

Plans time effectively

Self-motivated

Characteristics:

Setting goals and targets

Creating personal

interest

Taking control of

learning

I N T R A - P E R S O N A L I N T E L L I G E N C E –

U S E D F O R S E L F - D I S C OV E RY A N D

A N A LY S I S

Seeking the human angle

Reflecting, writing, discussing

what was experienced and the

feelings this evoked.

Reflecting on how new

information fits

Best learning activities:

Extensive vocabulary

Good at spelling

Good written

communication

L I N G U I S T I C I N T E L L I G E N C E : U S E D

F O R R E A D I N G W R I T I N G A N D S P E E C H

Expressive and fluent

speech

Good listener

Strong reasoning ability

Methodical

Characteristics:

Learning from books, tapes

and lectures.

Read from a text, summarize

out loud in their own words.

Brainstorming to organize

thoughts or distinguish key

points.

L I N G U I S T I C I N T E L L I G E N C E : U S E D

F O R R E A D I N G W R I T I N G A N D S P E E C H

Making up cross-words or

puzzles to solve.

Debating and discussing

issues.

Oral presentations.

Best Learning Activities:

Good at budgeting

Logical thought,

explanation and action

Organised

L O G I C A L M AT H E M AT I C A L

I N T E L L I G E N C E : U S E D F O R M AT H ,

L O G I C A N D S Y S T E M S.

Plans time and

reasons effectively

Seeks patterns and

relationships

precise

Characteristics:

Listing and numbering key points

Using a flow chart to express

information

Using spread sheets

Using time-lines to remember

dates and events

L O G I C A L M AT H E M AT I C A L

I N T E L L I G E N C E : U S E D F O R M AT H ,

L O G I C A N D S Y S T E M S.

Analysing and interpreting data

Reasoning and deducing

Creating and solving problems

Playing mathematical games.

Best Learning Activities:

Sensitive to music and

its emotions

Changes mood with

music

Good at keeping time to

a beat

M U SICAL INTEL L IGENCE : U SED

F OR RHYTHM , M U SIC AND LYRICS

Good at selecting

background music

May be deeply spiritual

Characteristics:

Use music to relax

before learning

Use music while

studying that reflects

what is being learned.

M U SICAL INTEL L IGENCE : U SED

F OR RHYTHM , M U SIC AND LYRICS

Writing out songs/raps/poems

to aid recall

Use musical approach to

remember key words

(association/ tone/ rhythm)

Best Learning activities:

Interest and enthusiasm

for learning about nature and

different habitats (this

obviously aids recall).

Comfortable in different

types of environments

NATU RAL ISTIC INTEL L IGENCE :

USED TO MAKE SENSE OF THE

NATU RAL WORL D.

Attuned to natural

environment

Troubled by pollution

and issues of the

biosphere.

Characteristics:

Learning outdoors

e.g.: field trips.

Investigating/enquirin

g into environmental

issues

NATU RAL ISTIC INTEL L IGENCE :

USED TO MAKE SENSE OF THE

NATU RAL WORL D.

Reading about /

listening to

presentations on nature

Studying the habits of

animals/pets.

Best Learning activities:

Thinks and remembers in

pictures

Good sense of image/use of

minds eye.

Strong sense of color

VISUAL SPATIAL INTEL L IGENCE :

U SED F OR VISUAL IZATION AND

ART

Good at art and

drawing

Good sense of direction

Well dressed.

Characteristics

Learning from film,

video or power points

Using mind maps,

symbols and diagrams

VISUAL SPATIAL INTEL L IGENCE :

U SED F OR VISUAL IZATION AND

ART

Highlighting key points in

different colours

Studying in different

settings to gain different

perspectives

Best Learning activities:

EMOTIONAL

INTELLIGENCE

A study on Harvard students tested for IQ and EI showed a link

between emotional intelligence and higher earning power, NOT IQ.

EMOTIONAL INTELIGENCE IS :

* SELF-AWARENESS *SELF-DISIPILNE * PERSISTANCE

* EMPATHY

***YOU CAN LEARN AND IMPROVE YOUR EMOTIONAL

INTELIGENCE!***

DEVEL OP ING EM OTIONAL

INTEL L IGENCE

1. DEVELOP COMMUNICATION SKILLS THROUGH

DISCUSSION, DEBATE AND ROLE PLAY.

2. DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS

3. VALUE AND RESPECT THE OPINIONS OF OTHERS

4. CONSIDER THINGS FROM OTHER’S POINT OF VIEW.

5. DON’T JUDGE, CONTROL OR CRITICISE OTHERS

6. REFLECT AS A MEANS OF IMPROVING YOURSELF AND

YOUR WORK.

THINKING SKILLS:

METACOGNITION

YOU ARE A TRUE LEARNER IF YOU CAN…..

Process information: locate, collect and

recall information, analyse, sort, classify and

sequence information.

THINKING SKILLS:

METACOGNITION

YOU ARE A TRUE LEARNER IF YOU CAN…..

Reason: draw inferences, make

deductions, judgements and decisions.

THINKING SKILLS:

METACOGNITION

YOU ARE A TRUE LEARNER IF YOU CAN…..

Enquire: ask relevant questions, pose and

define problems, plan research, predict

outcomes and test conclusions.

THINKING SKILLS:

METACOGNITION

YOU ARE A TRUE LEARNER IF YOU CAN…..

Think creatively: generate and extend

ideas, find alternative and innovative

outcomes

THINKING SKILLS:

METACOGNITION

YOU ARE A TRUE LEARNER IF YOU CAN…..

Evaluate: judge the value of their own

and others work, develop criteria for judging

value, have confidence in their own

judgements.

BASIC MEDITATION

Sit in a comfortable position.

Close your eyes, but keep your back

straight, shoulders relaxed, head up, your

eyes (behind your lids) focused ahead.

BASIC MEDITATION

Take a deep, cleansing breath, expanding your belly and

keeping your shoulders relaxed, and hold it in for the count of

six. Exhale, and repeat twice more. Then breathe normally, and

focus your attention on your breathing. As you breathe, inhale

through your nose and exhale through your mouth, still

expanding your belly rather than moving your shoulders up

and down.

BASIC MEDITATION

If your thoughts drift toward the stresses

of the day ahead or of the day behind you,

gently refocus on your breathing and remain

in the present moment. Feel the air move in,

and feel the air move out

BASIC MEDITATION TIPS

As you breathe, let your abdomen expand and contract,

rather than moving your shoulders up and down. This deeper

breathing is more natural and similar to how babies breathe. It

gives you increased lung capacity, whereas the ‘shallow

breathing’ adults usually utilize doesn’t allow as much

oxygenation of the blood.

BASIC MEDITATION TIPS

Don't breathe too quickly or too slowly;

just breathe at a natural rate, but more

deeply.

BASIC MEDITATION TIPS

If you find your thoughts drifting a lot at first,

don't worry that you're doing it 'wrong'. Noticing

that you've drifted and refocusing to your breathing

is part of the practice, and something you're doing

'right'!