Well, this is the ugly truth. Nobody can visualize fast enough for their reading speed. That is if we visualize each and every word. However, why would we visualize each and every word?
For some tasks we define the goal as 100% retention. It could be learning a new language, or learning a poem or a joke, or remembering definitions. In paretto of things we do, there is always this annoying 1% of tasks that requires our 100% attention. The best way to approach this within our framework is high-level visualization. Creating a single consistent highly accurate scenario and placing within this scenario detailed visualization for each and every word really works. It is also highly entertaining. Notice that middle-level visualization may also work for shorter texts. Check out middle-level visualizations on technical material . In case of detailed visualization, the time/reading speed is not a constraint. It is not reasonable to create such a detailed level of visualization within seconds.
For most tasks (in my case around 80%) we can do with very few (0-5) markers per document. For example, when reading blogs you are not expected to find A LOT of new information or generate A LOT of markers. So when reading the article, if relevant, generate a couple of markers, but when finished reading do spend some time to link them properly. This method we call “hyperlinking” is harder than it seams, since you need top-notch analytical capabilities to link only the relevant information to the relevant information. You can read blogs and some books at 2000wpm and generate good properly linked markers, but your markers will cover the text sparsely [you may miss many details].
And then there are those tasks that are well balanced between the reading speed and retention [like some wikipedia articles]. These tasks are the tasks the original superlearner course was built for. The idea is as following: read the document at the regular speed (~1000wpm) and try to generate markers as you would generate free associations. You get a lot of markers, some of them less accurate than others [based on amount of training], some of them linked [based on content structure], some of them subvocalized [names etc]. It is quite a mess when reading at first. When done reading stop and try to recreate the text using the markers you have. If you need specific details, read the text again very fast, pausing only to remember the details you need [like dates and places] with high-quality markers. Then read a third time to unify the experience – have all the details accurate. Each time try to recreate the article from your memory when done reading. The resulting average speed will be around 600wpm with 80% retention, but you will remember all the details you really need [dates, places, people, reasons – everything needed for a history or neuroeconomics test].
Nobody I know can visualize every detail and read at his or hers top speed. By choosing the right strategy some of us can read VERY fast and yet remember sufficient amount of details to impress the peers.
Get 4 Free Sample Chapters of the Key To Study Book
Get access to advanced training, and a selection of free apps to train your reading speed and visual memory
Thank you for this. I was looking for this from the super learners course and you cleared a few things up. Just to male sure I got it though. You should be creating markers AS YOU READ and not just after? Because if its after when reading faster I get lost specially without the subvocalization.
You can create visualizations before you read by trying to predict the text from the title and the abstract, while you read by creating vivid imagery, and after you read by connecting the stuff together and verifying that you understand everything you need.
I am glad for commenting to let you be aware of what a awesome encounter our child found viewing yuor web blog. She came to understand a lot of pieces, most notably what it’s like to possess an excellent coaching spirit to get many more effortlessly master various grueling things. You undoubtedly did more than my expected results. I appreciate you for showing those practical, trustworthy, informative as well as unique tips on this topic to Sandra.
Thank you 🙂
Very interesting info !Perfect just what I was searching for! “I have a hundred times wished that one could resign life as an officer resigns a commission.” by Robert Burns.
Lol. That’s an interesting comment. Every change comes up with a price tag, so be careful what you wish for.
A blog is had by me as well, and I think I need to enhance the information I have on there.
Anyways, I just wanted to compliment you on your blog.
Thank you