Accelerated Learning in a nutshell!Accelerated learning is any process that improves your ability to acquire, register and and retrieve information. What is popularly referred to as 'accelerated learning' is a methodology which has its roots in the work of Dr. Georgi Lozanov at the University of Sophia in Bulgaria in the mid fifties. There are six steps to the traditional Lozanov method although not all of which are now considered necessary - De-suggest: challenge or eliminate limiting beliefs about our capacity to learn
- Relax: Mentally and physically relax so that information is better absorbed
- Map: Create a mental map or 'big picture' of what is to be learned
- Drama: Dramatic, animated reading of the material to be learned
- Calming music: listen to the material while also listening to certain types of music
- Fun and games: to integrate the material by re-activating our child-like ability to learn rapidly and effortlessly.
Why use this?Everything you experience is recorded in your memory. The challenge is to be able to organise these memories in such a way that you can retrieve them efficiently. Accelerated Learning enables you to this more effectively. Accelerated learning enables you to learn more efficiently, more effortlessly and more enjoyably. Some of the methods, especially the relaxation and visualisation methods, enhance health by reducing residual stress levels and enhance creativity by encouraging a state in which both brain hemispheres work in unison. How Accelerated Learning works- Through accelerated learning you create impressive associations between the new material and that which is already recorded in your memory
- These associations occur because the methods used make the material have more of an impression on the three main senses of seeing, hearing and feeling.
- The accelerated learning methods also ensure that material is registered by both brain hemispheres and by both conscious and sub/unconscious parts of your mind.
Does Accelerated Learning work?- Dozens of universities world-wide are now researching Accelerated Learning.
- The Finnish government uses the methods in all schools - so does the city of Chicago.
- Shell, General Motors, Hilton Hotels and many US government agencies and embassies routinely use Accelerated Learning.
- It can produce 'at least 300% improvement in the speed and effectiveness of learning' according to Dr. Schuster of Iowa State University.
- UNESCO has acknowledged its effectiveness.
- 'Educational Technology' magazine said it is a tool that allows students to absorb and retain a two year language course in as few as twenty days… It is destined to have a revolutionary impact on human resources.
- 'Psychology' magazine called it the key to the 21st Century.
- Educational Psychologist Dr. Jean Houston said of it we are just beginning to discover the virtually limitless capacities of the human mind.
(Much of the above data is drawn from Colin Rose's excellent book 'Accelerated Learning' - Topaz Publishing, 1985) | 
