PhotoReading
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PhotoReading is a commercial learning product of Learning Stategies Corporation. The corporation sells Photoreading seminars and home courses that claim to allow people to photoread, a term coined for a step in which one unconsciously intakes information. By that claim, the reader's speed of absorbing words is directly dependent on the amount of information on each page and by page-flipping rate.
Alex K. Viefhaus and others on the Learning Strategies Forum have stated that reading and Photoreading are two different things; traditional reading actively intakes information through the conscious mind while photoreading passively utilizes peripheral vision through the other-than-conscious mind.
Advertising for this product state that the reading method is based on beliefs about the human brain's cerebral hemispheres and possible pseudoscience concerning brain waves.
The distinguishing feature of PhotoReading is that the readers allow the unconscious mind to rapidly absorb material and then logically or consciously recapture the information they photoread through multiple perusals, as opposed to conventional reading or speed reading, which relies solely on the conscious mind to sort information through one passing conscious mind.[citation needed]
A day or two after PhotoReading a book, the reader is supposed to be able to activate the information manually by scanning the book and dipping into portions of the text which he or she feels are important. It is claimed that activation can also occur spontaneously, in which the reader gets flashes of insights related to the book, although Scheele describes this kind of activation as uncommon. Finally, it is claimed that the reader can rapid read the book to gain a better and more complete understanding of the book.[citation needed]
There is some doubt by skeptics about the ability of the human brain to be able to take in such a quantity of information. The human vision span is somewhat limited for this purpose if peripheral vision is not utilized.
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[edit] Skepticism Response
According to skeptics, the theories that support the practice of photoreading are based mostly on debunked pseudoscience rather than rigorous research into reading.[citation needed] A more scientific explanation for any success in photoreading may be that the individual is simply scanning the text in order to get an overview. Based on reports and reviews of the internet, one can conclude that the course might reap some benefit, but not enough to be considered for practical use.
[edit] Response
Others suggest that the skeptics' claim, success being mainly from scanning, is invalidated by evidence. According to the University of Minnesota, Pete Bissonete of the Learning Strategies Corporation was able to redraw several patents after photoreading a digital clip that flashed 20+ pages of information every second. Several beginning photoreaders, most quitting after perceiving minimal practical benefits, noted flashes of insight, such as in the form of dreams, without previewing or skimming.
[edit] Origins
The system was said to be invented by Paul Scheele, but the company of Subliminal Dynamics claims that Scheele stole ideas from them[1]. In response, Paul Scheele states that he got the idea of subliminal perception from them, but that his Photoreading differed in three ways(verbatim)[2]
1. The key is not subliminal perception. The key is the brain's capacity for preconscious processing. I've spent my years developing a protocol to capture this capacity and put it reliably in the hands of our clients. (Reference the work of N.F. Dixon from England, and P. Lewicki at Tulsa University, Oklahoma).
2. Neuro-Linguistic Programming is the basis for our techniques of putting folks in contact with the resources of the nonconscious data storage systems of the brain for activation and recall.
3. Accelerative, brain-based teaching and learning are essential in the design and delivery of our programs, including the design of the book.
[edit] General Steps of Photoreading
1. Prepare A light Hypnotic State (semi-unconscious) is induced upon oneself to enter an Accelerated Learning State.
An area is located that makes you feel comfortable.
A set time is created to complete the process, such as allocating the time necessary to preview for 4-8 minutes and photoread for 20-40 minutes.
2. Preview A broad Generalized understanding of the book's structure as well as what it offers, is identified by reading the index and appendix as well as glancing at every 20 pages of a book.
Trigger words or words that you believe carry special meaning or that are completely foreign, are kept track of while previewing every 20 pages to aid in understanding the structure of the book as well as concepts the book aims to teach.
Previewing is done during a semi-unconscious state.
3. Photoread By mentally photographing each page at 1 page per second in a light hypnotic state, the unconscious mind processes, organizes and stores the information to be "activated" at a later time.
To create a different reading experience and because photoreading is done unconsciously users are encouraged to Photoread not only from front to back, but also from back to front (last page to first page) and if the reader is feeling adventurous they can photoread a book upside down and backwards.
To show the ability of Photoreading and to better become accustomed to it, participants are highly encouraged to Photoread an entire collegiate dictionary and access words from stored mental images
Photoreading is done during a semi-unconscious state
4. Activate After photoreading a book and allowing between 20 minutes to one day for the unconscious mind to process all the information, the reader begins to peruse through the book to "fill in" the details and concepts missed by the preview and photoread steps.
The reader "fills in" details by asking questions of what the book could teach, creating mind maps, scanning (glancing) down pages and dipping (reading normally) paragraphs that stand out or Skittering (reading at angles instead of horizontally) each paragraph.
The Activate portion as well as the rapid read portion of photoreading are done consciously rather than semi-unconsciously.
5. Rapid Read
The reader is allowed to read the book normally at a faster rate, i.e. Speed Read the book.
[edit] Concepts and Beliefs
Whether these are fact or not, they are presented within CDs and seminars
- Books are 10% content 90% fluff
- Visual memory is superior to Auditory memory, so use both instead of only reading to yourself
- The Visual memory retains information better than the auditory memory, think of your home an image will pop up.
- Readers are taught to read and understand material rather than reading the information given and allowing their own insights or idea's of a subject to come forth.
- Mastery is achieved faster through multiple passes of a subject
- Humans Learn unconsciously first then consciously, then back to unconscious.
- Unconscious Incompetence (No idea whats going on)
- Conscious Incompetence (You know you don't know what's going on)
- Conscious Competence (You know what to do)
- Unconscious Competence (You do things automatically with little to no thought)
- Learning, Understanding, Remembering and Creating are done within a relaxed state not in stressed states
- A purpose for reading any given book must be given or the mind will not process efficiently
- Comprehension is a 4 step process.
- Awareness of material (first encounter)
- Familiarity with material (generalized idea)
- Knowledge of material (detailed recollection)
- Expertise of material (application or mastery of subject)
- People are taught to read with their left logical minds, neglecting the Right Creative mind
- Speed reading must be Honed and practiced even after mastery or the skill loses effectiveness.
- Strategies never lose their effectiveness because they are not a skill, rather they offer a different view point.
- Traditional reading unfortunatly stresses gaining multiple learnings in one front to back reading of a book.
[edit] References
- ^ F., Fred (2000). Official Statement About Paul Scheele and Photoreading. http://www.subdyn.com/ Educom. Retrieved on October 27, 2006.
- ^ Scheele, Paul (2000). Thread - Official Statement About Scheele. http://www.learningstrategies.com/ Learning Strategies Corporation]. Retrieved on October 27, 2006.
