Forums IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ PhotoReading, Memory Optimizer How Photoreading Does Not GIVE You Critical Thinking Skills

This message is about the pre-med student who was starting to doubt PR because he failed his MCAT. He was telling us that he did the steps at photoreading (prolly even studying) but unfortunately failed. I have also some brush with near failure and one thing that I found that was it was up to me to realize my own problems and find the answers for myself. You will not MAGICALLY get Critical Thinking Skills just b/c you photoread a book or you Photostudied...Logical and Critical thinking skills are a biggie in todays society so what good does it do to me if I can just regurgitate facts that have really no significance in my life... Photoreading teaches us to absorb relevant information that WILL HELP us to arrive in our own answers. More often than not, a well informed person can make better choices that a not so well informed person. So in reply to the pre-med student, dont blame PR for not giving you a passing mark or great grades...PR is only a tool, youre thinking and problem solving skills are what counts...Keep on PRing because it is the best system right now, if not go back to regular studying...

Phi

Well said!

What I have found is that because I understand topics etc a lot better and more fully I can therefore make informed judgements that are my own thoughts. Wierd things also happen. When activating I may go over info and just simply understand it without much critical thought but perhaps later in the day, without even thinking about what I activated all these ideas and connections and even critical arguments come into my head and it really blows me away, fantastic!!!!!

exactly, PR gives us (ppl who use them) a great, great advantage over someone who 'regular' reads and who 'regular'. As a freshman Im starting to look at university life as a whole new different level of thinking. It just does not involve me hearing and writing notes down as the prof gives out facts. It was now basically up to me to find out for myself. It is fantastic to find out new things and I think it gives you self confidence in yourself that maybe you do have what it takes.

some thoughts,
Phi

The PhotoReading Whole Mind System approaches critical thinking skills very directly when you get into Syntopic Reading. Educators often refer to critical thinking skills as creative-divergent or higher-order thinking.

I was asked to teach "how to integrate higher order thinking in the classroom" to a group of mentor teachers through an AT&T grant at the University of North Florida at Jacksonville. In that course I gave them what you will find in Chapter 8 my Natural Brilliance book under the heading of "Put Natural Brilliance to Work for You."

The model of creative-divergent thinking I reference by Frank Williams is exceedingly powerful and nicely captured in the simple procedure of Syntopic Reading. However, it is rare for anyone to think studying for an MCAT by reading syntopically. A counter-intuitive move like that would almost certainly have to be the product of someone who was ALREADY thinking in a creative-divergent way.

So unless the person studying had read the chapter on Syntopic Reading and actually practiced it, his conclusion would tend to blame the system on lacking such critical thinking opportunities.

I have never even gone across Syntopic reading yet...I'm excited but also disappointed that I have not gotten across PRing when I was in high school...I could have been a valedictorian instead of just making it to the honor roll... sigh

Also another question to peeps out there.
What exactly does PRing do for your IQ?
Do you get 'smarter'? Or is it just an illusion b/c IQ is already determined??

thanks Phi

yeehah. PR'ing works combined with good reviewing skills. I got 91 on my last biology lab (lots of terminology)I will KEEP on PRing ppl...For ppl who are frustrated when trying out PR for the first time, don't be disappointed. Frustration is part of the game but just hang in there...

Peace
Phi