Forums IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ PhotoReading, Memory Optimizer How to photoread university level mathematics and physics textbooks?

I find it utterly difficult to photoread (or preview for that matter) advanced level university mathematics and physics textbooks full of sections, subsections, definitions, equations upon equations... everything said or written in a maths/physics book seems important to me to grasp and trying to guess intuitively while previewing which ones are the most important is very hard.. could somebody give a hint as to how to approach very technical texts?

Might want to use a postview instead.

Hi

Photoreading a university text is exactly the same as photoreading any other text, unless the pages are made of some kind of hard-to-turn paper!

In previewing, you are surveying the material, and so there is no real need to go into great depth - previewing (and postviewing, for that matter) is not activation. It is getting to know what you will be in for when you actually activate. From your description, it sounds like you might be trying to actually activate when previewing.

I recommend doing academic texts chapter by chapter i.e. take each chapter as a book in itself. You can even preview them separately, as this is more likely to be useful in terms of activation. Pick out trigger words to help you.

During activation, remember that comprehension is built in layers. Multiple layers of the same material means that you can always come back and pick up what you left earlier on. I have personally found that doing this is far more effective than trying to bulldoze one's way through the text once through.

With mathematics and physics, also remember to do the exercises. This is a very helpful form of activation where these subjects are concerned.

KWLee

[This message has been edited by KWLee (edited August 10, 2003).]

It is hard to pick up keywords in a text where each line gives an important definition... the mathematics I am doing is axiomatic and foundational .. each page of the book abounds with information... and it is very difficult trying to connect definitions or theorems when trying to come up with an idea of what the chapter is about... uni pure maths (algebra, analysis, topology) is very intricate and very subtle connections exist which are sometimes difficult to make even after hours of studying.

Trigger words and key words are only anchors to help you remember the rest. Like picking up one link in a chain. Pick the one that will give you the greatest recall and association.

Also remember maths textbooks are ones that can take 50 to 70 hours working with them to fully comprehend using regular reading techniques so you need to expect to spend 5 to 25 hours with them using the photoreading system.

The idea with the photoreading system is that you build comprehension with repeated activation passes. If you're finding it difficult it may be because you're trying to get it all with the first pass. Give yourself a reasonable goal of letting comprehenion happen and notice that it may be the 3rd pass where it begins to make sense and the 4th pass you find you're finished.

Alex

Does anybody know of scientists, particularly physicists and mathematicians, who use photoreading for learning their stuff..? or postgrad students in those subjects..?
thanx

I was just wondering if you would photoread the whole book each day, then wait the 20 min. before activating a complex chapter or even section?

I'm kind of in the same boat with some technical reading. I'm a real newbie so the answers here will help me as well.

Bits

Hi

quote:

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Originally posted by bitstomper:
I was just wondering if you would photoread the whole book each day, then wait the 20 min. before activating a complex chapter or even section?

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Yes, you could. The incubation period of a day is probably a better idea if you can afford it. Also, it is not necessary after the first time. Thus, you might do as you outlined above the first time you come into contact with a book. When you return to it on another day, you can just photoread it and then push straight into activation. Another alternative is photoread it before each activation session.

KWLee

Interesting. The reason I suggested photoreading it each day is that is what the 5 day challenge suggests that you do with the book you choose.

Each day, for the 5 days, you photoread the book.

Bits.

Hello everyone,
I'm so glad to meet AlexK and KWLee again, thanks god you are giving me a great hints. Nice to meeet you too, nitin & other frineds....

I'm a medical student, consider a science student, but pity coz I'm not physicists or mathematicians that you mentions... :P But, I do love Mathematic and Physic.

I found that the problem or perhaps, the mind of want everythings get done in shorter time, lead me into big confusion and frustration. I do 'think' that I 'must' understand the material I read in the very 1st pass... I understand it was imporsible while I come down, but I always forget that in critical time like examination. Again, Thanks god that I cleared my 1st year and successfully persist to 2nd year. Thanksto PR also.

And, I like to ask a question on trigger word, how can i find a trigger word in scienctific text boo? like the Physics, Mathematics and Medicals? Like nitin mentions before, its looks like every word can be serve as 'trigger word'. How can we do a MindMap under such circumstances? And I go through the MINDMAP BOOK by TONY BUZAN, I think I couldn't get any hints for that. If I not mistaken, TONY have another great book called <MINDMAP FOR MEDICAL> ( which could be my life-saver ), I couldn't find the book in my nearest book store. pity pity pity....

Nice to see you all, wish you guy good luck and all the best.

Edgard