Superreading and dipping are the manual activation techniques. You use them to find the answers to the questions you formed from your trigger words. Sometimes when you form questions you have a vague feeling that you know the answer - the you use superreading, skittering, dipping where you feel the answer might be.
Studying as I was referring to was specifically for learning and exams.
On youngprers note of photoreading the textbooks everyday I'd like to offer an idea of modifying it somewhat. Sometimes after initally having PR'ed a book when you photoread again you might notice points that draw your attention. In these cases I suggest you dip or go back for a closer read. Chances are it answers a question you had just before you photoread again. I had that experience myself the last couple of days. Today I was photoreading some books I had no intention of activating at this time. I was only interested if the books contained any information of interest to me and if they did I wanted to bring them in to activate. Well on 2 of the books I was drawn back a couple of pages after photoreading to slow read them and they did infact provide some thought provoking information. Other than that the books were of no interest so they stayed in the garage.
Your photofocusing technique is fine. Most likely you didn't give yourself enough time to activate. Try writing down 3 questions and then superreading and dipping in the section of the book where you think the answer lie. Do as many questions and answer as you can in a 20 to 30 minute session. Take a 5 minute break and then do another 20 to 30 minute session.
1.Make it a point of doing at least 4 activation session for your first few books.... especially textbooks.
2. Make it a point to draw what you find onto a mindmap or some sort of notetaking system that works for you... especially for textbooks.
3. Most importantly make it a point always to stick to 30 minutes max for each session and have a 5 minute break after each one and a longer break after you've done 2 30 minute sessions (at least 15 minutes). This helps discipline your mind for future session (it works quickly if you stick with the plan).
Also with your activation look at how you form your questions... If your questions are vague your answers are going to be hard to find. Forming good questions quickly aids your comprehension. One of the most useful techniques for discovering if you are comprehending the text is to turn chapter heading, subheading, bold and underlined text into questions. If you can answer what the chapter or paragraph with the bold heading is about you are on the way to explaining your comprehension of the text.
Remember also it happens in layers with the first little bit it doesn't seem like much is happening and the ideas is to keep at it keep building on it. It's like finding a little glint of gold in the dust and moving the dirt away bit by bit... you don't know how big a rock you get till you've dug it all up. 
You can rapid read the book if youwant to know more but are not sure what you want to know. Usually you'll do that after you done 2 or mor activations steps... that step is optional.
If you want to have an idea of what will be on the test get a hold of the previous 3 years test if you can, you'll quickly discover which questions the lecturer centers around and how the lecturer prefers to have them answered. That will give you focus for your studies. If you only concentrate on the texts and lectures get into the habit of taking good notes Mind maps many find useful when reviewing. However use the notetaking technique that works best for you.
Alex
[This message has been edited by AlexK (edited August 04, 2002).]
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