PhotoReading

PhotoReading' is a commercial learning product of Learning Strategies Corporation, a private school licensed since 1986 by the Minnesota Office of Higher Education to teach PhotoReading throughout the state. PhotoReading is taught in live seminars by the company and by over 80 independent instructors who are certified annually. PhotoReading is also offered through a personal learning course (nine CDs, manual, three books, three DVDs). The PhotoReading book, which explains the system in detail, has been published in 15 languages. The cover of the fourth edition of the book claims over 700,000 copies in print.

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.

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.

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.

Origins

The PhotoReading system was said to be developed by Paul Scheele, co-founder of Learning Strategies. A company called Subliminal Dynamics claimed that Scheele took a related seminar on subliminal processing with them, which Scheele referenced on page 4 of the first chapter in the first edition of his book. According to Scheele, PhotoReading differs from their system in at least three ways(verbatim):

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.

General Steps of Photoreading

PhotoReading method consists of five steps: Prepare, Preview, PhotoRead, Postview, and Activate.

The reader prepares by determining a clear purpose for reading and then enters a state of relaxed alertness, what Scheele says in the ideal state of mind for learning.

Next, the reader takes a minute or two to preview the material, looking over a book’s table of contents and index, for example, and flipping through the book to get a general idea of the its structure and whether it will meet their purpose.

The third step begins with the reader becoming more fully relaxed and alert. The reader then softens their focus as though they’re gazing through the pages. This is said to expand their peripheral vision so the entire page is exposed to the brain as they flip pages every second or two.

Next, the reader postviews or surveys the material to become even more familiar with it, finding key words and developing questions they have about the material.

After taking a break from the book for up to a day, they activate it, scanning down pages and dipping into paragraphs that stand out to find answers to their questions. They may also create mind maps to make connections with important information and to aid later recall.

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.

1. Unconscious Incompetence (No idea whats going on)
2. Conscious Incompetence (You know you don't know what's going on)
3. Conscious Competence (You know what to do)
4. 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.

1. Awareness of material (first encounter)
2. Familiarity with material (generalized idea)
3. Knowledge of material (detailed recollection)
4. 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 unfortunately stresses gaining multiple learnings in one front to back reading of a book.

Foundations of Photoreading

• NeuroLingistic Programing (NLP)

• Accelerated learning

• Speed Reading

• Visual memory

• Hypnosis

• Altered States of Consciousness

• Theta Mental State

• Flow State

External links

• Learning Strategies – PhotoReading home page