The Invisible Mentor

Posts Tagged ‘Methods and Theories’

Learning and memory specialist James D. Weinland developed 10 steps to remember a particular fact. In the 1960 book, Learn While You Sleep: The Theory and Practice of Sleep-Learning, the author David Curtis reported:

“In defining memory, James D. Weinland writes that there is no sharp dividing line between learning and memory, since all learning is based on memory. He makes time the one distinction, in that memory is learning that persists. A memory so ingrained that it requires no effort at all is a habit. Memory is a function of the mind, and greater intelligence and better memory usually occur together.”

In previous blog posts I have stressed the importance of learning for a reason and not for the sake of learning, and I have also emphasized that when you learn you shouldn’t do so in a vacuum, but connect it to what you already know. This is paramount, especially when you are working toward becoming an expert in a particular field.

Here are James Weinland’s 10 steps to remember a particular fact:

• What’s the value in remembering the fact? How will it benefit you? Try to see its significance, try to be interested in it.
• Focus on the fact, be sure you have it right.
• Be sure you fully understand it.
• Intend to remember it.
• Be confident you can remember it.
• Involve the ego if possible.
• Associate it with other related facts. What do you already know that you can relate to this new piece of information?
• File it in its proper place in your memory system.
• Nothing exists in a vacuum, see the fact as a part of a larger whole.
• If there is a basis for doing so, learn it as part of a small group of related facts.

(Source: Learn While You Sleep; The Theory and Practice of Sleep Learning, David Curtis, 1960)

The 10 steps are simple, yet profound. I have added to some of the steps based on my experience and what I know. To learn and retain any information, you stand a better chance if you are motivated and have an interest in learning the new information. It’s also good to evaluate, interpret and analyze the information, all critical steps in problem solving.

What do you have to add to the conversation? What process do you use to remember facts? Let’s keep the conversation flowing, please let me know your thoughts in the comments section below. Many readers read this blog from other sites, so why don’t you pop over to The Invisible Mentor and subscribe (top on the right hand side) by email or RSS Feed.

Further Reading

Standing on the Shoulders of Giants

The Art of Invention

Creative Problem Solving

How to Read to Problem Solve

Do You Have This Critical Workplace Skill?

Photo Credit: Flickr via Apture

Book link is affiliate link.

Today’s environment demands that you learn continuously. And if you’d like to be proactive and take charge of your own mentoring, you have to find and research your invisible mentors if you want to get the most from them. Are you up for the challenge? Are you a continuous learner? To help you clearly understand your learning readiness, try the Continuous Learner Scorecard™. Rate your reactions to each pair of phrases. Decide where you lie on the scale from 1 to 10.

Continuous Learner Scorecard

If you scored 80 or above, learning to you is an absolute treat and you’re on the right track. If you scored between 50 and 80, you are above average and can hold your own. If you scored under 50, it’s time to take action if you.

This Scorecard was taken from Journey to Getting It. Let’s keep the conversation flowing, please let me know your thoughts in the comments section below. Many readers read this blog from other sites, so why don’t you pop over to The Invisible Mentor and subscribe (top on the right side) by email or RSS Feed. I created a Mini Learning Toolkit and you can grab a copy by clicking here.

Problem solving is a coveted skill in business today, and those who excel at that skill will progress farther than those who don’t.  If problem solving is not one of your best skills, the good news is that it’s teachable, and there are several links in this post to articles that will help you to become a better problem solver. But today, I am more interested in the way in which you approach the problems that you encounter. Have you ever thought about the kind of problem solver you are?

This is an educational blog and my intent is to assist you in mentoring yourself by providing you with relevant information to give you an edge. We have talked about reading to solve problems, to master subjects, how to read and so on. These are often things that you usually wouldn’t thing about, after all you are very busy.

After analyzing the interviews for my book Tales of People Who Get It, and many of the other interviews that I have conducted since, I noticed a pattern emerging in the way in which people problem solve. Take a look at the four types of problem solvers and determine which one most closely reflect you. This is important because it informs the way you approach problem solving. Please also refer to my article Which Kind of Problem Solver Are You?

Inspirers: They nurture people and relationships and have the ability to inspire confidence. Whenever they face a challenge or problem, people rally around them offering their assistance. They have easy access to the information that they require to solve their problems.

Reflectors: These problem solvers do not rush when making decisions, instead they take their time, mull things over for a while, step back from the situation to get a new perspective and then act. After they have collected the information they need to problem solve, they mull it over for a while.

Innovators: These individuals have the unique ability to come up with creative solutions to any challenge or problem that they might encounter. It could be an entirely new solution or the blending of two known solutions into something fresh and exciting.

Influencers: These problem solvers are expert at getting others to support their cause, and they excel at finding solutions to “people” problems that involve change. Influencers are great at getting people to “buy in.”

Please refer to How to Problem Solve, Reverse Problem Solving and  How to Read to Problem Solve. Let’s keep the conversation flowing, click on the comment link below and leave a note for me. Many readers read this blog from other sites, so why don’t you pop over to The Invisible Mentor and subscribe (top on the left side) by email or RSS Feed. I created a Mini Learning Toolkit and you can grab a copy by clicking here. View the video on the Home and About Page and let me know what you think.

For your research and writing needs, consider my firm Ambeck Enterprise for white papers, articles, fact sheets, anniversary booklets, you name it. Since I am the best kept secret you may not know this, but I have over 15 years research and writing experience. I KNOW content. And if you cannot figure out which books to read for professional development, I am your WOMAN. I can assist you with that too. Visit my sales page for resources such as The Invisible Mentor Toolkit and The Problem Solver Toolkit to assist you in acquiring wisdom from a distance. For free white papers click here.

Related Resources

The Importance of Problem-Solving by Ken Watanabe (The Huffington Post Online, April 23, 2009)

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• Solving Problems vs Fixing Problems (newcommbiz.com)

In The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey says, “Begin with the end in mind.”

There are times when you have a specific outcome for a problem. In such instances, you have to reverse the problem solving process, that is, work backwards methodically and fill in the missing information.

To reverse problem solve, there are six steps:

1. Define the problem
   1. What are the knowns?
   2. What are the unknowns?
2. What is the end result (goal)?
3. Develop a strategy to achieve the goal (solve the problem)
4. What are the necessary steps to achieve the goal?
5. Solve the problem using the steps identified to achieve the goals
6. Does the solution make sense? Is it the best solution? Check the solution by working forwards

An Application

When I was in college, during a very difficult test for my Logic class, we were given the first two and the last two steps for a logic problem. We had the starting and ending point.

I looked at the first two steps and did not have a clue what the next step was, and leaving the problem was not an option since it was worth 30 percent of the total marks.

Without even knowing about Stephen Covey’s “start with the end in mind,” I decided to start with the last two steps and work my way to the starting point. I remember at the time just taking one step at a time. I would ask myself what the preceding step was, and the one before that, and so on. And in no time I was at the second to last step.

I was happy as a “pig in mud.” I reversed the process when I wrote the answer in my answer book. Many failed that exam so I was happy with my 78 percent.

The point of this story is to demonstrate that it is important to solve the problem one step at a time so you do not become overwhelmed.

Your Application

Describe a problem that you have where there is a specific outcome, how might you solve it using the reverse problem solving model?

Related Resources

Inspirer, Reflector, Innovator or Influencer, Which One Are You?

What Type of Problem Solver Are You?

The Importance of Problem-Solving by Ken Watanabe