speedreading... real or horseshit?
- Thread starter drave
- Start date
My post on this from a previous thread on the topic: http://www.wickedfire.com/2158226-post7.html
Some programs are absolutely legit. We had a speedreading program at Joseph Sears School in suburban Chicago for grade-skippers and SWAS. Used a projector to flash a sentence on the screen at an increasing rate and then a series of 24 comprehension tests to ostensibly take you through grade 12 reading level.
Some kids got to 2,500 wpm by the end of grade 5.
Some kids got to 2,500 wpm by the end of grade 5.
is that a good number? i doubt many of us are schoolled on what's average for grade 5 wpm.
I used the eyeQ program a lot. Not sure it helped me with my reading speed, but I think I got better at games. It's basically a trade off between speed and comprehension.
2500 wpm is a crazy number. After years of speedreading I am average on 1000 wpm because it's my personal deal of speed and comprehension.
There were five or six kids in the class who hit that number. It was essentially a ceiling. It's a function of neuroplasticity of adolescent brains and also visual acuity. You had to hit the comprehension number on book 24. I used to go through anything in print in the house; Collier's Encyclopedia, Audobon, sister's shitty novels.
It helped in undergrad as I think it allows some to achieve an eidetic (near-eidetic) memory (again with the neuroplasticity).
It helped in undergrad as I think it allows some to achieve an eidetic (near-eidetic) memory (again with the neuroplasticity).
it depends on what you're reading.
If you're there to get the jist of what its about, speed reading can be good.
If you want to enjoy the book, like a novel, read it at your usual pace.
If you want to learn lessons from the book or if the book is very dense or if the book requires you to sit and ponder on what you just read, you'll have to read it line by line (for example Meditations by Marcus Aurelius).
If you're there to get the jist of what its about, speed reading can be good.
If you want to enjoy the book, like a novel, read it at your usual pace.
If you want to learn lessons from the book or if the book is very dense or if the book requires you to sit and ponder on what you just read, you'll have to read it line by line (for example Meditations by Marcus Aurelius).
This dumbass linked to a link that had a dead link, so I fixed it.
I used to know some other cool stuff that was practical for speeding up your reading or whatever from this class I took, but I can't remember any of it.
Shows how much I fucking read, right?
You should study mnemonics - trust me it really really changes your memory from being shit to being 'photographic'. Combined with speed reading - win.
I think he needs to read up about a lot of things, hence the rush. Although I don't get how posting here and reading through how to speed up his reading could actually help him right now. I believe speed reading is more of a skill acquired through time and practice.
Anyone know a good method to measure my wpm? Also, I think I read faster on computer documents rather than the printed ones. I tend to fall asleep when reading any printouts.
Everyones different. Speed reading isnt for everyone. I tried it for awhile and got pretty fast and I still read pretty fast, but I have shitty memory retention. I think speed reading is only good if you already have good memory skills.
On the other hand that doesn't mean you're fucked if you don't. One of my friends was big into the speed reading and he eventually stopped, not because it didn't work for him, but he talked about a more effective way to read. I don't know what its called, but basically you just scan paragraphs and pages looking for the info you need and read like the first and last sentences to get the general idea or point of the text because most paragraphs are just fluff. I do this now and it works really well. Wish I knew what it was called..
On the other hand that doesn't mean you're fucked if you don't. One of my friends was big into the speed reading and he eventually stopped, not because it didn't work for him, but he talked about a more effective way to read. I don't know what its called, but basically you just scan paragraphs and pages looking for the info you need and read like the first and last sentences to get the general idea or point of the text because most paragraphs are just fluff. I do this now and it works really well. Wish I knew what it was called..
Speed reading without comprehension seems pretty useless unless you're skimming content for a fact that you already know is there.
Do these Spritz/Spreeder programs do anything to help maintain comprehension, or are they making speed reading the new dick measuring contest?
Do these Spritz/Spreeder programs do anything to help maintain comprehension, or are they making speed reading the new dick measuring contest?
No fucking way, you went to Joseph Sears? Graduated there awhile ago, don't remember that course. Maybe I'm just slow