.KEYWORD pebookmonth0601
.FLYINGHEAD ENTERPRISE EDITION BOOK OF THE MONTH
.TITLE Ebook for learners helps you harness your brainpower
.DEPT
.SUMMARY To get the most out of any learning experience, it might be useful to familiarize yourself with the theory behind learning. This month, Steve Niles reviews Paul Hayden’s ebook, "The Learner’s Pocketbook." It’s a valuable addition to your Palm handheld designed to help you understand how your brain works and how you learn, so that you can better take advantage of the educational opportunities available to you.
.AUTHOR Steve Niles
In this issue of PalmPower’s Enterprise Edition, we’re putting the focus on e-learning, the use of cutting edge technology to increase the knowledge base of your employees. E-learning initiatives can keep your staff up-to-date on developments in your particular field via training and instructional programs.
Before you send your team "back to school," however, it might be useful to familiarize them with some of the concepts outlined in Paul Hayden’s valuable ebook, "The Learner’s Pocketbook," available from PocketManager.com at http://www.pocketmanager.com/product.jsp?product_id=-1778740031. It’s yet another valuable resource you should have close at hand, stored on your trusty Palm device.
In this ebook, Hayden discusses the theory behind learning. By understanding how your brain works and how you learn, you can better take advantage of the educational opportunities afforded to you. The ebook encourages individuals to take responsibility for their own learning. It also explains how you can harness your brainpower so as not to hinder the learning process. It covers brainpower, learning theory, planning and committing, intelligence styles, and learning techniques. It can be read in preparation for any type of learning, making it ideal pre-course material.
This book is in DOC format. You’ll need a DOC reader to view this book on your Palm device. For more information on document readers, check out Larry Stedman’s article, "Document readers for the Palm OS: a user’s perspective," in the May issue of PalmPower at http://www.palmpower.com/issues/issue200105/ebook0501001.html.
.H1 Gray matter
Section one of "The Learner’s Pocketbook" covers brainpower. Here Hayden discusses the makeup of the brain and how the number of synapses within the brain determines intelligence. He delves into the parts of the brain and their functions and the differences between the left and right brain. He also offers a few vital statistics regarding the thinking organ, such as the interesting fact that the average adult brain weighs three pounds.
.H1 In theory
Section two covers learning theory. This includes a discussion of the learning curve we hear so much about. Says Hayden, "In different areas of your life you will be at different stages on different learning curves. In order to learn, you must be on the curve, so you can move forward."
He then goes into the four stages of learning: reasoning, planning, committing, and reflecting. In the reasoning phase, you ask yourself the question, "What’s in it for me?" If you can identify no value in learning a particular subject, you won’t learn it.
In the planning phase, you create time to learn and consider factors that may influence how well you learn, such as state of mind, diet, and environment.
In his discussion of the committing phase, Hayden goes into the three kinds of memory: visual, auditory, and kinaesthetic. "The best learning takes place using all three memories," writes Hayden. This segues into talk of the seven intelligences: linguistic intelligence, logical intelligence, visual space intelligence, musical intelligence, bodily kinaesthetic intelligence, and interpersonal intelligence.
In the reflecting phase, Hayden recommends testing yourself. This includes putting what you learned into practice. For example, if you learned how to swim, jump in the water and prove it. It’s then important to ask yourself what you can do next time to improve your learning. If, in the above example, you need the lifeguard to fish you out of the pool, you might want to think about changing your methodology. Finally, if you succeed, Hayden says you should reward yourself for a job well done.
.H1 Tricks of the trade
The third section covers memory tricks. This includes mnemonic devices, a generic term for any memory aid. He includes some examples of methods people use to remember sequences of numbers, dates, lists, etc.
Hayden then goes into methods for overcoming memory blocks, such as using positive affirmations and visualization to reinforce success and avoiding distractions, such as noise and comfortable armchairs.
.H1 Conclusion
I’ve only touched on the very surface of all this enlightening ebook offers. Before you or your employees hit the books in your next e-learning experience, it couldn’t hurt to brush up on your learning techniques by giving Paul Hayden’s "The Learner’s Pocketbook" a read.
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.H1 Product availability and resources
For Paul Hayden’s "The Learner’s Pocketbook," visit http://www.pocketmanager.com/product.jsp?product_id=-1778740031.
For Larry Stedman’s article, "Document readers for the Palm OS: a user’s perspective," in the May 2001 issue of PalmPower, visit http://www.palmpower.com/issues/issue200105/ebook0501001.html.
For more information about Palm computers, visit http://www.palm.com.
.H1 Bulk reprints
Bulk reprints of this article (in quantities of 100 or more) are available for a fee from Reprint Services, a ZATZ business partner. Contact them at reprints@zatz.com or by calling 1-800-217-7874.
.END_SIDEBAR
.BIO
.DISCUSS http://powerboards.zatz.com/cgi-bin/webx?50@@.ee6f4eb
