An overview of my "Mental Skills" course

1. Mental Skills
by
Ravi
The Course Overview

2. Introduction
Welcome to the overview of the
“Mental Skills” course.

3. So what is this course about?

4. This course teaches effective
study techniques
as well as effective
memorization techniques

5. Now, before you say “I don’t need to
memorize, I just need to understand”
..stop & take a step back

6. When you understand a topic
it is easier to remember

7. So, in other words, understanding is a
memorization technique!

8. It is far more likely you will remember
information if you understand it.

9. However, understanding is only one of many
memorization techniques.
Not all pieces of information are
associated via logic.

10. For example….

11. “Columbus discovered Trinidad in 1498”

12. You cannot logically deduce that, so you just
have to memorize it!

13. This course also deals with
effective study techniques

14. We have not been taught to
study effectively
That is something we need to learn!

15. Also, too many of us are
“information addicts”.
We feel a need to learn every
single bit of information

16. But, the fact is, not all information is
created equal.

17. Let me give you a very familiar example.

18. Your exam papers!

19. We both know that exams test a very
specific set of knowledge
If you don’t study what is being tested,
you will fail!

20. Plain and simple

21. This course aims to teach you how to
focus on what is important

22. So who is this course for?

23. First let me ask you 3 questions…

24. Are you sick & tired of poor grades
despite hours of studying?

25. Do experience “information overload”?

26. Are you embarrassed to talk about your
academic performance?

27. If you answered “yes” to any
one of these questions….

28. Then this course is for YOU.

29. This is a visually oriented course

30. What do I mean by
“visually oriented”?

31. The bulk of memorization techniques
involve pictures that
you create mentally.

32. Now, let me dispel a myth.

33. People are of the false impression that
some people are visual learners
..and others are auditory learners.

34. Wrong, wrong & wrong!

35. A person may have a preference due to
environment & particular beliefs about
studying.

36. But, our brains are wired to handle visual
information better than any other types.

37. So what techniques are covered
in this course?

38. Well here are just some of the highlights

39. Techniques
• Roadmapping
• Traditional Mnemonics
• Flashcards
• Techniques to increase understanding
• Active experiencing
• Systems creation
• Time & energy management
• …and much more

40. • Roadmapping
• Traditional Mnemonics
• Flashcards
• Techniques to increase understanding
• Active experiencing
• Systems creation
• Time & energy management
• …and much more

41. Roadmapping
Too many people get lost in
the sea of information.
That is because they do not understand the
core concepts that lie
within the information.

42. Roadmapping
When you don’t understand core concepts,
you are able to get by for a while.
…until you are actually required to think &
solve a unique problem!

43. Roadmapping
You will learn how to quickly create an
easily memorized “skeleton” of the
information
Then you will learn to add more complex
information to that skeleton

44. Roadmapping
The complex information will also make
more sense, because a clear roadmap
puts it into context.

45. • Roadmapping
• Traditional Mnemonics
• Flashcards
• Techniques to increase understanding
• Active experiencing
• Systems creation
• Time & energy management
• …and much more

46. Traditional Mnemonics
You will also use “traditional mnemonics”
like the peg system, Roman room, stories
& rhymes

47. Traditional Mnemonics
These traditional methods are very powerful,
but you need to use them properly

48. Traditional Mnemonics
You may have heard many people downplay
the use of mnemonics.
But ask yourself “did they really understand
how to use them properly”?

49. Traditional Mnemonics
The majority of people give up on
mnemonics too easily
..and that is because they have no clue
how to use them!

50. Traditional Mnemonics
Forget all the negative ideas about
mnemonics & start using them properly!

51. • Roadmapping
• Traditional Mnemonics
• Flashcards
• Techniques to increase understanding
• Active experiencing
• Systems creation
• Time & energy management
• …and much more

52. Flash Cards
Again, another misused technique
I should know…I was the master of
flashcard misuse!

53. Flash Cards
I was a “flash card junkie”
No one had more flash cards than me!
Yet, I was in the last 10% of my class!

54. Flash Cards
Again, you can have the right tools…
..but if you can’t use those tools..
It is not going to matter one bit!

55. Flash Cards
Now, I use a free flash card software called
“Anki”
I will show you how to use it PROPERLY!

56. Flash Cards
Don’t feel guilty about using software to help
you study!
Technology created this information
explosion in the first place…

57. Flash Cards
so use technology to help you manage it!
The world is changing & so must you!

58. • Roadmapping
• Traditional Mnemonics
• Flashcards
• Techniques to increase understanding
• Active experiencing
• Systems creation
• Time & energy management
• …and much more

59. Increase Your Understanding
Sometimes we think we
understand something…

60. Increase Your Understanding
…until we are asked to explain it!
That is when the rubber meets the road!

61. Increase Your Understanding
Just because you SAY you understand..
Just because you FEEL you understand..

62. Increase Your Understanding
…doesn’t mean you REALLY understand!

63. Increase Your Understanding
You must PROVE you understand!

64. Increase Your Understanding
Understanding does not come
about by chance
Certain processes take place in your mind &
then you understand

65. Increase Your Understanding
You will learn systematic ways to
control your understanding
Put an end to
“hoping you will understand”
And make yourself understand!

66. Increase Your Understanding
One method you will learn is
“The clueless audience technique”
That is, you prepare a mock presentation for
an audience that
knows nothing about the topic

67. Increase Your Understanding
There are other techniques
that you will learn
But the point is, understanding can be
brought under deliberate control.

68. • Roadmapping
• Traditional Mnemonics
• Flashcards
• Techniques to increase understanding
• Active experiencing
• Systems creation
• Time & energy management
• …and much more

69. Active Experiencing
This technique is used by actors to
memorize their lines

70. Active Experiencing
Active experiencing involves bodily
movement with rehearsal of information.
It mimics the way in which we exchange
information.

71. Active Experiencing
When you speak, do you stand still with your
arms at your side?
Of course not!

72. Active Experiencing
When you speak, your hands move, your
tone varies, your speed changes.
That is what “active experiencing” is all
about!

73. • Roadmapping
• Traditional Mnemonics
• Flashcards
• Techniques to increase understanding
• Active experiencing
• Systems creation
• Time & energy management
• …and much more

74. Systems Creation
Let me paint a picture for you..

75. Systems Creation
See yourself getting up in the morning and it
is mad rush to get out by 5:30am to beat
the traffic…
On the way to work you realise you forgot
some important documents.

76. Systems Creation
Wouldn’t it be great to have a check list you
could refer to make sure you had
everything before you left?

77. Systems Creation
Well you can!
You can create a SYSTEM for doing any
task so you don’t forget any of the steps

78. • Roadmapping
• Traditional Mnemonics
• Flashcards
• Techniques to increase understanding
• Active experiencing
• Systems creation
• Time & energy management
• …and much more

79. Time & Energy Management
Time management does not work!
Yes, you heard me!

80. Time & Energy Management
What is the use of a schedule when you are
too tired to follow the schedule?
Energy management is what is missing!

81. Time & Energy Management
Did you know there are different
versions of yourself?
What do I mean by this?

82. Time & Energy Management
The different versions of you:
• Fired up you – alert & ready to go
• Fragmented you – busy, busy, busy
• Fatigued you – ready to sleep

83. Time & Energy Management
…and you must assign different tasks to
these versions of yourself
You delegate to yourself!

84. • Roadmapping
• Traditional Mnemonics
• Flashcards
• Techniques to increase understanding
• Active experiencing
• Systems creation
• Time & energy management
• …and much more

85. …and much more
• Cramming for multiple choice exams
• Daily academic review
• Daily journaling
• Mentally replaying your day
• ….and even more

86. I hope this overview was informative.
Make a decision to change!

87. There comes a time when
enough is enough!

88. Thank you
mentalskillsbyravi@gmail.com