Reviews and Testimonials for Memletics

From James Manktelow:

James is the editor of mindtools.com - a top rated self-development portal on the Internet. Following are extracts from the review James wrote for his website & users:

The Memletics Accelerated Learning Program is designed to help you fundamentally improve the way in which you learn.

It does this by teaching important techniques for researching, screening, assimilating and reviewing information in a highly efficient and effective way.

"An Authority and Importance That Marks it Out..." The author (Sean Whiteley) has long experience of using Memletic techniques in mission-critical situations. He shows deep knowledge of the subject that shows through everywhere within the course. Research quoted is deep, thorough, current and credible, giving the program an authority and importance that marks it out in the field.

This is one of the best sources of good-quality information on memory optimization and accelerated learning that I've come across. It is authoritative, thorough and detailed, and packed with practical, useful information that will help you improve the quality of your learning.

If you are looking to improve your memory and accelerate your learning, then I strongly recommend that you look at Memletics in more detail.

James Manktelow, Editor, Mind Tools

Tim Clark, Grade 1 Flight Instructor and Memletics user.

From Tim Clark:

Tim is a Grade 1 Flight Instructor.

Hi Sean,

The first time I learnt about the techniques in Memletics I was skeptical of how well they'd actually go, however it's now clear they work exceptionally well.

Certainly after using the techniques in my own training and flying, I found them to be extremely useful. I've used nearly all the techniques - in particular the association, visualization, simulation, and repetition techniques you describe, as well as the overall system.

Peg words were the one of the first techniques I started with. I now use these for remembering airspeeds for aircraft, as well as the weight and capacity limits, system limitation and parameters. This technique works extremely well - I'm able to get a very high level of recall on those parameters and figures. It was challenging to first learn the peg words, however once I did learn them (which didn't take very long), I found them to be very helpful.

The association techniques I found very good. It's intriguing to see how easy it is to recall items using this technique. This also ties into the peg words technique to help create vivid stories to link items together. I also found association challenging initially but creativity soon started working to help me create the links to remember information.

Simulation especially has been useful, along with the principles of part task training and variation. I've been using Microsoft Flight Simulator extensively. I've also been using Supermemo to revise the material I've previously learnt - for example to go over checklists and Morse codes - it's been a great help. My ability to recall checklists has improved 'out of sight.' I've used all these techniques recently while obtaining my Beechcraft Baron endorsement - an aircraft I now fly often.

I've also used Memletics for other areas outside of aviation - for example for interviewing skills, memorizing phone numbers, and more. Using it outside of aviation also helps me practice the techniques so they are easier to use for flying.

So for just about everything I learn, I'm now applying Memletics!

I absolutely recommend Memletics to other instructors and teachers - I believe it should be mandatory reading to create an awareness of the different types of techniques that can be used for learning. The 'conventional techniques' are not necessarily the only way and there's a large variety of other ways that material can be taught and learnt.

I also strongly recommend it to pilots - I'd say it's a must. It's certainly helpful for those going for the airlines. For example the 747 has over 100 checklists. With say 10 items on each checklist, that's over 1,000 items you have to commit to memory. The techniques described in the manual are invaluable to anyone who aspires to fly - airlines or privately.

Lastly, I highly recommend the Memletics Manual to everyone. It's an invaluable resource for anybody who's learning any material. Memletics has helped me in many areas, inside and outside of aviation, and it can be used in so many different ways.

Cheers,

Tim Clark

Michael is a university student studying psychology.

Hi Sean,

I have found Memletics after searching the libraries and Internet for information on how to study. You see I am in a wheelchair due to a drunk driver. Effective study techniques are very important to me now. I have gone back to college at 40. Being in a wheelchair limits my time in many ways. I have medical things that I have to due to keep my health up. Also it takes longer for a paraplegic to do things like, showering and dressing in the morning. The end result is that time is very precious to me and limited. This has a cumulative effect of limiting my study time. So as you can see I NEED a very effective study program.

I want to encourage anybody who is thinking of getting this course to do so without haste. I have never seen such a well researched and thought out program ANYWHERE. This is a complete manual on the art of studying-nothing is left out. The great thing about Memletics is the effectiveness in learning the material. I am a psychology major and it is very important for me to learn this information. My career will depend on it. Memletics showed me how to reduce my study time, and yet gain a deeper understanding of the material I am learning. This in turn causes me to remember the information long term, which I need out of my studies in order to be successful.

Please, if you have a child in school, help them out with these skills. These skills are so desperately needed by school children. They are not being taught how to study in school. These tools will give them the academic edge that they need in this competitive world.

If you are a adult returning or disabled like me. Do yourself a favor and give yourself an edge.

I would love to give thanks to Memletics for producing this fine manual that is full of scientific and up to date information on how the mind works. No hype here, just a good solid reliable program.

Thanks for the help guys.

Michael J Russell

Takuma is a university student.

Hi Sean,

I've been reading the Memletics Manual. First, I will tell you about my previous learning experience and then I want to comment on the manual. This will help explain why I called the Memletics Manual 'outstanding and excellent.'

In my high school days I primarily studied alone. I had to select materials, make a plan, manage my emotions, and pay attention to several traps such as 'researching mania' etc. Through this experience I made extraordinary mistakes, and wasted a lot of money, time, etc. However, these experiences have led me to become a self-directed learner. Before I bought your manual, I had always used several tools, skills, tips, etc. That is why I know many of the tips and tools explained in your manual eg, planning, association, mindmaps, assertions etc.

HOWEVER, I can gain more from Memletics manual. It enables me to review, rearrange, expand, and sophisticate my knowledge and activities. It turned out to be the right judgement to buy the Memletics Manual.

Now, let me comment on Memletics manual.

1. Concerning each chapter, your explanations are really in depth but essential. Most books are made of ambiguous principles, shortcut descriptions, and incidental explanations. In short, they are not enough. Your book gives, in every block, the descriptions and explanations of how, when, where, why etc. They are really essential and you never waste pages. You also refer to several warnings around the tools. You always give SEVERAL tips in every presented tool. Your explanation is like 'Example C: The here's how to learn it book' on page 56. Each sentence, paragraph, and chapter does really work. I guess even most specialists cannot write the same way you have.
2. Your manual is so wide and rich that it covers a lot of areas. From body, mental state to planning, from technical tips to learning style, and more. The Memletics Manual is all I need. I do not need any other manuals.
3. Some other books deal with a lot of tips, tools etc. But your manual is not a mere collection of them. Memletics is well organized, systematic, integrated and comprehensive. Using the learning style questionnaire, the references, the index etc, I can search for, reflect on and navigate my whole learning more clearly. I have never seen a complete manual like yours.
4. You treat 'mysterious and ambiguous techniques' such as 'imagery training', 'assertions' etc. The other books exaggerate only them or ignore them completely. But you understand them as one aspect of learning and you do not stand on either extremes of complete ignorance or complete dependence. You refer to the limit as well as the merit. It is great that you explain the balance between the strong and weak points.
5. I love your metaphor of combining memory & athletics to represent long term memory. I have always understood learning as 'the formation of new habit.' Your manual is beyond the mere preparation for exams.

Your manual is what I have been asking for. I expect it to help me for my whole life.

Thanks,

Takuma Terashima

Kevin is a principal at a large accelerated learning organization providing accelerated learning materials to both children and adults. He provided these comments:

Hi Sean,

As promised here is my feedback on the Memletics Manual. This is what I particularly liked:

• The Memletic State graphic and explanation (Chap 2) were excellent. I particularly like the rhythm explanations. The information and ideas in this chapter are the basics for any learner and are well defined.
• The dietary information which we found particularly interesting as our sister company produces a supplement called Nutrishield. The aspect of diet on learning is becoming more prevalent and this may be useful in considering a separate publication on 'diet for learning.' I have downloaded your supplement chart and will look through this.
• The graph detailing the technique selection of memory ideas (pg73) is probably the best bit of the book. The simple overview of the techniques in a logical format was excellent for my learning style.

Overall the book is an excellent source of learning ideas, information and memory techniques, well explained and written in a way that anybody could use.

Best regards,

Kevin Brown
The Accelerated Learning Network

Over the past thirty years, Doug has been an air force fighter pilot, instructor and commander. He is now a director of an Error Management training company. This is what Doug had to say about the Manual:

Having had the advantage of reading early versions of the 'Memletics Manual', and discussing its core ideas at length with Sean, I feel able to put my own slant on his work, and perhaps to reinforce his main arguments.

I wrote a book called 'Fit to Fly' a few years ago. It argues the case for what I call 'cognitive fitness' -- use of exercise regimes to strengthen your thinking processes and competence, especially under stress. Naturally, I'm pleased to see someone else take up the same line of thought -- that through mental 'workouts', you can improve your cognitive performance and 'fitness'.

The literature on Learning -- for that is what Sean writes about in Memletics -- is extensive. Why does yet another book need to be added to the library? Well might you ask. Curiously, no education or training authority -- so far as I am aware, and I've been an active participant and researcher in the game for 30 years -- has taken up the rather simple and straightforward propositions that when you exercise something hard and often you get better at it -- and if you stop exercising, you lose that fitness.

Well, the 'exercise hard' proposition does get mentions in regard to, for example, training for sport. What Memletics tells us -- amongst many things, of course -- is that there are underlying skills involved in thinking, and the learning that thinking makes possible. Work up those skills -- over time I trust there will be quite a few 'mental gymnastics-type' exercises prescribed on this website -- and you'll get to be able to learn and remember, faster and better.

And that's not the only benefit. There's plenty of evidence coming available on the potential of mental effort (exercise) to ward off brain deterioration with age. If you don't use it ... and so on. Very interesting for we older folk, indeed. Obviously, too, the harder the work the stronger the resulting fitness. In brief, Memletics is not a prescription for the easy life. It is one, though, for the life best-lived.

Again, I look forward to seeing more on Memory Athletics -- and not only to help me push back the Alzheimer's threshold, but for all the advantages that come from it, including how to make your information processing (thinking) skills stronger/faster, and the better grasp of situations (and less likelihood of making mistakes) that produces. It's relevant to every walk of life, and Sean is to be congratulated for bringing this resource to us.

Looking forward to discussions his work generates.

Doug Edwards