Accelerated Learning

A movement of imagination seeks to expand the vision of what’s possible by increasing citizens’ collective potential for learning. Here we share a method called Accelerated Learning, whose principles can play a useful role in engaging citizens and developing community capacity.

The Accelerated Learning process is set in a Six-Step M*A*S*T*E*R Plan:

1. Motivate Your Mind: Motivation is key to learning. What you learn should be meaningful for you, so take time to understand the personal benefits of the learning experience.

2. Acquire Information: Identify your various learning strengths so you can readily get whatever information is necessary for the learning process.

3. Search Out Meaning: Create personal meaning from the information; interpret and understand why it is relevant to you and your community.

4. Trigger the Memory: Now that the issue is relevant and meaningful, it will likely be ‘locked down’ in your long-term memory. You can trigger the ideas and emotions you have by categorizing them, by storytelling, by making acronyms, learning maps and music, etc.

5. Exhibit What You Know: Share what you are learning and doing publicly; try role-playing, making a poster, drawing or newsletter, or creating a song.

6. Reflect on How You’ve Learned: Look back on your learning processes and ask questions like: How was the learning experience? How could it have gone better? What’s the significance of this for me?

Accelerated Learning takes into account life factors that traditional educators are often reluctant to accept. It posits that learning occurs in a fun environment, where we feel both relaxed and challenged. Visuals, games, and music can help to stimulate such creative learning spaces. Accelerated Learning reminds us that learning occurs far beyond the walls of schooling. It asks us to think about how learning spaces in our homes and communities can cultivate wisdom, character, commitment and responsibility. Most importantly, Accelerated Learning shows us how to harvest the confidence and skills necessary to transform citizen vision into a visible difference.