Fit Brains Learn Better
First essential learning skills.
1) Cognitive Skills
Students need to develop Memory, Attention, Processing and Sequencing known as Learning MAPs, the essential cognitive processes needed for reading and learning. These are the glue that bind everything together. Every learner has to develop these to achieve a balanced approach that allows them to read and learn effectively and retain their knowledge and skills.
We have many examples inr Fast ForWord ® programmes including:
MEMORY: Every learner needs to improve the ability to work on and retain information both short and long term. This is essential for word recognition, comprehension of complex sentences, and remembering instructions. The exercises develop these essential memory skills simultaneously with the other cognitive tasks
ATTENTION: enhances the ability of each student to focus and ignore distractions. Thus he or she begins to learn more effectively and reduce the frustrations that cause him to lose attention. In a steady way he builds the ability to pay attention so that he can effortlessly work on what he is supposed to do.
PROCESSING: are essential skills that the learner needs to see, hear and analyze in order to discriminate images and sounds quickly enough to process information; a prerequisite for phonemic awareness and fluent reading.
SEQUENCING: This is a cognitive skill that relies on memory, attention and processing and is essential for phonics, word fluency, reading and oral comprehension. Fast ForWord helps students place information in a logical order which in turn allows for improved memory attention and processing.
2) Language Skills
Fast ForWord works simultaneously on Language Skills
The programme work extensively on students’ phonemic awareness to ensure that they have the basic language skills to decode language orally and written.
- Fast ForWord uses patented technology to artificially change speech to allow students to practice their phonics.
- They work intensely and repeatedly on each key language aspect which guarantees that the student knows and can process language quickly and effectively
The software is designed to develop phonemic awareness by improving auditory discrimination and letter and word recognition skills. It helps students identify specific phonemes. It also improves phonological awareness and language structures.
It enhances vocabulary by helping students differentiate between similar sounding words. It improves skills in work meaning, oral language, listening comprehension, and the ability to follow directions. It also develops syntax and morphology skills.
It fosters fluency and comprehension by developing listening comprehension and the ability to follow directions, while developing memory to store background information.
Fast ForWord uses exercises focused on auditory recognition, sound-letter comprehension, phonemic awareness, phonological awareness, beginning word recognition and English language conventions including left to right tracking skills. We develop associations between words and their written representations.
It does this in a systematic way to provide a sequenced learning environment that advances the key cognitive skills (Learning MAPs) in the context of sequentially appropriate reading skills. It targets phonics and fluency by developing basic spelling patterns, automatic word recognition, letter-sound correspondences and decoding.
A student will increase their phonemic awareness by developing sensitivity to letter-sound correspondences. This blended teacher method of technology and tuition focuses in on the priority areas for each student.
Throughout the programmes it continues to expand vocabulary through decoding, synonyms, antonyms, homophones and automatic word recognition, paragraph comprehension, cause and effect reasoning and flexible reading. The process maintaines focus on syntax and working memory.
Students build fluency with sentence comprehension, developing syntax, working memory, logical reasoning and vocabulary.
Students develop comprehension by practicing syntax and working memory skills with both simple and complex sentences. As well as developing skills such as reading for meaning, remembering facts, making connections and drawing inferences.
3) Study Method
How does Fast ForWord improve cognitive skills? FAST !
The programme incorporates the key areas of Frequency and Intensity, Adaptivity, Simultaneous development, and Timely motivation that are proven learning techniques to effect change based on decades of neuroscience research. The goal is to work with the learner to give him the breakthrough he needs to begin to read effectively and with pleasure. The quicker that they reach this point the higher their motivation is likely to be. This will in turn greatly improve their reading and learning skills in their personal, social and work lives.
So our methodology requires compliance to a definite approach.
Frequency and Intensity Brain research demonstrates that completing a set of learning tasks in a frequent, intense timeframe accelerates learning. This is the surest way to achieve effective results. Therefore each student needs to study five days a week and for at least thirty minutes daily.
As an example of the thoroughness of the programme, over the first few modules of Fast ForWord students may have completed over 50,000 exercises in eight to 12 weeks.
This intense study regime is the key to building effective language and learning foundations. The intense approach stamps the information indelibly on the brain. The repetition reinforces the learning and the regular study allows them to see rapid progress and reinforce their motivation
Adaptivity We understand that each student has their own learning style and capabilities. No one size fits all. Our programmes allos teachers to oversee each student individually to monitor progress and intervene where required.
Our interactive exercises automatically adapt to an individual’s skill levels and responses, adjusting the learner’s content exposure and targeting correct responses approximately 80% of the time, which maintains challenge and motivates success.
Simultaneous Development We know that effective language processing requires a range of cognitive skills. Our exercises develop major cognitive and reading skills simultaneously to ensure enduring improvements in learning. Each exercise focuses on a specific set of reading or language tasks and simultaneously develops underlying cognitive processes such as memory, attention and processing.
Timely Motivation For the brain to learn, students must be active, attentive and engaged. Rewards are provided on the first attempt only, a proven neuroscience motivation technique. We also use a rewards system that is designed to maximize motivation.
For students the most effective motivation is internal, within themselves. Our system allows them to take responsibility for their own actions. They get the results of their efforts direct without any delay. Our teachers use an extensive analysis system to show each person how well they have done and in a positive way show their results and ways to improve. Graphics are creative and engaging. Students are stimulated by a personal challenge and quickly become absorbed in the exercises.
4) Analysis of Progress
We do a complete evalaution of each student and monitor progress on an ongoing basis.
We track each individual’s results to check their progress on a daily basis. In this way we know exactly what is happening. We build a detailed profile of strengths and weaknesses. Teachers are trained to monitor the results and set a course that is adapted to each individual student.
We use our own system called Progress Tracker which is unique in education. We record each exercise and each trial. We can view the overall picture, trends, relations between various skills and the individual errors that each student makes. In this way teachers quickly identify the priority areas to be worked on.
We believe in full transparency both to ensure confidence in our products and as a motivation for students. Therefore all our Progress Tracker reports can be made available to students and parents. We generally like teachers to review progress on a weekly basis.
5) Research and Results
Fast ForWord was created from the findings of over 30 years of research.
Fast ForWord is probably one of the most researched educational methods in the world. There is an impressive library of independent research which shows conclusively the impressive and long lasting benefits.
We are fully committed to a scientific approach which drives results in an effective and cost efficient manner.
We have very positive feedback from our parents, teachers and students.
6) Conclusion
Meet the needs of your student with a powerful intervention method
Reading and language improvements can transform his or her world, allowing him to function better, open him up to the joys of learning and improve his everyday interaction. Learning can be moved from an experimental type to observational, an essential skill that is wholly dependent on him being able to respond to what is said, read and what happens around him. Additionally he can improve his concentration, develop a better working memory and also improve the quality and speed of his language skills, oral and written.
Children with earning difficulties often have a unique way of learning, requiring a high level of consistency and intensity. They benefit from a systematic approach and the setting of goals. In addition, they need high levels of reinforcement as well as a method that makes learning fun and interesting. Good educational programmes for children have these characteristics
The essential skills for a student to have in place before beginning Fast ForWord are general computer literacy, the ability to wear headphones, and to be able to stay on-task for up to 20 minutes at a time without interruption.
It is important to remember that the Fast ForWord Language programme won’t teach new information (eg. the curriculum), but instead it prepares children to learn. By improving his understanding of spoken language, increasing his attention to tasks, and by reducing the difficulty he has filtering competing sounds, Fast ForWord builds confidence through understanding. Once these deficits are addressed, the love of learning that he displays will result in a more fluent acquisition of new skills, better use and understanding of language, and improved concentration.
In summary Fast ForWord helps people to improve their reading by:
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Developing the Cognitive skills essential for learning
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Delivering a fast, frequent and intensive learning experience
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Extensively analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of the learner to pinpoint the priority areas.
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Motivating and mentoring the students
Neuroscience has brought huge advances in reading and learning. This research has brought us the tools and methods to deliver opportunities that can really transform a child’s life. We hope that it may be of benefit to your students also.
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