Many people think of Accelerated Learning as any activity that speeds up the learning process. Such things as studying in groups and occasional activities may increase learning, but as valuable as these teaching tools may be, true Accelerated Learning methodology is much more than that. Accelerated Learning is a systematic approach to teaching the whole person, containing specific core elements that, when used together, empower students to learn faster, more effectively and joyfully. To occasionally turn on a baroque tape or hang a few posters is to use but a few elements of the whole process. To get the most from Accelerated Learning, our facilitators need to know how and when to use each element and understand the theory behind it.

DEFINITION
Accelerated Learning incorporates hands-on experiences with positive reinforcement of the natural learning abilities of every individual. It's a system derived from detailed studies of the human mind and how it acquires knowledge, with consideration for research psychologist and medical doctor, Georgi Lozanov's conclusions that learning is enhanced when tension, stress, and preconceptions are removed. *Dr. Lozanov believed that powerful learning must engage both the analytical brain and the emotional brain, along with both states of mind—the conscious and the unconscious.

IntegraLearning™, a variation of Accelerated Learning, is a teaching and learning system designed and compiled by Barry Browne-Carstetter . Mr. Carstetter’s study of the above mentioned research, led to his creation of Rapid Spanish™, a program which facilitates more effective processing, faster assimilation, and integration of the Spanish language. Based on these principles, IntegraLearning focuses on the application and expansion of the following:

                                           BASIC CONCEPTS
1) We possess mental capacities that we seldom use under normal circumstances.
2) Our response to stimuli is very complex.
3) The more we can do to orchestrate purposefully the unconscious, as well as the conscious factors in the learning environment, the greater the chance to break through the conditioned, automatic patterns and open the access to the greater potential of the mental reserve.
 

Some kids want to know why the teachers get paid when it's the kids who have to do all of the work!
Milton Berle

Knowledge About the Human Brain 
It goes without saying that the brain is at the core of the learning process. Scientific
knowledge and understanding of the brain is important to the design of effective
teaching and learning experiences. 

Emotional State 
The emotions can powerfully influence the learning process and enhance retention.
When emotions are positive, the total intelligence is in gear, ready to move into new
experiences. 

The Learning Environment 
IntegraLearning takes into consideration every aspect of the learning environment that can positively or negatively affect the experience, such as lighting, temperature,
acoustics, seating arrangement, color, and decor. The environment needs to be fun,
engaging, and rewarding. 

The Role of Music and the Arts 
Because music creates emotional engagement and memorability, it is a valuable, and often overlooked, educational tool. It can influence the entire pace, mood and
energy level of the learning experience. Art and drama can be used to facilitate
self-understanding, emotional involvement and the application of knowledge to real
life situations. 

Personal Motivation 
The desire to continue learning is based on self-confidence and personal expectations.  Left unaddressed, these issues could alter the course of
a student's life. 

Multiple Intelligences and Learning Styles 
The theory of multiple intelligences and individual learning styles are an integral part
of accelerated learning. IntegraLearning subscribes to Howard Gardner's perspective, "to respect the many differences among people, the multiple variations in the ways that they learn, the several modes by which they can be assessed, and the almost infinite number of ways in which they can leave a mark on the world". 

Imagination / Metaphors 
Imaginative games and activities enrich verbal and written information with physical
movement, color, depth, and positive emotions. Visualization skills enhance spelling, memory, creativity, and other abilities. And metaphors bring stronger meaning to any subject. 

Suggestion 
What is not spoken may often be conveyed by body language, attitude, choice of
words and thinly veiled expectations. Though subtle, these suggestions, aided by a
rich variety of learning tasks, music, movement and exercise, can create a positive
mental state and raise energy levels and attentiveness. 

Team Learning and Cooperation 
Cooperative learning activities allow participants of all abilities to benefit as mentors
and learners, develop interpersonal and time-management skills, and more fully
develop creative talents. 

Improvement and Results 
Learning expectations should be clearly defined and shared with participants and
constituents so that: learners are able to comprehend the relevance of the subject matter to their lives and instructors can measure progress and generate objective data that can be used to continuously improve and add value to planning, assessment, and process improvement.

                                     HISTORICAL BACKGROUND  
*Dr. Georgi Lozanov , a research psychologist and medical doctor at the University of Sofia Bulgaria (1956), obtained a PhD for his work on the application of suggestion in the field of medicine and education. He investigated the phenomenon of hypermnesia, photographic memory, worked with people with extraordinary mental powers (a Russian who could multiply four figure numbers faster than a computer and Indian mystics who could remember 10,000 verses word perfect), etc. His conclusion and theories were built into a learning system that is in daily use around the world. In 1979, Lozanov published his book Suggestology and the Outlines of Suggestopedia (Gordon and Breach, New York, 1979) and came to the U.S. to train a small number of teachers.

Georgi Lozanov MD, PhD   Univ. of Sofia Bulgaria, Institute of Suggestopedia   Small Language Classroom  

One of the first models of teaching that Lozanov developed was an approach to teaching foreign language to adults. After 5 weeks (3 1/2 hour sessions, 5 days a week), adults uniformly achieved a basic conversational ease in words, testing above 90% accuracy in recognition and recall, and 65-70% retrieval capacity. Memory retention was excellent (the expected curve of forgetting did not occur) and long term memory results were attained. An added advantage was that the students described the course as among the most enjoyable learning experiences they had ever had. Lozanov demonstrated that through a carefully orchestrated learning environment, learning can be accelerated by a factor of 3-10 times and can be enjoyable and  tension free.

TRUE Memory and Intelligence: 
Neuron activity and  dendrite branch growth occurs faster  and stronger with Accelerated Learning.

Links To More Accelerated Learning Sites