History of Accelerated Learning:

Accelerated Learning is a model of teaching and learning that creates an environment and teaching processes to enable learners to move beyond limiting beliefs and misconceptions and tap into their hidden potential. To understand Accelerated Learning at its core and what distinguishes it from many other teaching philosophies and methodologies, it is important to both go back to the roots of the method and look at its development over the years.

Suggestopedia, originally developed by Dr. Georgi Lozanov, a Bulgarian professor and psychotherapist, set the groundwork for what became known as Accelerated Learning in the USA in 1976. His Suggestology Research Institute was established in Sofia, Bulgaria in 1966. Lozanov developed a model of teaching in which learning becomes a pleasurable, natural process through the use of music, art, role-playing and games. He placed great emphasis on the quality of the learning environment. He stressed that it was the teacher who created and maintained the learning space, an emotionally safe and rich environment that motivates learners to stretch and to widen their perspectives as they develop their capacity to learn. The physical environment invites learners to engage with one another, with the materials and content, and with the facilitator in a joint learning journey. The design of the learning activities facilitates the possibility significant emotional experiences for the learners that will impact their views of the possible and of their own abilities.

Dr. Lozanov developed his method out of concern, not only for the need for education to accelerate learning in order to keep up with rapid technological advancement, but for the mental, physical and spiritual health of the learner. He believes that his system not only allows a child to go through school without trauma and stress, retaining the natural thirst for learning that is our birthright, but also enables him/her to uncover innate but hidden capacity and talent which Lozanov calls the reserve capacities of the mind.

To read more, please visit http://www.ialearn.org/ALHistory.php

Definition of Accelerated Learning:

You see colorful posters on the walls. Music is playing. You find participants working in groups, playing memory or a board game to learn the materials of their content area. Or, perhaps, participants are developing a skit, creating learning activities to teach other groups, putting together magazine cut-outs to make a collage to demonstrate good customer service.

You are in a learning program using Accelerated Learning, and Accelerated Learning is more than just the inclusion of music and the arts, more than playing learning games that are effective and fun, even more than designing learning to appeal to all learning styles. It is a method that begins with the premise that each person is capable of much, much more than they think is possible. AL assumes that our own limiting beliefs about ourselves, our abilities and learning itself often get in the way of our learning potential. In an AL classroom, the facilitator creates multiple opportunities for individual and group experiences that enable participants to move beyond those limiting beliefs and tap into their inner wisdom, their hidden potential. The facilitator, the learning environment and the design of the learning process are key determining factors in the success of learning and the development of the capacity to learn.

Resources to learn more:

Quantum Teaching My all time favorite book on Accelerated Learning, by Bobbi DePorter, Mark Reardon and Sarah Singer-Norie. This book literally "walks the talk" of the pioneering educators involved in the Learning Forum that produces programs for students, teachers, schools, and organizations throughout the U.S. as well as internationally. Their Super Camps, since 1982, have helped over 25,000 students to relearn how they learn and reshape how they live their lives. Bobbi DePorter is president of Learning and former president of the Accelerated Learning Association, Mark Reardon is a former teacher and principal and is lead facilitator of the program, and Sarah Singer-Nourie is a teacher of high school English and Quantum Learning K-12. They share a wealth of strategies, presented in a lively, dynamic style, for motivating and enhancing teaching and learning at all levels. Quantum Teaching embodies five tenets: Everything Speaks, including classroom environment, body language, design of lessons and handouts, etc. Everything is On Purpose, as teachers carefully orchestrate their lessons. Experience Before Label, as learning happens best when students experience the information at the outset of learning. Acknowledge Every Effort, as students take risks and build their competence and confidence. If It's Worth Learning, It's Worth Celebrating, with appropriate feedback that increases positive emotional association with the learning. The book is imaginatively illustrated, offers clear explanations, suggests numerous helpful tips, and offers practical examples of processes that have been proved to be most successful. This is a great book for teachers of all subjects at all levels!
High Impact Training and Amazing Presentations With Blair Singer and Sarah Singer-Nourie High Impact Training Audio CD workbook - This is a never-before-assembled arsenal of the hottest accelerated training tools to inspire any group, any time.
Lead, Teach and Inspire SalesDog book Audio CD Program – An audio CD collection that shares never-revealed secrets to give you the skills of the rare few trainers and speakers who command more than $10,000 per session! Master the #1 Competitive Edge you can have in Business …your ability to get anyone to learn, adapt, and change quickly.