Demonstration of Amazing Memory!

Alright, this guy (Alain Nu) has an amazing memory and he uses it on the edge. Lives depended on his technique and I imagine much practice had gone into making him so comfortable and confident.

I have a conjecture at this point. My guess is that he was processing the card sequence while he orientated himself on the route. If you watch carefully, he sort of timed saying the cards with the route. Check it out and say if you agree with me. He might have continued with it in reversed sequence if the "assistant" wasn't so excited.

I may be wrong. Then again, I may be correct.

Memorising using the LINK method (BBC)

You've got the Number-Rhyme technique in my previous post. Did it work for you? Usually, it really helps for lists of ten. If you've read Buzan's books on memory, you'll know how you can expand the list to 30 or 40 items. For me, I never got past twenty. Never needed to, anyway.

Well, here's Andi Bell explaining the "link method". Some memory practitioners may call it the Roman Room method. Either way, with practice, you can easily manage 100 items in time to come. Learning this may take less time than the Number-Rhyme as you are already familiar to your surroundings.

Hint: If you've got 5 rooms in your house, intentionally cycle through 10 items in every room. That will easily give you an initial capacity of 50. =P

The Number-Rhyme mnemonics system

Alright, this is a follow up to Tony Buzan's mind mapping.

I have personally used this Number-Rhyme system for memorising lists and up to today, some of the lists remained in my permanent memory. When I took the Powerboat Driving License more than 5 years back, we were required to memorise a list of 10 compulsory items.

The list is still there. In my head.

Try it with your kids and make them realise that they can learn to make use of their heads more effectively!

The Miniature Earth

Some of you may be fans of statistics like me. If so, you will definitely find this meaningful.

It is important that we can visualise our collective humanity so easily. This will give weight to our statements about the world, especially so when we do not speak from opinion but truth.

If you can view this blog...
If you can show this video to your class...
Those who can are probably more fortunate than much of the inhabitants of the earth.

Get your students to profile your school community and perhaps they may just learn a lesson on empathy. =)

Mind Mapping for effective living

Have you always wanted to remember better and remember more?

Have you ever wanted your students to learn effectively by getting into your mind?

Would you like your class to learn 10 different pockets of knowledge within the hour and still remember what they learnt?

Would you like to boost your students interest and success in their studies within a week?

All these are possible with Mind Mapping. Don't stop at watching this video, get the book as well. And all the above will become very probable.

Well, it worked for me.

Mr. Bean and the Invisible Drum Set

Looking at the precision of his acting, one can only wonder how many hours of practice went into it. It wasn't just him, but the SounFX crew as well.

Teachers, inspire your students to practice, continue and persevere in everything!

Out of this world Ping Pong Skills!

Practice does make perfect!

Creativity with Just Four Chords

Alright, the message is simple. Sometimes, we just need to re-invent the wheel, see things in new light, look at the world through a straw or "find the hidden side of everything". The music was just the bonus! =P

For teachers who want to spice up old or out-dated lessons, you can try to SCAMPER!

Creativity in Pizza Boxes

Now, how a bout inventing reusable toilet paper? Anyone?

Star Size Comparison

Amazing and informative video that shows you the moon and beyond.

Great resource for that science lesson or that counselling session. What do I mean? Watch it and you'll probably understand.

The "OTHER" NDP 2009 Theme Song

It seems that Singaporeans don't always "just lap it up" anymore. Gone were the days when everything went uncontested. This year, we start to see just about everything that can be challenged, contested. The AWARE saga was perhaps the most notable.

Now, even the official NDP Theme Song 2009 is being challenged.

Netizens are saying that the above song, Things So Singaporean, should have been the theme song for this year. It was composed and sung by Ann Hussein, with lyrics written by Judith d'Silva.

As for me, I'm featuring it because it is very informative and suitable for use in the NE lesson. Especially since it is as catchy as a jingle!

Anyway, I've included the official Theme Song for 2009 for you fans of local band Electrico:



So, what do you think?

Evian Roller Babies Commercial

Thought to share this commercial which really tickled my senses thoroughly. Oh my cuteness!

A shout of thanks to Anita for sharing this with me. This goes back out to you! =P

If you are an Infocomm Club teacher, you might want to show your students this behind-the-scenes clip to inspire them:

Ads that bring you closer to home...

In my school, we commemorated Racial Harmony Day today. Students seemed to know the model answers to any questions we can throw at them about the need for a cohesive multi-racial society. Some of them could even relate to you the racial riots from which we found need for a reminder to live in peace while embracing racial and religious differences.

However, perfect answers do little to help us predict the outcome of our "education". Perhaps, your response to the following ads will tell you how much of racial harmony you have embraced in your own life.

Perhaps, and if you wanted to, you could also use these videos to chromatograph the values at work in the lives of your students.

1. When home isn't home


2. If I had one more day with...


3. You gave him wings...


No doubt these videos are not related to racial harmony, I have picked a central theme that is common and important to each of the major races in Singapore---family.

While we seek to embrace the differences, let us not forget everything that we already have in common.

"Treasure what you have. Embrace what others have that you don't."

Michael Jackson Dance Tribute

This is the official clip from BOUNCE & Friends. More than 300 dancers met at 1530h, got briefed and then learned the choreography in 30 min. Less then 1 hour later, they were performing to the memorable tune of "Beat it!".

Such was the following of one Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009). He was 50 when he passed away. He was a legend spanning at least 3 generations.

This post is dedicated to my students who loved Michael Jackson.

Message is: Don't wait till your heroes are dead before you show your appreciation! Today is the best day to tell your hero that you love him/her.



One of his songs with heavy environmental overtones was Earth Song. Very good tuning in for a lesson on recycling or environmental conservation.

Watch the video:

Time Lapse Earth

Treat your eyes to the majesty of created earth. Expect to be awed and comforted by the vastness of the entire world and beyond. Indeed, one could only admit that, our experiences are dwarfed by the immensity of life.

This video is a good resource to tune in to orbits, revolutions of the moon, earth and sun (stars).

Reverse Graffiti - Cleaning with a difference

Just when you thought that there was no future in cleaning jobs, think again.

As educators, what we need is a paradigm shift. We need to re-look at existing societal structures and carve out fresh niches for our students. We give them hope in a world where there seems to be no hope. We learn to embrace learner differences.

CDEFGAB

CDEFGABC from lernert Engelberts on Vimeo.

Simply musical!

One kind act leads to others

"No kind action ever stops with itself. One kind action leads to another. Good example is followed. A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees. The greatest work that kindness does to others is that it makes them kind themselves."

Amelia Earhart

"Stay hungry, stay foolish." Steve Jobs

The inspirational speech given by Steve Jobs to the graduates at Stanford, in which he shared 3 personal stories:
1. connecting the dots (of life)
2. loss and love
3. death (is the best invention of life)

Finally,

Stay hungry. Stay foolish.

Team Hoyt - A very touching story about a father and his son

A son asked his father, Dad, will you take part in a marathon with me? The father, who despite having a heart condition, said Yes. They went on to complete the marathon together. Father and son went on to join other marathons, the father always saying Yes to his son's request of going through the race together. One day, the son asked his father, Dad, lets join the Ironman together. To which, his father said Yes too.

If you didn't already know, Ironman is the toughest triathlon ever. The race encompasses three endurance events of a 2.4 miles (3.86 kilometres) ocean swim, followed by a 112 miles (180.2 kilometres) bike ride, and ending with a 26.2 miles (42.195 kilometres) marathon along the coast of the Big Island . Father and son went on to complete the the race together.

Find out more about Dick and Rick Hoyt in the next videos:

Pick me! - The voice of those who have practiced enough

Most of the time, personal success comes to those who practice, practice and practice. It very rarely comes easily and effortlessly. Even as you witness the skills and precision that these men possess, don't be mistaken. It could not have been without hours, months and years of training.

You can do it too!

Validation: The power of positive affirmation

Respect your national anthem, respect your nation

This is indeed an inspiring video!

If you, as the adult and source of inspiration to the young, do not respect the national anthem, expect the young to do likewise. And if you, as one who seeks to impress patriotism upon the next generation, do not respect your country, expect them to do likewise.

Your life is the seed of the next generation!