This article is the penultimate of Series dedicated to Photoreading using free software. It is the method created by education specialist Paul Scheele that ensures be able to increase the speed with which we incorporate new knowledge.
The Activation stage in the Photo-reading method
Paul Scheele takes care to emphasize that the activation process differs from the memorization process. He says it in the sense that memorizing repeating the text as it is. Activating allows us to gain the meaning of what is photoread but using our own words. There are two types of activation:
- Spontaneous activation: Some call it the Aha moment! It is when doing anything else we find the solution to a problem or we come up with a relationship between new concepts and others that we already had.
- Manual or voluntary activation: In this activation we actively intervene. It takes place after a period of rest from the Photo-reading stage. A minimum of 20 minutes of rest is recommended, but the ideal is 24 hours dedicated to any other activity that preferably includes hours of sleep.
The activation stage begins asking us questions about the text we photographed. It does not matter that we do not remember the answers in the moment. We will see in a couple of paragraphs how to remedy this.
The questions we ask are related to the purpose of the reading established in an earlier stage. Examples of pertinent questions are:
- What part of what I read can serve my purpose?
- What do I have to take into account for the exam
- What points should I ask the teacher about in class?
- How can I apply what I read.
I usually carry out this stage by writing the questions while I take a trip on public transport or I have to wait for a long time and, for that, I use the phone and one of these open source applications for Android in which I write down the questions.
License
This year I decided to stop using Microsoft OneNote and replace it with an open source application of similar functionality. That allowed me to discover Carnet. Carnet is a multiplatform notes application that allows you to synchronize using their servers or your own server that has Nextcloud installed.
Some of the Card functions are:
- It is multiplatform. It has versions for Linux and Android. On Windows and Mac it can be used from the browser.
- The mobile version allows you to create text notes and from the microphone or camera.
- The desktop version allows you to import notes created with Google's Keepnotes application.
- It can open html files.
- Notes can be assigned different colors.
- Notes can be sorted and searched using keywords.
- The editor supports bold, underlined, italic, and highlighted text.
- The program has a dark theme
Although Carnet is available in the snap store, it is not the latest version. It is best to download it in Appimage format. You just have to give execution permissions and double click on the icon. As for the mobile version, it can be downloaded from the google store Or from F-Droid. The web version to use from the browser can be found at this link.
Omni Notes
In this case we talk about an Android-only app. It can be downloaded from Googl official storeeo from alternative F-Droid store.
Developers ensure that their application is compatible with older phones and older versions of Android.
Omni Notes does not yet offer the ability to sync notes online between applications. But, it can be done physically by making a backup.
Some of its characteristics are:
- The creation, modification and filing of notes is done using a Material Design interface.
- Classification of the notes using tags and categories.
- Text, voice, image and other formats can be attached.
- It is possible to create to-do lists
- Notes can be created by drawing with your finger on the screen.
- The user interface is translated into Spanish.
- The program offers the possibility of placing shortcuts to the notes on the main screen.
- Omni Notes has integration with Google Now.
In the next article we will see how we answer the questions we ask ourselves. That is going to be the Superread.