Welcome to SuperCamp Singapore

Make the most of every moment
Each moment, each task, counts. The amount of attention you pay to now determines the quality of your tomorrow.

Quantum Learning Network president, Bobbi DePorter, calls making the most of every moment "This is IT!" Over 28 years ago, Bobbi developed the 8 Keys of Excellence, which students who attend SuperCamp are exposed to. "This is IT!" is one of the Keys.

This is IT! means focusing your attention on the present and giving each task your best effort. Making the most of each moment can make each day exciting, productive and fulfilling, but it takes some effort. Life is full of distractions. When they come, sweep them away and jump back into the present moment with a This is IT! attitude. When you have this attitude, you make the present IT-and you often discover joyful moments you missed before.

Don't miss "the best time of your life"
Bobbi cites the case of a friend who told her that she used to have trouble living in the now. She was always focused on what was down the road or around the corner. When she was in college, she couldn't wait to graduate and tackle the "real world." When she was starting her career, she couldn't stop obsessing about getting married and starting her family. Then when the kids came, she was forever daydreaming about life after runny noses and Little League games. Her kids couldn't grow up quick enough to suit her.

Then one day she was standing in line at the grocery store thinking about some future plan and nearly oblivious to her two grade-school children bantering cutely beside her. She half noticed an elderly woman standing in line behind them, smiling at the children's antics. As my friend finished checking out, the elderly woman stepped toward her and, with a twinkle in her eye, whispered, "You know this is the best time of your life, don't you?"

Bobbi's friend felt a tug at her heart. She knew she'd been told something valuable. She thought, "My kids are with me now, but they won't always be. I'm wishing away these wonderful years-some are already gone and I'll never get them back."

Are you like my friend, always looking toward next week, next month, or next year - and while you're looking ahead, letting the present moment slip away unnoticed?

We all struggle with this tendency. We get bored, distracted, anxious. We fall victim to the "grass is greener" syndrome, thinking what's coming has to be better than what's here. We're always looking ahead for something more exciting. But when we do this, we pay a price. We miss out on the only part of our lives where we can actually make a difference, the only part of our lives where we actually live-now, this moment.

Each moment contains magical opportunities
The only moment that counts is the one that's already in your hands. This is it! When you're fully engaged in the now, life is more exciting and fulfilling. You'll enjoy what you're doing more - when you put more into each task you'll get more out of it, and others will, too.

Every moment presents a chance that may never come again, whether it's an opportunity to praise, apologize, say thank you, make a friend, or make a difference. These little magical opportunities can come and go in a twinkling. You'll miss most of them if you're not living in the moment. And sometimes, when you take your focus off the future and put it back onto the present, you'll find that the things you were daydreaming about are not in some far-off other time, but right there under your nose.

When you recognize that this moment is IT, you're open to the gifts it has to offer. Some of the best memories you will ever have are about being fully present in simple moments. Little moments contain great magic.

Focus on the NOW, and you'll seize opportunities to learn, love, connect, and transform.

"Unease, anxiety, tension, stress, worry-all forms of fear-are caused by too much future and not enough present." - Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now

Empowering Students Through Accelerated Learning
[Note: This article is written primarily for educators; however, parents can glean valuable insights, as well, particularly in terms of how a student's homework/study area can be made more conducive to effective learning. It is also worth noting that Accelerated Learning is at the root of the Quantum Learning methods we developed for and use at SuperCamp.]

Accelerated Learning is a systematic approach to teaching the whole person. It is multifaceted, encompassing a wide variety of creative methods and techniques based on current theories and research of how people learn best.

Background
Developed in the mid-1970's, Accelerated Learning is based on the work of Dr. Georgi Lozanov, a professor with a specialty in psychiatry and psychotherapy from Bulgaria, now living in Austria. His early program focused on learning a foreign language that included relaxation, visual arts, and music. It produced noteworthy results. Students learned from one hundred to one thousand new vocabulary words a day with 98 percent retention or better. The potential seemed limitless.

At the root of Lozanov's work is the idea that suggestions can and do affect the outcome of learning. Some of the ways to reinforce learning are: creating a positive environment, using music, active and passive concert readings, posters and artifacts, increasing active individual participation, and having a well trained teacher in the use of these methods. Numerous variants and syntheses of Lozanov's original work are now applied to all subjects and referred to as Accelerated Learning.

Description
Accelerated Learning can be defined as empowering students to learn faster, more effectively and with more joy. Research shows that accelerated learning techniques can enhance retention and performance, and that students who use accelerated learning methods become more effective learners. Content becomes more meaningful and is remembered longer.

Accelerated Learning programs are geared toward teaching the whole person. They are multifaceted, encompassing a wide variety of creative methods and techniques based on current theories and research of how people learn best. It embraces the theory of multiple intelligences, learning styles, neurosciences and cognitive psychology. Important components include the emotional state of the learner, respect for learning differences, the use of music, a positive, safe and joyful atmosphere, stimulating and nurturing surroundings, physical movement, interactive projects, and games. Included in the teaching frame is the use of powerful motivation, activations, metaphors, imagery, peer teaching, demonstrations, review, and celebration.

Accelerated Learning is a synthesis of many methods and techniques. The power comes in the orchestration of how these methods and techniques come together to create effective, meaningful and joyful learning.

Elements
Accelerated Learning incorporates the use of music, art and color as well as a focus on the physical environment, emotional atmosphere, languaging and more.

Music
Music has a powerful effect on the learning environment, influencing pace, mood and energy level. Research substantiates the use of baroque (Bach, Corelli, Tartini, Vivaldi, Handel, Pachelbel) and classical (Mozart, Satie, Rachmanioff) music to stimulate and maintain optimal learning. Baroque's steady 60-80 beats per minute, melodic chord structures and instrumentation assists your body to access an alert yet relaxed state whereby stimulating receptivity and perception allowing you to perform better and remember more. Playing upbeat contemporary music between learning sessions stimulates your body toward movement and changes your state to optimize learning by energizing and refocusing attention. (Quantum Teaching, DePorter, Reardon, Singer-Nourie)

The Arts can be used to facilitate self-understanding, emotional involvement and the application of knowledge to real life situations. The visual arts, drama, music and movement, all have a place in accelerated learning.

The Physical Environment positively or negatively affects the experience. Lozanov believes everything makes an impression; there is no neutral. Attention to temperature, acoustics, seating, color, decor, and lighting, are all-important. Studies show that students attending schools with natural light out-performed other students. Natural light introduces variation, life, and drama into otherwise common spaces. (Stichler Design, 1999)

Color
One of the most effective ways of stimulating the right brain is the use of color. Colorful rooms invite interest and curiosity and appeal to the emotions. Ideally the walls should be painted in attractive pastel colors...(The Creative Trainer, Lawlor & Handley)

For optimal learning, choose yellow, beige or off-white. Those colors seem to stimulate positive feelings. The most neutral color? A textured, light gray. (The Learning Brain, Jensen)

Seating
How you configure the seating plays an important role in the orchestration of learning. In most classroom situations student desks can be arranged to support the learning objectives for any given lesson. For student presentations, teacher lectures, videos, etc. arrange the desks so that students are facing forward to help them stay focused at the front. For group work, students' desks are turned to face one another. What you're trying to achieve is flexibility.

Peripherals
Accelerated learning includes the use of affirmation and content posters. Using visual images strengthens initial learning and reinforces long-term memory. Your brain speaks to itself through these associative images. This intra-brain communication is characterized by metaphoric-symbolic language.

Emotional Atmosphere
A safe atmosphere infused with trust, play and joy are essential in an accelerated learning environment. Emotional engagement makes learning more meaningful and permanent. When the brain perceives threat or distress, its neural capacity to reason rationally is minimized and the brain can not access higher order thinking.

Metaphors/Storytelling
Metaphors and storytelling make subjects come alive with color, depth, and positive emotions. They bring stronger meaning to any subject. Visualization skills enhance spelling, memory, creativity, and other abilities.

Teaching Frame
Accelerated Learning is presented in a specific design frame. Many variations have been formulated from Dr. Lozanov's original design. Lessons begin by making the students feel welcome and relaxed, followed by expectations, experiences, explanations, review and celebration.

The Teachers
All of the above are elements of Accelerated Learning, yet a most important element is a shift in the mind set of the teacher-one believing in the capabilities of the students and their unlimited potential.

Applications
Originally the focus of Accelerated Learning was with learning foreign languages. It is now applied to the learning and teaching of all subject matter and used in classrooms, corporate trainings and personal learning with students of all ages. Accelerated Learning has been embraced by entire schools, youth programs, universities, corporate training departments in both service and technical fields, government agencies, and language schools.

Results of Use
Accelerated learning has been shown to speed and enhance learning while improving retention and performance. In classrooms it improves student test scores and grades, enhances motivation and self-esteem, and increases participation. It reduces class time needed to cover specific subject matter while increasing results. In corporations it increases training effectiveness ratings and knowledge gained.

A study done for a doctoral dissertation on the affects of accelerated learning as applied to a youth program called SuperCamp involved 6,042 students, ages 12-22, and utilized quantitative and qualitative data. Results showed 84% of the students reported having increased self-esteem, and ninety-nine percent of the students indicated they had continued to use the skills learned after the 10-day experience. The students who entered with a 1.9 GPA or lower attained a one-point GPA growth, on average, after the program. Overall, students across the "A" through "F" range made a half-point growth after 10 days of instruction. The study noted, "It is apparent that the program had a profound effect an students' lives, emotional outlook toward themselves, their parents and peers, and education in general," (Vos-Groenendal) A CD describing SuperCamp and it's Quantum Learning methods are available from Learning Forum.

Using a Student's Strengths for Better Studying

Get to Know Slim 'n' Bil
Quantum Learning emphasizes individual's particular learning styles. Knowing one's own learning style, or strengths, can help when it comes time to study for a test. At SuperCamp, we make this point by telling campers the story of Slim 'n' Bil.

Slim 'n' Bil are both very smart people - smart in very different ways. Slim 'n' Bil both have a wide range of skills. Whenever they meet, they like to show off their talents to each other, and practice their skills to build their intelligence in different areas. The question they ask each other isn't 'How smart are you?' it's 'How are you smart?'

When Slim 'n' Bil first got together, they realized that their names together spell out each of the eight different ways that we're all smart - and they created ways to practice and improve each area. Check this out:

S - Spatial-visual	read maps, create 3D art, look at hidden-shape puzzles.
L - Linguistic	write stories, give speeches, play Scrabble
I - Interpersonal	take on projects in groups, get to know people
M - Musical	practice beats, play an instrument

N - Naturalist	look for patterns, do odd-one-out puzzles

B - Bodily-kinesthetic	play with a hackey, act things out, dance
I - Intrapersonal	keep a journal, create goals for yourself
L - Logical-mathematical	do logic puzzles, play tic-tac-toe, look for reasons

Everyone is smart in all eight ways, and we may have particular strengths. When you study, use these strengths to study in a way that will be most effective for you. When you're not studying, try out some of these practices to improve the areas you find challenging. No two people are the same, and we're all smart. The question is, how are you smart?

Parents and teachers, share this story with your child or your students to help them tap into their own strengths.

Communication Is a Key to Success for Student
Teens at SuperCamp learn how important effective communication is in life and are given advice on how to improve their communication skills. Here are some of the tips they learn.

Don't Be a Communication Killer
Beware! Some conversation responses-like reassurance, advice, and identification-that seem helpful on the surface can actually hinder positive communication, and may even end a conversation before it has a chance to become meaningful communication.

Don't be a communication killer-be an active listener
Here are the three don'ts: don't deny, don't resolve, and don't me-too.

None of these responses gives a conversation a chance. Often the best "conversations" are very one-sided as far as speaking is concerned. This is called active listening and it's a vital ingredient in meaningful communication. The "listener" listens very intently and hardly says a word, only contributing enough to let the other person know they're really hearing them. Think about the difference active listening would have made in the three don'ts examples above.

Don't kill a conversation with reassurance, advice, or identification. Your goal is not to diagnose, pacify, or fix. Let your goal be to listen, and to let the speaker know he's been heard.

Got a Minute?
Have you ever had someone ask you this? Doesn't it immediately send up a yellow flag in your mind: Why is he asking me this? Does he want me to have a cup of coffee with him? Does he want advice, or a favor? It's an invisible question-you don't know what he wants, you do know it probably won't take just a minute, and you don't know how to respond. Your honest answer is probably, "For what?" But you don't feel comfortable being so blunt-and you feel cornered.

If you get this a lot, handle it by reminding the person to be visible with "Why are you asking?" or "Tell me more." This way, rather than uncomfortably saying, "Yes" without having any idea of what's coming, you're being direct in your communication and the final result will be better for both of you.

Another example of invisible communication is "What are you doing Friday night?" You wonder, Is she just curious? Does she want to invite me somewhere? Or maybe she wants me to babysit? What if she simply said, "I have an extra ticket for the concert on Friday night-would you like to come with me?" How easy is that to answer?

We all speak invisibly at times. When you catch yourself doing it, remind yourself to finish the sentence: "Do you have a minute to discuss ... ?" "What are you doing Friday night? I have concert tickets and I'm hoping you can join me." When your intent is clear, people don't feel as if they're being manipulated or trapped-and they feel comfortable responding to you.

Visible communication strengthens relationships
Visible communication makes your purpose clear-invisible communication, as in the examples above, masks your purpose. When your intent is clear, people don't feel as if they're being tricked or manipulated. They feel safe and respected. And they feel comfortable responding to you. They'll give your direct communication a direct answer. Communication is flowing and easy. Visible communication helps build stronger relationships. Make your intent visible, make your purpose clear, and strengthen your relationships.

Qualities That Parents Can Help Reinforce in Their Children
Confidence, curiosity, hope... just words? What about safety, trust, wonder? More words. But what important words they are when they're part of us... or, more important still, when they're part of our children

What if all children had all these qualities living inside of them? Let's have a look at how defining these and other similar qualities can be - and what a difference it makes when they are an integral part of our children.

Child with positive attitude: open to ideas, ready, willing
Child with negative attitude: uncreative, negative, lonely

Attitude: a manner of acting, feeling or thinking that reflects one's disposition, opinion, etc.

Child with positive attitude: open to ideas, ready, willing
Child with negative attitude: uncreative, negative, lonely

Confidence: a feeling of assurance, especially of self-assurance; belief in one's own abilities

Child with confidence: accomplishes great things, stands out in a crowd
Child without confidence: meek, afraid to try

Child with curiosity: learns something new, discovers answers
Child without curiosity: does not search for understanding, does not seek to learn

Child with determination: sense of purpose, drive to accomplish
Child without determination: weak, lack of drive, hopeless

Hope: a wish or desire accompanied by confident expectation of its fulfillment

Child with hope: eyes wide open, ready for good to happen, dreams
Child without hope: downhearted, discouraged

Child who feels safe: open to trying anything, asking anything, free to be himself
Child who does not feel safe: self-conscious, embarrassed, closed off

Trust: firm reliance on the integrity, ability, or character of a person or thing

Child who has trust: develops relationships, able to move forward in life
Child who does not have trust: shuts out the world, afraid to get hurt, vulnerable

Wonder: the emotion aroused by something awe-inspiring, astounding, or marvelous

Child with wonder: desire to learn and discover, excited about life
Child without wonder: lack of ambition, limited interest in learning

Why Having the Right Attitude in School Can Make All the Difference
We ask students at SuperCamp and in our Quantum Learning for Students programs if they've ever tried something new and were convinced they wouldn't be able to do it right? Then we ask them if they've ever been challenged, yet knew that somehow they were going to be successful, and the challenge was fun?

Henry Ford once said 'whether you believe you can or whether you believe you can't, either way you're right.' Henry Ford understood the value of having the right attitude. Attitude can be the deciding factor between failure and success, between boredom and fun, between staying in one place and moving forward.

Attitude comes into play at school, too. A student may enter some classes excited to be there, and enjoying the teacher and the subject. Maybe he or she enters other classes 'knowing' that the class will be boring, and guess what... the class is boring. Many students spend half their days at school wishing they were somewhere else, doing something else. How successful do you think they will be with that attitude?

So how does a student build a winning attitude? It's as easy as ABC - Attitude, Belief, and Curiosity. It's possible to transform an attitude of 'School is boring' to 'Learning is awesome!' We tell students to write a statement like that in a place where they will see it whenever they study. We tell them to go so far as to say it in their mind when they're in class. We encourage them to find a phrase that works for them, and write it in big colorful letters in their notebook!

How can a student bring curiosity to the classroom? In addition to looking for personal connections and fun parts of the class topic, one may find it valuable to ask 'why would I want to learn what the teacher is teaching'. The answer may be as simple as so I can pass my exams. Why would I want to pass my exams? Maybe I'll get more free time, maybe I'll get into the college I want to go to. Why would I want those things? So I can be more successful in life. With this kind of curiosity and by understanding what's in it for them, students will find they're learning with ease.

Tackling Teen Peer Pressure
As a teen you may already have encountered peer pressure... if you're approaching your teens, it's something you may face fairly soon. During the 27 years of conducting learning and life skills summer camp programs, the educators of SuperCamp have learned quite a lot about the problems that teens face. Peer pressure is something that teens find very hard to deal with so the SuperCamp team has come up with some suggestions.

Think about this scene: you're on your way to a concert with a group of friends and someone pulls out a bottle taken from Dad's liquor cabinet and starts passing it around. You don't want to drink, but everyone else seems to be doing it and you don't want to look like an outsider by refusing. What do you do?

Maybe you've been in a similar situation - one where friends are coaxing you to do something you know is not a good idea, like drinking, skipping school, or cheating on a test. This is not to put down your friends - they are the people who listen to you and are there for you when you need them. However, it's important to remember that if someone wants you to do something that just doesn't feel right - from something seemingly minor to some scheme that could land you in the principal's office, or grounded, or even worse - it's time to stand up for your beliefs and let the person know how you feel. How do you do it?

Step Out and Stand Up
Step out of your comfort zone and stand up for what you believe in. We all know this isn't easy. Many problems have occurred for many teens because no one wanted to stand up and speak out about how they felt. It takes courage.

There may be one person among your group of friends who dominates - the one who stirs others into action. That's fine. But when this person wants you to do something you're not comfortable with, you need to let him or her know. Chances are you're not the only one in your group who feels uncomfortable. Others may share your opinion, but are waiting for someone else to take the lead. They are looking for a way out, but are afraid to speak their minds. Once you speak up, they will quickly take your side and share their concerns.

So how do you "just say no"? State your position firmly, but avoid putting the person suggesting the activity on the spot. Calmly and simply stating "I don't want to drink" is better than "No, thanks, dude. I don't want to end up like you." Always avoid personal attack - make the activity the issue, not the person. Sometimes a little humor can lighten the situation - half jokingly saying something about the consequences can get your point across and give others an easy opportunity to agree and a reason to "back out."

When That Doesn't Work
Ideally, you should be able to stand up for what you believe in, but if you're having trouble saying "no" to your friends here are two alternative strategies:

Ignore it. When someone comes up with some crazy plan you don't want to be part of, pretend you never heard it. Turn up the radio or pretend to be concentrating on your homework or what someone else is saying. Your friend may take the hint and the whole idea may be dropped.

Blame your parents. This is one time when your parents' rules come in handy. Say something like, "No way! If my parents found out, I'd be grounded for the whole summer! I'm not risking it."

Whatever strategy you choose, you can feel proud of yourself knowing you have the ability to say no - you did not cave in to peer pressure. Going against the crowd isn't easy - it takes courage and self-respect. But the more you do it, the more your courage and self-respect will grow. And respect for you will also grow among those who agreed with you and declined to participate in the activity. In fact, they may thank you for saying what they were feeling!

This Is It! - Live In the Now

Using a Student's Strengths for Better Studying