By Jon Ryskamp
Imagine a class that teaches students to read the entire Book of Mormon in less than two hours -- and that''s only in the first three hours of instruction.
Instructional Psychology and Technology 515R requires students to read one full book per week. Its curriculum includes the most complex subjects in the fields of philosophy, evolution, physics and religion.
'It is the class that had the most impact on me,' said Zanny Miller, a senior from Bountiful. 'I''ve gained more from this class than any other I''ve ever taken.'
The class features a smorgasbord of distinguished BYU professors and academic professionals. Each week different experts lecture on advanced topics from their disciplines.
'It gives the most advanced theory ground-breaking information on the subjects,' Miller said. 'The goal is to . . . cross apply all the different subjects.'
Dillon Inouye, an associate professor in the Department of Instructional Psychology and Technology and the professor of the class, said the class is 'a sample of some of the best professors in the university teaching the most advanced topics in their field of interest.'
Inouye explained that during the first week of class, students learn to speed-read.
'With only three hours of instruction, we teach our students to read between 1,200 and 3,000 words per minute,' he said.
Speed-reading helps students to not only read faster, but to understand the texts better.
'Comprehension actually increases at higher speeds because the mind doesn''t get bored and wander,' Inouye said
The class works in a three-step process. First, every week students are required to use their newly gained skill to read a book by a professional in an academic field.
Second, they have an expert from the field come in and lecture on the subject.
Lastly, the class breaks into groups to further discuss the subject and to teach each other insights they have gained.
'This class first teaches students to be action learners . . . then it forces them to teach one another what they have learned, helping them to capture the material more completely,' Inouye said.
'The overall goal of the class is to teach effective learning and teaching skills with the knowledge of the latter days,' he said.
The class not only teaches the material, but also teaches students how to apply it to their own lives.
'The greatest achievement of the course is to give you a new perspective and open your eyes to what''s out there,' Miller said. 'I think it explores the mission of BYU; it embodies it, and it fulfills and applies all of what is.'