Assocy - The Smart Notebook

This app shows different strategies to think and learn new topics. The tools are essentially speed-learning hacks. You can learn anything with this app. We show you how to become more creative. Learn what is essential and be able to think critically. We believe that learning is about understanding and not learning things by heart like brain zombies. We want you to become brain users who consciously choose how they think and learn.

Why Assocy?

We chose the name to make a connection to associate thinking. This is your brain's preferred working mode. There is no isolated information. If I ask you to not think of a pink elephant. Please do not think of a pink elephant! Did you do it? Of course not. The moment the words ‘ pink elephant’ entered your mind, all related topics become active. The task I ask you for is impossible to accomplish. These associations are part of our thinking process. But instead of fighting your brain, you could choose to use associated thinking to your advantage. To learn more effectively and enjoy it.

Part one of our toolkit

The strategy we propose is very efficient. It seems too easy to work. But it has been successfully tested in German schools for 20 years. You can try it if you want. All you need is 20 minutes per day for 1 month. Chose a topic you want to improve on. Then write a list of all the things you know about that topic. The more lists you write the easier it gets to access this part of your knowledge. After a month the topic will be active in your mind. We keep track of your progress so you can see your success. We also included training for learning what is essential.

Part two - the fun games can begin

Writing lists is by itself useful, but you can play with them too. Since we keep them organized for you, you can easily reuse them.

Categories games

The goal: gain a deeper understanding, structure your thoughts, and get an overview.

You might have the feeling new information our overwhelming and they are flying around in your mind like a stock of bees. This means your mind is trying to find a context for the new information. This is a bit like looking for a drawer, where the information belongs, and you can later find it again. We can help this understanding process by asking the right questions. You use your list and try to categorize them. Find the right categories that fit all the items on your list. You can repeat the game and see how your perspective of the topic can change.

Mind-maps and infographics

The goal: visualize a topic, structure, organize material

If you are a visual learner or like to move when learning this one might be perfect for you.

We provide a canvas on which you can draw with your finger or an Apple pencil. You can also scroll through your lists and drag and drop items on the canvas. You can move the items around and connect them by drawing on the canvas.

Since you wrote the lists once, you can reuse the items as often as you want.

Creative Thinking and Leonardo da Vinci

The goal: think outside the box, and generate ideas.

Leonardo da Vinci is known as a great thinker with an extraordinary ability to look at the world from an unusual perspective. This did not appear out of thin air. He developed strategies to think more creatively.

If he had a subject or problem to study, he would try to make connections to seemingly unconnected things.

He found that the human mind will always find a connection between two objects, no matter how remote they are from each other.

These connections can be extremely interesting, give new insight or offer a creative solution. The method of LULL also helps to connect the unconnected. By combining lists from different topics, we have a lot of possible connections. Not every connection is good, but if you try enough you will eventually find great ones.