For fans, and those familiar with Sherlock Holmes one thing everyone is blown by is not the man himself, but his articulated, science of deduction and super sound logic. The human brain is a wonderful space, and as Sherlock says, we can build a mind palace – store pockets of data, retrieve at will, and connect them to make smart observations.

For fans, no matter who renders the role of Holmes, the way he thinks is more fascinating than solving the actual crime itself. Maria Konnikova’s book Mastermind – How to think like Sherlock Holmes is a detailed take on how to develop methods and train your mind to think like Holmes.

While we won’t get into the details of the book itself, we love anything that has a scientific and logical connection. So, if it can be paired with Comprehensive learning programs for school students, and help them learn better, why not? We will concentrate on the immaculate memory Sherlock Holmes has, and how with some hacks, you too can recall like Sherlock.

Dual-process model of thinking

Psychology says there are two processes or ways in which your brain thinks – associative and true reasoning.

Don’t cram, understand – is a cliché isn’t it? Of course, you do have to understand subjects and complex topics. But you will understand and recall even better when you associate it with something else. Like a water, molecule looks like a mickey mouse head. This association will help you recall it instantly.

Mind Palace or Brain attic?

Who needs either when you can instantly look at your phone and google things, right?

Probably not. And we aren’t talking from an exclusive examination point of view where er., phones are not allowed. So, the mind palace or brain attic is a metaphor for organizing all the content and information you consume into neat like packets and storing them by building things brick by brick, layer by layer. And retrieving them when necessary. It means that the brain is not a machine to memorize and cram things up, but when stored right, can be found easily. This is the central idea behind the “method of loci”.

You will understand physics if you relate it to maths, biology when you correlate it with chemistry, and so on.

Uni-tasking vs multi-tasking

When someone asks you, What are your strengths – do you begin or end with multitasking? You might want to take a break. Multitasking wears your brain, and could also mean you aren’t giving your 100% to the job on hand which is studying in this case. You can start with the easiest task, or the most pleasurable one, and then work up your way to get onto the more difficult or complex ones that need attention.

Imagination and creativity

Imagination and creativity are not just nice attributes to have because they help you relax or are part of fun activities, but also because they actually aid in cognitive development. Ever wondered why Sherlock was a genius violinist, and how it helped him “think”?

Creativity also means you look at innovative problem-solving techniques, which makes you more productive. Did you know surgeons knit, do needlepoint or crochet to improve dexterity? Or that origami was used by NASA in their space crafts?

Algorithmic thought process

Studies show that children aged between 5-17 naturally think in algorithmic patterns, and work with abstraction. They can also extend the application of the same to problem-solving when nudged in the right direction. Algorithmic thinking is a process that shows how things evolve step by step in a flow with continuity, and there is no magic involved. Introducing game-based coding to early learners or building applications which seem to be the trends now amongst younger children is a fine example of even young children can train to think in algorithmic patterns.

Set boundaries and disconnect

This is a great idea to implement. It aids positive habit-forming and a sense of reflection without getting too caught up with FOMO. Draw boundaries for yourself and your social group, and stick to them. You can also maintain a chart to track the progress of this resolution and see if you can manage a streak. It could be as simple as learning a new language by spending 15 mins a day on Duolingo or turning off all devices once a week at set hours during the day.  Stop using social media during that time, enjoy a digital detox.

Experts from the best online education platform for students agree that developing thinking that resonates with core ideas of problem-solving, and creativity is the essence of STEM. So, put on your reverse hats, and think like Sherlock!