Do you also get enough sleep? (What is your definition of “disciplined schedule”? For some people it might mean: going to bed early to get enough sleep. For other people it might mean: do not waste time doing unproductive things such as getting enough sleep. The latter would be harmful.)
the mental fog remains
What exactly do you mean by this? Is it difficult for you to focus on things? (Maybe you have ADHD, or maybe you are just too distracted thinking endlessly about how “stupid” you are.) Or is it difficult to understand some complex topics, because you haven’t learned the simple ones yet? (Start with the fundamentals, then. Read a textbook.)
And what about education? That’s supposed to be the great equalizer, right?
In theory, things like Khan Academy are equally accessible to everyone. (If you have a computer. If it is translated to your language. Assuming optimistically that you have enough free time without interruptions.) But the existing school system is very far from this ideal, for various reasons:
many schools suck, many teachers suck;
the education is designed for the (below-)average student, so the smart ones either succeed to get to one of the better schools or are ignored by the system;
there are many artificial obstacles in the system, for example you have to learn things at the specific time, and if you can’t (e.g. if you are too sick, or can’t focus on learning because your parents are divorcing or you are bullied at school) you won’t get a second chance;
generally, money can buy success, by getting you to a better school, by hiring tutors, by not needing a job after school hours, etc.
So it is also possible to conclude cynically that the purpose of education is to legitimize the existing inequality in the society—to convince the people at the bottom of the social ladder that they deserve it because they are inferior (“stupid”, “lazy”, etc.).
The current state of education seems more geared toward churning out graduates rather than fostering genuine intellectual growth, especially for those who don’t naturally excel.
Yep, as long as the most talented ones succeed to learn, there is not much motivation to make it easier for the less talented ones. (Sometimes there is even active opposition. Education system has two major tasks: to teach some people, and to separate the smart from the stupid. If it does too good job at the first task and accidentally teaches everyone, it means it has failed at the second task.)
As for intelligence being multifaceted, I understand the arguments. Yet, at its core, there seems to be a singular, critical capacity for understanding, learning, and problem-solving
Exactly, that’s what generally referred to as “IQ”.
Educational Software: These keep me engaged, but do they make me smarter?
Software cannot increase your IQ. But it can teach you things. Understanding things is one of the reasons why you want to be “smart”, right?
It suggests that the relationship between intelligence, as we measure it, and success is more complicated than we’d like to admit.
Success = innate abilities + work + privilege + luck.
IQ contributes a lot to the result, but is only one of multiple components.
I’m seeking substantial, proven methods to increase my cognitive capacity.
To increase IQ, there is no known way. If you are healthy, get enough sleep, and checked for potential problems (including allergies or anemia), you probably did what you could.
Accumulating knowledge takes time. You mentioned nothing about what you study and how you study. Perhaps you are making some mistake there. Maybe you are watching YouTube videos or reading popular science magazines, instead of reading textbooks and doing online courses.
Do you also get enough sleep? (What is your definition of “disciplined schedule”? For some people it might mean: going to bed early to get enough sleep. For other people it might mean: do not waste time doing unproductive things such as getting enough sleep. The latter would be harmful.)
What exactly do you mean by this? Is it difficult for you to focus on things? (Maybe you have ADHD, or maybe you are just too distracted thinking endlessly about how “stupid” you are.) Or is it difficult to understand some complex topics, because you haven’t learned the simple ones yet? (Start with the fundamentals, then. Read a textbook.)
In theory, things like Khan Academy are equally accessible to everyone. (If you have a computer. If it is translated to your language. Assuming optimistically that you have enough free time without interruptions.) But the existing school system is very far from this ideal, for various reasons:
many schools suck, many teachers suck;
the education is designed for the (below-)average student, so the smart ones either succeed to get to one of the better schools or are ignored by the system;
there are many artificial obstacles in the system, for example you have to learn things at the specific time, and if you can’t (e.g. if you are too sick, or can’t focus on learning because your parents are divorcing or you are bullied at school) you won’t get a second chance;
generally, money can buy success, by getting you to a better school, by hiring tutors, by not needing a job after school hours, etc.
So it is also possible to conclude cynically that the purpose of education is to legitimize the existing inequality in the society—to convince the people at the bottom of the social ladder that they deserve it because they are inferior (“stupid”, “lazy”, etc.).
Yep, as long as the most talented ones succeed to learn, there is not much motivation to make it easier for the less talented ones. (Sometimes there is even active opposition. Education system has two major tasks: to teach some people, and to separate the smart from the stupid. If it does too good job at the first task and accidentally teaches everyone, it means it has failed at the second task.)
Exactly, that’s what generally referred to as “IQ”.
Software cannot increase your IQ. But it can teach you things. Understanding things is one of the reasons why you want to be “smart”, right?
Success = innate abilities + work + privilege + luck.
IQ contributes a lot to the result, but is only one of multiple components.
To increase IQ, there is no known way. If you are healthy, get enough sleep, and checked for potential problems (including allergies or anemia), you probably did what you could.
Accumulating knowledge takes time. You mentioned nothing about what you study and how you study. Perhaps you are making some mistake there. Maybe you are watching YouTube videos or reading popular science magazines, instead of reading textbooks and doing online courses.