Ed Cooke (author)
Encyclopedia
Edward "Ed" Cooke is a British
writer and author of Remember, Remember: Learn the Stuff You Thought You Never Could. He is also a Grand Master of Memory
and the co-founder of Memrise
, a free online educational platform that uses memory techniques to optimise learning. He grew up in Oxfordshire
.
and philosophy
from Oxford University in 2004 and completing a Master's degree in Cognitive Science at Paris Descartes University under the supervision of J. Kevin O'Regan
in 2005, he started a career researching, writing about, and teaching memory techniques.
At 23, he became a Grand Master of Memory
. Cooke uses memory techniques popularized by the likes of Tony Buzan
and Dominic O'Brien
, which involves turning raw data - packs of cards, series of numbers, US Presidents - into colourful imagery. His work has found popular application in education. To learn the electromagnetic spectrum, for instance, Cooke proposes transforming each stage (for example, the microwave
) into an image (a microwave in the kitchen). He also features prominently in Joshua Foer
's Moonwalking with Einstein
, having acted as memory coach to Foer, who went on to become U.S. Memory Champion.
He is co-founder of Memrise
, an online educational platform that uses memory techniques to optimise learning.
Cooke's latest writings on memory, education and philosophy can be found on his blog and on Twitter.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
writer and author of Remember, Remember: Learn the Stuff You Thought You Never Could. He is also a Grand Master of Memory
Grand Master of Memory
First awarded in 1995, the title Grand Master of Memory is awarded to people who are able to successfully negotiate the following three memory feats:*Memorise 1,000 random digits in an hour*Memorise the order of 10 decks of cards in an hour...
and the co-founder of Memrise
Memrise
Memrise is an online learning tool that uses flashcards augmented with mnemonics—partly gathered through crowdsourcing—and the spacing effect to boost the speed and ease of learning....
, a free online educational platform that uses memory techniques to optimise learning. He grew up in Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
.
Career
After graduating with a first class degree in psychologyPsychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
and philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
from Oxford University in 2004 and completing a Master's degree in Cognitive Science at Paris Descartes University under the supervision of J. Kevin O'Regan
J. Kevin O'Regan
John Kevin O'Regan is director of the "Laboratoire de Psychologie de la Perception" at the Université René Descartes, Paris 5 . He was the last director of the "Laboratoire de Psychologie Expérimentale" before its dissolution in 2006.After studying theoretical physics at Sussex and Cambridge...
in 2005, he started a career researching, writing about, and teaching memory techniques.
At 23, he became a Grand Master of Memory
Grand Master of Memory
First awarded in 1995, the title Grand Master of Memory is awarded to people who are able to successfully negotiate the following three memory feats:*Memorise 1,000 random digits in an hour*Memorise the order of 10 decks of cards in an hour...
. Cooke uses memory techniques popularized by the likes of Tony Buzan
Tony Buzan
Anthony "Tony" Peter Buzan is an author and educational consultant. He is a proponent of the techniques of Mind Mapping and mental literacy. He claims to have worked with "corporate entities and businesses all over the world; academics; Olympic athletes; children of all ages; governments; and...
and Dominic O'Brien
Dominic O'Brien
Dominic O'Brien is a British mnemonist and an author of memory related books. He is the eight time world memory champion and works as a trainer for Peak Performance Training....
, which involves turning raw data - packs of cards, series of numbers, US Presidents - into colourful imagery. His work has found popular application in education. To learn the electromagnetic spectrum, for instance, Cooke proposes transforming each stage (for example, the microwave
Microwave
Microwaves, a subset of radio waves, have wavelengths ranging from as long as one meter to as short as one millimeter, or equivalently, with frequencies between 300 MHz and 300 GHz. This broad definition includes both UHF and EHF , and various sources use different boundaries...
) into an image (a microwave in the kitchen). He also features prominently in Joshua Foer
Joshua Foer
Joshua Foer is a freelance journalist living in New Haven, Connecticut, USA, with a primary focus on science. He was the 2006 U.S.A...
's Moonwalking with Einstein
Moonwalking with Einstein
Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything is a nonfiction book by Joshua Foer, first published in 2011. Moonwalking with Einstein debuted at no...
, having acted as memory coach to Foer, who went on to become U.S. Memory Champion.
He is co-founder of Memrise
Memrise
Memrise is an online learning tool that uses flashcards augmented with mnemonics—partly gathered through crowdsourcing—and the spacing effect to boost the speed and ease of learning....
, an online educational platform that uses memory techniques to optimise learning.
Cooke's latest writings on memory, education and philosophy can be found on his blog and on Twitter.
Achievements in Memory Sports Contests
- 2008–10th at the World Memory ChampionshipsWorld Memory ChampionshipsThe World Memory Championships is an organized competition of mental sports in which competitors memorize as much information as possible within a given period of time. The Championship has taken place annually since 1991 and has been staged by various organisations...
- 2007–7th at the World Memory ChampionshipsWorld Memory ChampionshipsThe World Memory Championships is an organized competition of mental sports in which competitors memorize as much information as possible within a given period of time. The Championship has taken place annually since 1991 and has been staged by various organisations...
- 2007–Champion at the Cambridge Memory Championship
- 2006–8th at the World Memory ChampionshipsWorld Memory ChampionshipsThe World Memory Championships is an organized competition of mental sports in which competitors memorize as much information as possible within a given period of time. The Championship has taken place annually since 1991 and has been staged by various organisations...
- 2005–11th at the World Memory ChampionshipsWorld Memory ChampionshipsThe World Memory Championships is an organized competition of mental sports in which competitors memorize as much information as possible within a given period of time. The Championship has taken place annually since 1991 and has been staged by various organisations...
- 2004–11th at the World Memory ChampionshipsWorld Memory ChampionshipsThe World Memory Championships is an organized competition of mental sports in which competitors memorize as much information as possible within a given period of time. The Championship has taken place annually since 1991 and has been staged by various organisations...
- 2004–3rd at the Austrian Open Memory Championship
- 2003–10th at the World Memory ChampionshipsWorld Memory ChampionshipsThe World Memory Championships is an organized competition of mental sports in which competitors memorize as much information as possible within a given period of time. The Championship has taken place annually since 1991 and has been staged by various organisations...