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Whether we're talking about politics or the animal kingdom, learning something new can require a fair amount of time and effort. Luckily, we don't always have to read lengthy scientific papers. Some people do it for us. And not only that — they narrow down everything to a few bullet points and illustrate them to help our minds remember.

And if you want a place that stores these effective tools, look no further than the subreddit r/CoolGuides. As the name suggests, it collects picture-based reference guides for pretty much anything and everything.

"If it seems like something someone might print, physically post, and reference then it is a good link for this sub," its moderators write in its 'About' section.

Continue scrolling to check out some recent posts that garnered a lot of attention within this online community and if you find yourself hooked, fire up Bored Panda's earlier publication on it too.

#1

Opossums Are Our Friends

Opossums Are Our Friends

Super_Tmart Report

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Sabse
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We need them. Now! 😄 We do not have these cute pest controllers.

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#2

How To Treat People With Dementia

How To Treat People With Dementia

Sabyn123 Report

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Caro Caro
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This should be higher up. We all have or will be in contact with someone with alzheimers.

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Dana Jandhyala, who has had a long career as an educator where she has taught in different schools and institutes, believes that visuals hold more appeal than plain text to curious and intuitive minds.

"Till date, several studies have been conducted which prove the power of visual aids in eLearning," she wrote. "And there are some interesting results drawn from them. Such as, learners respond to visual information faster as compared to text-only materials. Also, visuals help improve learning tremendously and on multiple levels. Hence, around 65% of the population comprises visual learners."

#3

This Library Hung A Dewey Decimal Reference Sign For “Everything You Want To Know, But Don’t Really Want To Ask”

This Library Hung A Dewey Decimal Reference Sign For “Everything You Want To Know, But Don’t Really Want To Ask”

aheadimply Report

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Yvonne Dauwalder Balsiger
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That really made my day, just love this - especially the sentence at the bottom. 🙏

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#4

Simple Trick For Calculating Percentage

Simple Trick For Calculating Percentage

Alexray1 Report

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Olivia Lisbon
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had this realization on my own. I’m crap at maths, it was the best feeling!

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Jandhyala said there are several advantages of visual aids:

They help store information longer. "Images are the simplest and the most effective way to make sure that the information gets stored as long-term memory. As per Dr. Lynell Burmark, an education consultant, our short term memory processes words and can only retain about seven bits of information. Whereas, images are directly processed by our long-term memory, where they get indelibly etched."

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They make communication quicker and simpler. "Information listed in bullets is no doubt simpler to process. But, that same information in the form of an image or a video is processed even more quickly."

As per the Visual Teaching Alliance:

  • Of all the information transmitted to the brain, 90% is visual;
  • As opposed to text, visuals are processed 60,000x faster;
  • Humans are capable of getting the sense of a visual scene in less than 1/10th of a second;
  • 40% of nerve fibers are linked to the retina;
  • Our brain can see images that last for only 13 milliseconds;
  • The human eye can register 36,000 visual messages every hour;
  • Hence, the eLearning programs which incorporate suitable visuals gain a higher preference over.
#6

The 3/3/3 Rule

The 3/3/3 Rule

regian24 Report

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Monty Is Fiennes
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And if there has been abuse of any kind it may much longer to complete phase 3...

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#7

It's Either This, Or Pupper Mittens. Bernie Votes Mittens

It's Either This, Or Pupper Mittens. Bernie Votes Mittens

LA_Grip Report

Visuals aid better comprehension. "They help learners grasp concepts easily by stimulating imagination and affecting their cognitive capabilities. Besides, the visual language is also known to have the potential to stretch 'human bandwidth' – which comprises absorbing, comprehending and analyzing new information."

Visuals act as stimulators for emotions. "Emotions and visual information are processed in the same part of the human brain. Visual stimuli and emotional response are linked in a simple way and these two together generate what we call memories. Hence, powerful images and visual metaphors create strong impressions and lasting memories in learners."

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They drive motivation. "Most of the students struggle with some of their subjects because they find them uninteresting and hence lack the motivation to put in the required efforts. Visuals are the best bet in such scenarios. Captivating images, engaging videos, interesting infographics, etc. help learners fight the boredom and motivate them to do better."

So it very well might be that the things you'll learn from these guides will stay with you. At least for a little while.

#8

Useful Info

Useful Info

_Jack_Of_All_Spades Report

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Chich
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Took a 2yr tech course and ended up making more than friends who got a degree..

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#10

How To Retain Employees. A Lot Of Companies Need This Guide

How To Retain Employees. A Lot Of Companies Need This Guide

Working_Class_Pride Report

#11

Different Street Light Designs To Minimize Light Pollution

Different Street Light Designs To Minimize Light Pollution

Narendra_17 Report

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NsG
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes! Direct the light to where it's needed. This doesn't just impede views of the night sky - poorly thought out infrastructure can put streetlights directly outside bedroom windows and blackout blinds can be expensive.

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~hUmMuS vIbEs~
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Omg yes, light pollution needs to be more widely taught about in schools.

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ejfs
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And if the lights are red LED then it's even better. Especially for wildlife.

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albernistuff 4sale
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, living an area with lots of fog/rain/snow I much prefer the old sodium lights over the newer white/blue LED's that are being "upgraded" Deep amber is best in these conditions

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Mazer
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

HA!! Our subdivision was built without any street lights going in. Not one. The people of the area demanded to be able to see the night sky. They also made the developers put utility lines underground. It is a wonderful place to be and NO, there has not been any uptick in crimes

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Don't Look
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Unfortunately, the type of lamp at the right is usually much more expensive compared to the left. The bulb might be much cheaper but exchanging the old lamps out is far too costly for most neighborhoods.

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Eucritta
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This. I'd dearly love for the streetlights in my neighborhood to be both directed & dimmed, but the city has deferred the work for lack of funds.

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Robert Robi Z
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In my town we have a hybrid between number three and number four: light so weak that it hardly reaches the ground and it is pointed downwards. So it is so dark in the street that you cannot see where you are going, only standing directly under the lamp shows you about two meters of the drive lane. The lamps are about 50 meters apart. Pedestrians have no chance.

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Eliyahu Rooff
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Correctly directed lights also require lower wattage lamps and cost less to run.

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Miguel Denyer
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

...bearing in mind that street lights are there for a reason... some people are @$$holes and like to victimize others... so street lights are meant to light up the entire area and not just the ground directly underneath... using lights that are "better for the environment" need to be spaced closer together in order to adequately perform their intended purpose - which inevitably means that more of them are needed, using more electricity and therefore becoming even worse for the environment... long story short... if there were no idiot criminals out there, we wouldn't need so many street lights.

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Monika Lachova
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

unfortunately, we have those ball shaped lights all around our neigborhood, one heading directly to one of our rooms. Some folks painted/sprayed/taped black the half that is heading to windows...

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Jace
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It’s not just street lights. It’s also the shittastic amount of wasted electricity and light pollution on business buildings with huge lights. Signage, huge, 120°-projecting lights, parking lot lights, interior lights on after hours...

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Hannah Edwards
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Our new street lights are so feeble they’re barely worth the bother, I think back to the sickly orange barf lights with nostalgia now.

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Sandra Pinters
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

#7 - everyone is out to get you every single second of every single day!! So not put one thing on your car or your kids will 100% get kidnapped #10 - have lights that don’t light up the whole sidewalk. You’ll be perfectly safe walking around and pitch darkness.

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Nooberton
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why is seeing the night sky so important to a lot of people. There’s nothing bad about light pollution, unlike actual pollution. Than again, it can be quite annoying sometimes. But still.

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#13

Tips For Police Encounters

Tips For Police Encounters

Gullible-Pear9565 Report

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Jodie Kavanagh
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Where's the educational flier for the police? 1. Do not violate a person's civil rights. 2. ....

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#14

A Guide To Cat Body Language

A Guide To Cat Body Language

notlikelyevil Report

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Mike Crow
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Do not believe the so called “trusting” one, we all know it’s a trap.

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#15

Why You Shouldn’t Give Up When Starting Something New

Why You Shouldn’t Give Up When Starting Something New

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Jerry Mathers
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This what millions of antivaxers are experiencing right now. They feel informed because they did internet research. Or because they are a nurse. Or because they know someone who backs up their opinion. They don't even know how much they don't know. To me, the scariest part of being in the US right now is how willing people are to take their opinion as a fact and use groupthink as a form of confirmation. Thousands of people who studied the subject for 8 years and currently work in the field are saying one thing while the other side has Timmy, the YouTube video maker talking to a guy that used to work at company and got fired is saying another. And somehow the thought process is the video is right. That is scary

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#16

Interesting Visual About Genetic Similarities

Interesting Visual About Genetic Similarities

Medium-Comparison-34 Report

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Sue Hazlewood
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, let's face it, there are many times we feel like mushrooms. Kept in the dark and fed s**t!

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#17

Know Your Wetlands. Posted To A Wildlife Management Facebook Group Probably Posted Somewhere Else Before But Not Here

Know Your Wetlands. Posted To A Wildlife Management Facebook Group Probably Posted Somewhere Else Before But Not Here

FioDC Report

#18

Tally Marks Are Different Around The World

Tally Marks Are Different Around The World

ineptnoob Report

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Hermione
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love this. Had only ever done the left and never thought there were alternatives.

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#19

How Taxes Work

How Taxes Work

regian24 Report

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ejfs
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That is actually really useful. Although I assume the brackets differ between countries.

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#21

Happiness Chemicals In The Brain And How To Activate Them

Happiness Chemicals In The Brain And How To Activate Them

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#22

I Spent Forever Looking For A "Grid Pattern" Shirt Before I Found This

I Spent Forever Looking For A "Grid Pattern" Shirt Before I Found This

i-am-a-potatoo Report

#23

Plant Watering Guide

Plant Watering Guide

teebiv Report

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ZAPanda
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not true. It depends on the type of plant. If it's a deciduous plant, you risk drowning it with overwater / waterlogging. Similarly if it is a succulent. You need to look at the leaf type to determine how much water to provide. Assuming a pot plant: waxy leaves, thicker than paper: 1 cup every three days papery thin leaves, dry/papery surface: ½ cup every two days or ¼ cup every day thick fleshy leaves: ½ cup once a week etc.

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#26

Great One If You're Starting To Learn Music Notation

Great One If You're Starting To Learn Music Notation

Chedapayyan Report

#27

Saying "I Ain't Doing That For Free" Differently

Saying "I Ain't Doing That For Free" Differently

beybabooba Report

#28

Different Types Of Sleeves

Different Types Of Sleeves

Gitmurr Report

#31

Here’s For Understanding What Your Car’s Trying To Tell You

Here’s For Understanding What Your Car’s Trying To Tell You

TitanicsAnInsideJob Report

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Terilee Bruyere
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My son once asked me what the jellyfish meant. High beams, he was talking about my high beams XD (he was 6 at the time).

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#36

Know Your Window Types!

Know Your Window Types!

PuzzleMule Report

#37

The Amount Of Snow It Takes To Cancel School By County

The Amount Of Snow It Takes To Cancel School By County

reddit.com Report

#38

How To Choose Your Colour Palette

How To Choose Your Colour Palette

PigsFlyOnMars Report

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ejfs
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Or....simply wear what you enjoy wearing and f*** anyone else's opinion.

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#39

Map Of The Us States That Pays More Tax Than What They Receive From The Government, Courtesy Of Cgp Grey

Map Of The Us States That Pays More Tax Than What They Receive From The Government, Courtesy Of Cgp Grey

glizzyMaster108 Report

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Limey Cheesehead
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Isn't it amazing that the states that take more tax tend to the ones with the most conservative voters...except Texas & Florida, which was a pleasant surprise.

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#40

Estimated Caffeine By Type Of Drink!

Estimated Caffeine By Type Of Drink!

stockyman Report

Note: this post originally had 87 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.