Become Clever by Learning how to Learn

Two types of Memory

Working memory

Long term memory

There are 4 slots in our working memory

Unless we keep repeating, things will be forgotten

It is like a big warehouse

Practice and repeat consistently

It is like a not so good blackboard

Spaced repetition is recommended

Sleeping well helps to get rid of toxins, thus improves learning

Exercising helps improving memory and the ability to learn

Chunks

How is it formed?

Basic steps to form a chunk

There is an initial pattern, a small chunk of what you are learning

  1. Focus without distractions in what you want to learn
  1. Understand the main idea of the chunk; understanding is like a glue that helps thoughts to stick together
  1. Gain context; after understanding you will know when to use that chunk

Learning

It can happen in two ways

Bottom up: practice and repetition help to build and strengthen each chunk to have easy access of it when necessary

Top down: seeing the big picture allows you to see what you are learning and where does it fit

Recall

After reading a text, step back from it and try to remember what you just read

Try to remember key ideas

Highlighting texts: this gives the false idea that you have memorized a concept, if you do it, keep it at minimum and just for key ideas

Side notes are better as you will write and synthesize a concept

Illusion of competence

Students tend to reread their notes or texts. By having a text in front of them gives them the illusion that the concepts are in their brains as well, but it is not true.

Einstellung

It is easy to have an incorrect approach to solve a problem, as the initial intuition on what is happening could be wrong

Deliverate practice

Balance your studies focusing deliberately on what seems more difficult

Interleaving

To master a new subject does not mean just learning the basic chunks, but learning how to select and use different chunks

Procrastination

When you procrastinate you feel good, temporarily at least

We procrastinate about things that makes us feel uncomfortable, so we make a shift to something more pleasant.

Habits

4 parts of habits

  1. The cue; this is what triggers the zombie mode
  1. The routine; this is the zombie mode, this is the habitual routine your brain is used to fall when it gets the cue
  1. The reward: Every habit gets developed because we get a reward
  1. The belief: habits have power because of your belief in them, to change a habit you must change your underlying belief

Overcoming procrastination

Process versus product

Process is the flow of time and the habits and actions associated to that flow of time

Product is the outcome

Don't focus on the product, instead focus your attention to build processes

Work on a daily planner

Commit to certain routines and tasks each day

Delay the rewards until you finish your task

Watch for procrastination cues

Trust in your system

Have a backup plan if you are still procrastinating

Eat your frogs first every day