Most People Learn Ineffectively. How To Study Anything Smarter In 4 Steps
A guide to become a super learner using science
This is hard and uncomfortable to read. “I learn as I want to learn!“ I thought when I first read someone saying this. But then I was struggling and stressing over every exam.
It was not my fault. Nobody taught me how to learn effectively.
As a teaching assistant and mentor, I’ve met many students who struggled and stressed a lot when studying. And this is why I’m trying to help.
I want to convince you that anyone can ace exams or learn new skills with the right strategies.
Here’s a 4-step to learn anything effectively and stress-free.
Step 1. Meta-Learning
Meta-learning is about knowing how to learn something.
When learning or studying something new, the first question you should ask is “How is knowledge structured?“. Study this in detail. It is the most important step in your learning journey.
Universities already have the answer to this in their programs.
If you are a self-taught learner, you can check the MIT Open Course Ware and find the program for your topic. Study what you need to read/know weekly and add it to your calendar.
Make your schedule/calendar your holy grail.
Step 2. Study Using Science
Once you have your resources, study them effectively.
In my previous posts, you learned that rereading and highlighting are the worst study strategies. However, they are still the holy grail of techniques for many students.
These 2 methods have :
They fool you into believing you learned something when you didn’t.
They don’t show you your weakest points.
So instead, use retrieval and spaced practice.
Science found they are way more effective (Weinstein et al., 2018). The reason is that they help link information from your short-term memory to your long-term memory by recalling what you have learned so far.
Here is how you can use retrieval when learning or studying:
Tip 1: free-recall
Close your book.
Recall what you learned so far (without looking at your book).
Get feedback from the right answer.
See what you know and don’t know.
Repeat.
Tip 2: flashcards
Create flashcards from your material.
Answer the questions honestly, without looking at the correct answers.
Test yourself and get feedback.
See what you know and don’t know.
Repeat.
Step 3. Focus
Procrastination and mind wandering are student’s biggest enemies.
Although these behaviors are complex, one technique that helped me defeat them was the Pomodoro technique. How it works is simple:
Set a timer to focus on learning for 25 minutes.
Take a break of 5 minutes.
Repeat the process 3 times.
The reason why this is so effective is in how I think about it.
Pomodoro alone does not help with procrastination. However, I use it to break down study tasks into smaller, achievable goals (25-minute study sessions).
There are many apps to set your Pomodoros. I use Focus Keeper.
Step 4. Use A Second Brain
Our brain is a forgetting machine.
No matter how hard you try to remember all the information, you will forget. To fix this, a second brain is an extended version of your real one that helps in organizing and retrieving information faster and easier.
My favorite software for this is Obsidian.
Its power relies on how to link information using tags and backlinks and its plugins. Also, you are in full control to personalize your vault as you wish, as it is open-source.
My second brain is one of the main reasons why I became a successful student :)
Here are 5 simple second-brain techniques:
Calendar: study schedule, meetings, etc.
Siri/Google Reminders: to send a message, do a task, etc.
Sticky Notes: fleeting notes, important information, etc.
A Timer: when cooking, studying, etc.
Apple Notes/Notepad/Notion/Obsidian: to manage all the information you don’t want to forget.
The idea of these 5 techniques is to make your brain’s life easier by not trying to remember everything.
Some Questions For You
Have you ever heard about ineffective and effective learning?
What is the hardest part when learning or studying something new?
What would you like to improve to become a super-learner?
I hope this post gives you some ideas to face new study tasks :)
Until the next time,
Axel
📚 Reference:
Weinstein, Y., Madan, C. R., & Sumeracki, M. A. (2018). Teaching the science of learning. Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications, 3(1), 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41235-017-0087-y