Key takeaways in one sentence: This section dives into various techniques by which you can choose and incorporate into your own learning strategies (active recall and spaced repetition are very important in my case).

  • 1. Pomodoro Technique

    • Do a task with several chunks and intervals, such as taking 25 mins in focus mode then 5 mins break repeatedly (a method for time-blocking and chucking).
    • An efficient method to go back and forth between focus and diffuse modes to optimise how our brains work.
    • Help against procrastination.
    • Better start off the most disliked/hardest task first on the working day when your energy is in full.

  • 2. Chunk The Subject

    • For learning a subject: break down a subject and learn it in a chunk-based way.
    • For problem-solving: like the algorithm divide and conquer, break complex problems into several sub-problems that are simpler to solve.
    • How to chunk: draw a mind-map or roadmap that breaks what you need to learn or solve into chunks. If you still find these chunks difficult to start with, try to continue the previous step.

  • 3. Spaced Repetition Revisited

    • Over-learning/cramming on one day is very bad for learning purposes because of forgetting curve.
      • On the first day after what we have learned, the forgetting curve drops the fastest. As such, it is better to learn a topic or a chunk once and then actively recall it in a spaced period to interrupt the forgetting curve.
    • By actively recalling information in spaced repetition, the spacing effect will train our brain to retrieve information and strength the neurone connections to putting what we learn and actively recall into our long term memory.
    • Methods:
      • Create a diagram or mind maps for the main concepts of what we have learned to stimulate the connections of these concepts in our brain.
      • Use a spreadsheet to write down all the chunks of a subject and mark down the dates of actively recalling each chunk in a spaced period. Meanwhile, use different colour to indicate how well we can recall it on each date.
      • Use apps that take advantage of spaced repetition algorithm like Anki (as a active recall tool) for space repetition.

  • 4. Deliberate Practice Revisited

    • Avoid easy tasks or things like what I already know. Take on challenges and learn what I do not know.
    • When is my focus time? - Find out your efficient focus time (eg. use the Pomodoro technique).
    • Have i done this before? What is + 1? - Push ourself to the edge of our ability.
    • Will I get immediate feedback? - See what we can improve.
    • Track the deliberate practice by recoding each time’s performance.

  • 5. Create A Roadmap

    • Create a roadmap based on what you want to achieve the most in preparation phase. Utilise the resources you can find to discover the most optimal roadmap for your goals.
    • It can help create our intrinsic motivation for long term: 1. autonomy 2. mastery 3. purpose
    • An article about an example of making a good roadmap.

  • 6. Interleaving (put something between things)

    • A technique to study different related skills or concepts to learn something (different skills may be complementary to each other).
    • On micro scale:
      • Mix up and use various learning methods(watching tutorials, reading, active recall, spaced repetition etc.) to learn a subject. - <Make It Stick>.
      • In terms of learning a subject, you do no need to master one topic, then, to proceed to the next one. A better approach would be that once having a good understanding of one topic, you can proceed to the next topic and space out your revision for previous topics following the active recall and spaced repetition methods.
    • On larger scale:
      • Skill stacking: learn multiple different skills to some depth as a unique stack that makes you stand out, which will be easier than becoming the 1st one on one skill to be outstanding.
    • An article for explanation.

  • 7. Einstellung Effect

    • It is a negative effect of previous experience: when solving a new problem, a rigid mindset may always lead you to an old and specific way to make a judgment or solve a problem, although a better perspective or method exists [source 1].
    • Integrative complexity: a willingness to accept new perspectives and possibilities [source 2]. Ask ourselves often “what is option C (the option you may have not thought of)? “.
    • Try to test yourself by a riddle.

  • 8. Importance of Community

    • A community can help us identify blind spots and give us immediate feedback to improve. Additionally, we will tend to be more accountable by being a part of community.

  • 9. Habits Revisited

    • Habits are energy savers because it is automatic.
    • <The Power of Habits> -by Charles Duhigg
      • 4 things to of form a habit
        • Cue is a trigger to autopilot like putting toothpaste on toothbrush before brushing your teeth every morning.
        • Routine is what your braind does to respond to the cue.
        • Reward is the result that can make us feel good.
        • Belief is the internal belief that doing something has profound positive effect on our life.
    • <Atomic Habits> - James Clear
      • 4 laws of behaviour change to form a habit:
        • Obvious: what is the exat thing you want to accomplish?
        • Easy: is the habit easy enough for you to form or implement?
        • Attractive: will the habit make us feel good or benefit us?
        • Satisfying: will the habit give us intrinic and extrinsic motivation to keep doing it?
    • Use a visual tool like don’t break the chain or apps to help you.

  • 10. System VS Goals

    • Success = Luck (you do not have control) * Skills That You Obtain (a system can help consistently develop your skills) [book recommended]
    • System is more like a theme (previously mentioned) that can be implemented by habits (working for something xx mins each day) and goals(specific purpose) for longer term. It is more like your general direction or trend.
    • Goals should be within our system but they are for shorter term and more specific to implement.
      • If we have goals to accomplish everyday, we can start the most difficult one because we will feel more accomplished during the day and more likely to finish all the goals. [an article to explain]

  • 11. The Power of The Senses

    • Visual and sensual materials can help us remember things better because they can stimulate our senses. That is why images, diagrams, info graphics, analogies, metaphors, stories and examples are better at our understanding.
    • We can engage more our senses in our learning process. Maybe we can create a dedicated environment that can help us stimulate our senses, for example.

  • 12. Method of Loci

    • A technique to practice memory.
    • Human good at spacious memory (3d spaces / stories → things that have connections).
    • Built your own memory palace for remembering things
    • card games / moonwalking with Einstein.

  • 13. Pareto Principle Revisited (80/20 rule)

    • For learning or many events, roughly 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes.
    • Ask questions ourselves to try to remove the unnecessary and focus on the core parts first:
      • Is this the best use of my time?
      • Is this most critical piece of information?

  • 14. Parkingson’s Law

    • Put is in a simpler way, this law means we more likely finish a task by a deadline rather than without one. Otherwise we may procrastinate and never do the task.
    • Set a timeframe (eg. use Pomodoro technique)and deadline such as a to-do-list for everyday.

  • 15. Deep work

    • A book by Cal Newport introduces the intense period of focus on work/practice.
    • Deep work is the ability to focus without distraction on a demanding task.
    • In contrast, shallow work can be done with distraction, which is not suitable to developing competitive skills.

  • 16. Stakes and Rewards

    • Small rewards for accomplishing a goal can stimulate our internal motivation required for lasting changes.
    • Stakes means we need to have something at risk for achieving goals, so that we have the drive and hold ourselves accountable for what we pursuit.

  • 17. Concepts VS Facts

    • Concepts are more important than facts.
    • Facts can be easily found online and are only a piece of information.
    • Concepts are the dots that connect different small chunks of knowledge (as such, learn trunk based knowledge first, because it will help you connect to the leaves knowledge).
    • Ask why often when learning concepts.
    • To prove our true understanding, we can explain the concepts in a way that even a 5 years child can understand it (Feynman technique).

  • 18. Test Yourself

    • Test yourself often(active recall) to see if you have actually learned something. For example, when you read a book, watch a tutorial or whatever (passive learning), you need to try to actively recall what you have learned, even if feeling uncomfortable.
    • The willingness of feeling uncomfortable is the key to thinking because how our brains work. [video explanation]