Studying My Masters in 1/6th of the Time

Sharing my study approach to for my masters of education.

Every week, I distil what really works for improving results, memory, depth of understanding, and knowledge application from over a decade of coaching into bite-sized emails.

=== Paid Training Program ===

(Designed for busy students and professionals aiming to achieve top results without endless studying. 77% of our students cover the same amount of study material in 30% less time within 1 month.)

=== Notes ===

In this video, I do a demonstration with a few of the components of my study system. Using this system, I was able to study for my Master's semester in about 1/6th of the normal estimated time. I was able to achieve High Distinction and my work was categorised as an exemplar.

The focus is on creating that high quality encoding which forms that stable foundation for future learning.

I demonstrate the use of "chunking" which is shown to bypass working memory capacity limitations and how this integrates with "chunkmapping", the variation of mindmapping that I teach. There are also a number of other techniques that I use, which other videos will individually focus on, but this shows an overview of how the system can come together.

The key areas of challenge for beginners doing this are:
- Insecurity at not writing so many notes
- Insecurity at not writing linear notes
- Discomfort from the chunking and encoding process (cognitive load which you may not be used to) - this discomfort can be misinterpreted as bad, whereas it can actually be the total opposite, where the normal, passive learning which was very comfortable was just a waste of time.
- Proper chunkmapping technique
- Evaluating the quality of chunks and chunk structures
- Breaking framing bias when doing syntopical reading

I will endeavour to cover each of these in other videos to come.

If you enjoyed what I had to give or found it valuable, a subscribe would be sincerely appreciated.

=== About Dr Justin Sung ===

Dr. Justin Sung is a world-renowned expert in self-regulated learning, certified teacher, research author, and former medical doctor. He has guest lectured on learning skills at Monash University for Master’s and PhD students in Education and Medicine. Over the past decade, he has empowered tens of thousands of learners worldwide to dramatically improve their academic performance, learning efficiency, and motivation.

[JustinSung]

Every week, I distil what really works for improving results, memory, depth of understanding, and knowledge application from over a decade of coaching into bite-sized emails.

[enderlooper]

It’s absolutely criminal that we spend this much time in school and no one spends 1/100th of that time teaching us the science of learning.

[suryaprabhatpali]

*For more visibility* *I may not have understood accurately* *Only to refer*

I'm adding my inference of a bunch of Justin's videos(Following Christi) below for everyone's benefit.



ON NOTE-TAKING:




Step 1 - Reduce the number of words in notes. Break the idea of perfect sentences and focus more on perfect LEARNING.


You need to be uncomfortable about the amount of time you waste on just listening to/reading lectures and not learning and retaining (which I am)

So you always strive to be more efficient.



Step 2 - Delay Note-Taking process - Start by writing notes for only one paragraph, then for two paragraphs, and reduce in a phased manner.

So there is more time you give to(in your head): (Being capable to retain and conceptually working through the information in head)
1. Conflicting ideas - Resolving
2. Associating and Relating what you learnt
3. Digesting the concept

And then putting this new understanding of yours on paper.



So if you are listening/reading a lecture and at a point you are uncomfortable and think I have to put this down, just delay it a little bit more and then put it on paper. So at one point, albeit slowly, you don't write anymore.
'Just gonna read a little bit more and then I write my notes'

Step 3 - Get rid of lined paper. Mind Map. Making information non-linear.


Ideal Combination of Study Tools - Mind Maps(for the logical and conceptual) + Flash Cards(for random information)- Incorporate this with Spaced Repetition and make it magical.


HOW TO ACTIVE READ?


1. Before reading a paragraph, ask the question WHY? And WHAT AM I GETTING OUT OF THIS? - By doing this you are identifying the GAPS of knowledge to fill.
2. This may lead you to read haphazardly, because you are going to be going through only information that is required to fill the gap.
3. Once you filled the gap, you then think of the next gap of knowledge that needs to be filled and repeat the process.

Have a Detective-like mindset when going through the reading.



What should be going on in your Mind while Learning?

1. Trying actively to SPATIALLY ARRANGE the concepts in your head.
2. Make room to see how they flow together.




HOW TO ATTEND A LECTURE?





Step 1 - Know the topic of the lecture beforehand and Prime yourself over the information.




Step -2 - Make a Skeletal Mind map of what you understood from the Priming.





Step -3 (In the lecture) - I'll be testing this logic(of skeletal mind map) and add the concepts and important details, while I am APPLYING and SIMPLIFYING. *You have hold in your head what the teacher is saying while doing all of this.(cognitive threshold, I believe, which is probably very low for me)

At the end, you are Chunking the information and then LINKING it to your existing knowledge.




Step - 4 - If all of that becomes too much in the head (about to cross your cognitive threshold), when you feel you can't hold on to it, you then represent what model you've built in your head so far on paper. And then continue from there again in your head.





Step - 5 - Now during this process, you are going to be missing out on a lot of other details, the stuff and also the random factual information to remember, for this another 1 hour may be given separately to 'mop' up all the remaining information.

[prabhatgautam]

Justin be flexing on us mortals with these youtube titles.

[徐嘉妤-oh]

Important concepts:
3:12 Pre-study
4:52 Mental Schema
6:50 Outline (Big Picture)
7:50 Cognitive Load Theory
11:38 Active Chunking
15:33 High Order Learning
17:51 Space Repetition

[JustinSung]

In this video, I do a demonstration with a few of the components of my study system. Using this system, I was able to study for my Master's semester in about 1/6th of the normal estimated time. I was able to achieve High Distinction and my work was categorised as an exemplar.



The focus is on creating that high quality encoding which forms that stable foundation for future learning.

I demonstrate the use of "chunking" which is shown to bypass working memory capacity limitations and how this integrates with "chunkmapping", the variation of mindmapping that I teach. There are also a number of other techniques that I use, which other videos will individually focus on, but this shows an overview of how the system can come together.



The key areas of challenge for beginners doing this are:


- Insecurity at not writing so many notes
- Insecurity at not writing linear notes
- Discomfort from the chunking and encoding process (cognitive load which you may not be used to) - this discomfort can be misinterpreted as bad, whereas it can actually be the total opposite, where the normal, passive learning which was very comfortable was just a waste of time.
- Proper chunkmapping technique
- Evaluating the quality of chunks and chunk structures
- Breaking framing bias when doing syntopical reading



I will endeavour to cover each of these in other videos to come.

[tretyu]

Here I am, an avid Anki user in my 6 or 7th flashcard burnout, trying to figure out how to effectively use Obsidian and going down of rabbit hole of Zettelkatsen and note taking techniques, and this man is using drawn images and the notepad It's truly time I rethink the way I learn.

[mogamadRSA]

Bismillah in the name of Allah. I thank you for sharing your knowledge. I am from Cape Town RSA Republic of South Africa.
My youngest daughter algamdullilah is autistic at the moment.
May Allah bless you and guide you and your family aameen.

[someart]

This method worked for me incredibly, even though I only watched your videos and didn't take any paid classes. I really appreciate what you are doing and sharing this on youtube. Keep up with the great work!

[nahiyan]

*Summary*

*1. Consider different study techniques, including mind mapping.* Explore various study techniques and be open to trying different methods, including mind mapping, to find what works best for you.

*2. Use study techniques as part of a wider system.* Think about how your chosen study technique fits into your overall learning system and how it can help facilitate other parts of that system.

*3. Identify and improve rate-limiting steps.* Identify areas in your learning system that may be holding you back and work to improve them to prevent the entire process from being slowed down.

*4. Diversify learning methods.* Avoid relying solely on active recall and space repetition for learning as it may not lead to success in later academic and professional years. Incorporate other learning methods as well.

*5. Encode information properly.* Encode information properly to make retrieval easier later on. This includes organizing and categorizing information effectively.

*6. Utilize the way the brain works.* Understand how the brain works and use this knowledge to develop a wider system of learning that works effectively for any subject.

*7. Avoid improper encoding.* Improper encoding, combined with lots of active recall and space repetition, can lead to a repetitive and unnecessarily time-consuming learning process.

*8. Read multiple articles on the topic.* Read multiple articles on the topic you are studying to gain a more comprehensive understanding.

*9. Use a metaphor to mentally organize information.* Use metaphors, such as organizing a room or warehouse, to help mentally organize the information you are learning.

*10. Create a mental schema.* Focus on creating a mental schema that categorizes and organizes information effectively. Break down the information into big and sub-chunks and figure out how they relate to each other.

*11. Work through discomfort.* Cognitive load theory suggests that discomfort and a sense of overwhelmingness while learning is good for growth and learning speed. Embrace discomfort and work through it to gain a deeper understanding.

*12. Consolidate information with syntopical reading.* Use syntopical reading to consolidate information from various sources and create a clear structure and organization to help learn the material.

*13. Use active chunking.* Use active chunking techniques to manage important points to learn about starting an intervention for a child with autism.

*14. Prioritize higher order learning.* Higher order learning, which involves organizing information effectively, is more effective than passive learning.

*15. Supplement with memorization aids and flashcards.* Supplement your learning system with memorization aids and flashcards to help encode information and make retrieval easier.

[moneyhuslller]

00:00 Active recall and space repetition are part of a wider system.
02:46 Proper encoding of information is crucial for effective studying
05:10 Organizing information improves learning speed
07:32 Working through discomfort in learning fuels growth
10:17 Using active chunking to manage and retain information
12:38 Organizing information in chunks improves learning effectiveness
15:12 Higher order learning helps you understand and memorize faster
17:33 Active recall and spaced repetition make memorization easier

[ojpayawal]

Really helpful video! I am a 4th year law student that bought into the idea of "active recall, spaced repetition" hype when I was trying to learn how to learn back into 1st year. I did that way religiously and got "okay" results. However, as the concepts became deeper and more complicated through the years, I started falling behind most of my other classmates that don't study as hard yet outperform me greatly. It's also kind of frustrating that alot of the concepts that I learned in 1st year, most of them still remember till 4th year, while I have to constantly refresh these concepts in my head and forgot most of them already. It gets pretty demoralizing ngl.

Recently found your videos and I am still trying to leave the habit of "spaced repetition" techniques and actually incorporate higher cognitive load while I read these truckloads of text. However, I am finding that I am absorbing information and utilizing it much better. Just hope there's enough time before the next big exams for me to utilize these skills. Thank you very much!

[apollosun]

My method at school was what you just showed but without any mind maps or writing of any sort. All I did was read and think about what I read. Then I'd need to only do one revision session the night before an exam that'd take about 15 minutes to bring the previously encoded information to the surface of my consciousness. Everyone wondered how I did so well when it looked like I did nothing. I had no idea then, but now I see how.

[AhmetKaan]

You'll watch an entire Netflix show even when the first episodes are slow and boring just because someone told you "it gets better." *But what if you looked at your goals like that and watched your life get better instead?*

[AhmetKaan]

*"The person who wins, is the person who wants it the most."*

This changed my life.

[khushil.]

I am so glad people are getting to know you Dr Justin! I'm definitely saving up for your course (highkey can't ask my parents to give me money for it) and I cannot wait to enroll when the enrolments open. Thank you

[jebablessysalomi]

Omg finally he came with guide video. I was waiting for him without even start studying bcz I don't know how to do it.

[CHEH_tf]

This video was on my WL playlist for like 2 weeks and im not disappointed watching it

[shugar]

this is the right way to study other educators in youtube don't give this much clarity... there should be a real life purpose of stuff you study just memorizing is waste of time its not going to get you to the top level of your intentions.. yea you can excel in exam but if there is a single collapse you end up screwed .. Concepts are really important And the passion evolves right there, otherwise our body responds to the facts as a stress

[WhalekinMoonGenshin]

I’m a medical student and I have to agree. While Active Recall and Spaced Repetition ARE effective, it shouldn’t be the only techniques you use. Realizing that studying and learning is more than just remembering and getting the right answer on the exam. Short term, AR and SP will be helpful, but in the long term it’s not sustainable so now I’m letting myself fall back to square 1 and learn how study.