Study Tips - How to learn new content

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So we all know that Active Recall and Spaced Repetition are the most efficient ways of revising material. But how do we actually learn the content for the first time? That's what I try to answer in this video. Enjoy xx

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[Jayaldrich]

This guy is so legit that my professor made us watch his videos once a week and post a discussion about it in our class. Jokes on him, I've watched Ali before and he's great.

[TheMrLappis]

Thank you so much! Okay, I'm gonna test the method by summarising this video.

1. understanding + remembering.
2. memorization isn't always useful.

First, you have to understand the content by using active recall while reading through your material (questioning and thinking about the topics until you got it.) Eg, making questions for yourself.

Then, you move on to remember, you have to use spaced repetition overtime to beat the forgetting curve, thus keeping information in your brain for much longer. Eg, drawing spider diagrams to see what you need to review.

Understand first before attempting memorization.

(Is this the correct way to do it?)



Much love! Cheers mate.

[illy]

Active Recall= Test yourself as you learn the content, not when you think you’ve learned it
Beat the forgetting curve at spaced intervals with spaced repetition

[aots]

Why aren't these methods taught at school across the country as a basic program?

[gkawrbool]

What’s insane is that I’ve always been doing this since 6th grade. I was very competitive and I would actively test myself and learn a ton of information in 2-3 hours.

[habeebahtahir]

it saddens me that I've only stumbled across this channel in the last leg of my final year of uni

[shezymessi]

There are 2 Components of Learning (01:24):
1. Understanding (03:14):
Understanding something is essentially the ability to explain that something to a friend and answer the questions they have about that thing; if you can teach a concept to someone, that's when you know you truly understand it; Basically, he is describing the Feynman Technique;
Also, as you're reading stuff or getting exposed to new content, try to use active recall then (e.g. when you're reading two paragraphs of a topic, close the book and ask "What Have I Just Read?", "What Are the Key Ideas", and "Can I Rephrase This in My Own Words"; Active Recall can be used while learning the material for the first time, and not just when you've learned it
2. Memorizing
Use Active Recall (Testing Yourself) & Spaced Repetition (Interrupt the Forgetting Curve) for Memorizing by:
1. Writing Questions for Yourself (Use Anki for this)
2. Close the book, and write out everything you know about a topic in a spider diagram and fill in what you've missed

[codingtutorialsuk]

I really like the penguin in the background.

[planetary-rendez-vous]

On behalf of all students, thank you for making our study lives better. After all, what's the most important thing for a student, if not to learn how to study effectively so you don't waste your time? :)

[theodoros_iosifidis]

For so long i "survived" with understanding only... Correctly applying the remembering will take me to the next level.

[SingZeon]

Can you do a vid about procrastination and its scientific explanation (dopamine, reward pathway etc) and how to beat it

[luciamorenovelo]

Active recall while learning something new is basically what you do when you take notes during a lecture, if you do it right. Taking notes (from a person or a book) is not about putting down every word or copying the sentences as they are in the book, but about understanding the information, and putting it down in your own words, plus adding questions or ideas to follow up on later on the margin. So whan I studied biology, if the teacher was talking about, say, a cell process, I wrote down what I understood (because the actual process in full detail was in the book, or at least some book or paper that was in the library, so I didn't need to take it down) and if something made me think of, say, cancer, I wrote "cancer?" on the margin, then later on researched if there was a connection.

[alguienmas]

whenever I don't feel like studying, I watch your videos beacuse they push me to be more efficient. Thank you!!!

[shubhraj]

This came on exactly the time when I needed some 'actually helpful' tips.. :) Ali u're the saviour! ❤

[knosis]

"make it stick" was the best thing to happen to me. Thanks for suggesting it! It is helping with my learning background info for my publications and getting me ready for med school in June!

[rafiulalam]

I have been using Active Recalling and Spaced Repetition since I came by these concepts on your videos. Needless to say that I've never been more efficient and confident on my academic skills. Thank you, Ali. :)

[benh]

This channel is actually very underrated. I would say it has the best study techniques in youtube

[hugoleung]

Hey Ali thanks for all the help you've given us little med students so far! But it'd be great if you could teach us how to write effective active recall questions in depth and how you decide on what information to include in them!

[sheldy]

I use to use this technique when I was younger it was natural... I use to do it naturally without thinking about it as a technique... My grades were always on top...
Not so much anymore..
Will use it again
Thanks!!

[aqsazeeshan]

I watched all of ur videos and created notes for myself .. if anyone needs it

1 : active recall :test yourself before during and after learning period
2: space testing : he uses anki (flashcards) to test himself as often as he can to remember
3: google sheet : have topics written on to one side and on the other have it marked green red yellow according to how you perform your space repetition ( red being the weaker yellow ok and green very good)
4: interleaving mix around the flashcards /knowledge..
This is everything in my own words not explaining as much as he does as this is rough notes