The Learning System

Introduction

Overview of the Learning System

This learning system procedure is designed to provide a structured and efficient approach to acquiring new skills and knowledge. It integrates well-established learning principles with practical techniques to ensure sustained engagement, effective learning, and long-term retention. By following this procedure, learners can systematically plan, study, practice, and reflect on their learning journey, ensuring they achieve their learning goals.

Purpose and Goals

The primary purpose of this procedure is to offer a comprehensive roadmap for learners to achieve mastery in their chosen subjects. The goals are to:

Why Create A Learning System?

I have often struggled with retaining information from what I learned, aware of the 'forgetting curve,' which suggests that we forget a significant portion of what we learn shortly after acquiring it. Research indicates that by the end of 7 days, people can forget up to 80% of new information if not reviewed and reinforced regularly. Given the vast amount of knowledge I aim to acquire over my lifetime, I decided to dedicate a few months to studying the learning process itself. This investment in understanding how to learn effectively will benefit me in all future learning endeavors.

I am inspired by the quote, "We are what we repeatedly do… therefore excellence is not an act, but a habit." ~ Will Durant. This philosophy underscores the importance of developing excellent procedures and turning them into habits. By creating a systematic and disciplined approach to learning, we can achieve excellence in any field we choose to pursue.

Background Information

This is a high level collection of the information this learning system is built off of. If you wish to just use the system, you can continue.

Encoding

The Learning Loop

Meta-Learning

Active Recall

Learning Principles

Sections

Section 1: Planning

Objective: Establish a clear learning goal, understand the sub-skills and sub-concepts to learn, and create a roadmap to achieve the goal.

Steps:

  1. Set a Learning Goal: Define what you want to achieve and why it's important.
    • SMART Goals: Use Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound goals to set clear objectives.
    • Advanced Goal Framework: Checkout my detailed procedure for writing goals.

    An example goal of learning the guitar:

    In the next 3 months, I will spend 30 minutes a day practicing chords, notes, and rhythm. So that I can play "Shampoo Bottles" by Peach Pit. This milestone will help me reach my larger goal of learning the guitar for fun. I will spend 30 minutes practicing every day at 4 pm to achieve this. Practice will be broken down into warm-up, 20 minutes skill building, and 10 minutes applying skills to a song of my choice. To achieve this goal, I will learn an instrument to test my learning strategies and play with [Best Friend] or [Girlfriend].
  2. Research Resources: Identify books, courses, tools, and other materials necessary for learning.
  3. Develop a Learning Map: Outline a step-by-step plan that includes sub-skills and sub-concepts to be mastered.
    • Concept Mapping: Visualize the relationships between sub-skills and sub-concepts.
  4. Create a Learning Schedule: Determine how much time you can dedicate and develop a consistent learning schedule.
  5. Connect to Real-World Application: Ensure that the skills and knowledge are directly relevant to real-world use.
    • Real-World Scenarios: Identify practical applications of the skills you aim to learn.

Common Pitfalls and Solutions

Verification:

Section 2: Active Studying

Objective: Engage with the material actively to enhance understanding, retention, and recall.

Steps:

  1. Prepare Your Environment: Create a distraction-free study space.
    • Gather all necessary resources.
    • Turn off phone notifications and other distractions.
    • Ensure your study space is clean and organized.
    • Use a Focus System, like the Pomodoro Method
  2. Select the Sub-Concept to Learn: Choose a specific topic from your learning map.
    • Define the concept clearly.
    • Determine the depth of knowledge required.
    • High-level understanding or detailed mastery?
    • Set specific, achievable goals for the session.
  3. Assess Prior Knowledge: List what you already know about the topic.
    • Identify gaps in your understanding.
  4. Create Guiding Questions: Formulate questions you want to answer during your study session.
    • Focus on key aspects and potential applications.
  5. Engage with the Resource: Study the material using your chosen resource.
    • Get an overview of the material by reviewing summaries or introductory sections.
    • Read, watch, or listen actively.
    • Engage with the instructor. Ask questions, or ask them to repeat a section if you want to hear it again.
  6. Note Taking: While you obsorb the lecture, video, or text, take notes.
    • Answer questions and write new questions as they appear.
    • Sketch and create visual notes. Diagrams, pictures, mind maps, symbols, and doodles all enhance your ability to encode the information.
    • Giving context to new concepts and connceting them to personal experiences can help encoding information and concepts better.
    • Read concepts aloud when interacting with them for the first time. Utilizes Acoustic encoding to help enrich interacting with the material.

    Note-Taking Techniques:

    • Outline Method. Create an outline of the material provided. You indent for each subtopic or supporting detail. A variation of this is the sentence method, in which you use complete sentences.
    • Cornell Note-Taking Method. Divide your page into two columns: one for cues/questions and the other for notes. The notes section should be 2/3 of the width of the paper. Summarize the information at the bottom.
    • Boxing Method Each box contains a complete concept, idea, or category.
    • Charting Method. For when you need to organize, compare and contrast, or categorize. divide the page into columns and rows. e.g. Column Headers: How?, Advantages:, Disadvantages:, When to use it?
    • Mapping Method. Shows the connections between main points and supporting details. Start with the main topic in the middle of the page. Then continue to add supporting details/concepts that surround the main topic.
    • Sketchnotes. Combine elements of mapping or boxing with meaningful doodles. Try to capture keywords and important phrases, then add images that help them connect with the topic.
    • Q/E/C Method. The Question/Evidence/Conclusion method inbolves keeping track of how information is being presented, while focusing on the bigger picture. Organize the notes by first stating the question, then the evidence that answers the question, then draw a conclusion.
  7. Active Recall: After studying, take a break (~5 minutes), then recall the material without looking at your notes.
    • Write down everything you remember.
    • Review your notes to fill in any gaps.
  8. Summarize and Visualize: Condense the information into a brief summary.
    • Create visual aids like charts or diagrams.
    • Summarize key points in one sentence.
  9. Create Flashcards: Develop flashcards for key concepts and details.
    • Content Selection: Focus on one atomic piece of information per flashcard for clear learning objectives.
    • Visual Encoding: Add images, diagrams, or colors to support visual memory.
    • Acoustic Encoding: Incorporate sounds or voice recordings for auditory learning.
    • Semantic Encoding: Use meaningful context, such as personal experiences or in connection to other elements, to enchance understanding and retention.
    • Organizational Encoding: Arrange inforamtion logically or categorize to aid recall.
    • Question and Answer Format: Employ clear, direct questions with a single specific answer for effective recall.
    • Utilization of Analogies: Use analogies to simplify complex concepts and foster innovation.

Verification:

Section 3: Practice and Application

Objective: Apply learned concepts and skills in real-world scenarios to reinforce learning and identify areas for improvement.

Steps:

  1. Prepare Your Environment: Create a distraction-free space to maximize focus and efficiency during practice.
    • Set up all necessary tools and materials before starting.
    • Minimize distractions by turning off notifications and ensuring a quiet environment.
  2. Select Sub-Skills to Practice: Choose specific sub-skills to focus on during the practice session.
    • Start with one sub-skill if you are a beginner; gradually increase to multiple sub-skills as you progress.
    • Define proficiency goals for each sub-skill, such as solving a problem within a set time or achieving a specific speed or accuracy.
  3. Find an Example: Observe an expert performing the sub-skill to understand the correct technique and approach.
    • Watch instructional videos or live demonstrations.
    • Take detailed notes on the expert’s methods and strategies.
  4. Practice the Sub-Skill(s): Dedicate time to practicing the chosen sub-skills, incorporating a mix of focused practice and variability.
    • Allocate specific time blocks for each sub-skill.
    • Rotate between sub-skills periodically to enhance learning.
    • Record your practice sessions and provide commentary on your thought process and decisions.
  5. Get Feedback: Analyze your performance to identify areas for improvement.
    • Review your practice recordings and take notes on difficulties and errors.
    • Compare your performance with the expert example.
    • Seek feedback from mentors or peers if possible.
  6. Incorporate Feedback: Focus on improving the identified weak areas by adjusting your practice strategy.
    • Target specific challenges highlighted in the feedback.
    • Record your practice sessions again, paying attention to the areas needing improvement.
  7. Conduct a Post-Mortem: Reflect on the practice session to consolidate learning and plan the next steps.
    • Review what you did during the practice session and what you learned.
    • Identify what you need to improve and how you will approach the next practice session.
    • Discuss your practice approach and outcomes in a journal or with a mentor.

Verification:

Section 4: Reflection

Objective: Reflect on the learning process, evaluate progress, and plan the next steps.

Steps:

  1. Reflect on Progress: Assess what has been learned and areas that need improvement.
    • Reflective Questions: Ask questions like "What worked well?", "What can be improved?", and "What are the next steps?"
  2. Evaluate Techniques: Determine which study and practice methods were most effective.
    • Progress Journaling: Maintain a journal to track progress and insights.
  3. Set New Goals: Based on reflection, set new learning goals or adjust existing ones.
    • Goal Setting: Establish new objectives aligned with overall learning goals.
  4. Plan Next Steps: Identify the next sub-skills or concepts to focus on.
    • Next Steps Planning: Outline a plan for future learning activities.

Verification:

Examples and Case Studies

Common Pitfalls and Solutions

Reflection and Review

Visual Aids

books

Footnotes: