How to Learn... Anything

We live in an information intensive society. If you don’t know how to learn you aren’t going to do well. I haven’t found any shortcuts, just a process that has helped me in my career and in life. Give it a try, I honestly believe this approach will benefit most of you.

STEP 1: WRITE IT DOWN ✍️

The studies on this one are clear. Writing the topic down in your own words helps memory retention. A recent study in Frontiers in Psychology monitored brain activity in students taking notes and found that those writing by hand had higher levels of electrical activity across a wide range of interconnected brain regions responsible for movement, vision, sensory processing and memory. The findings add to a growing body of evidence that has many experts speaking up about the importance of teaching children to handwrite words and draw pictures.

STEP 2: USE FLOW BASED NOTE TAKING 🧘🏼‍♀️

I’ve been using a technique called flow-based note taking. I’ve used this approach for years however; the first time I saw it explained was by Scott Young. He’s known for completing MIT in one year using his approach to learning called Ultra Learning. His note taking approach is called flow-based note taking. Have a look at the picture immediately below. Let’s say someone told you that the four Ps of marketing are: Product, Price, Place and Promo. You start with a circle as the top idea. You then branch off and write down each of the four Ps and add images to help you understand each branch. Here is Scott’s take on flow based note taking.

STEP 3: SPACED REPETITION 🪐

Spaced repetition is a learning technique that involves reviewing information at increasing intervals to enhance long-term retention, rather than cramming, by leveraging the forgetting curve. Instead of studying everything at once, spaced repetition involves reviewing material at intervals, starting with short intervals and gradually increasing them as you become more familiar with the information. Spaced repetition is most effective when combined with active recall, where you try to retrieve information from memory rather than passively rereading it. Spaced repetition efficacy. 

Let’s put all three of these together in an example. In one of my lessons I tell you that data manipulation language is broken down into 4 core statements. The first thing you do is to create a circle and put data manipulation language in it. You then create the four branches for each core statement. Next, you simply create a box for each statement then add an image to help you recall each of these statements. Why did I put eyes next to SELECT? Because the keyword SELECT means to read. I have no idea what I was thinking with the UPDATE statement but you get the idea.

When I’m learning something new, I take up to five pages of notes using the flow based note taking approach. More than five pages of notes at a time makes this process difficult. When I finish taking the notes I’ll reread them from the beginning and then I’ll put the notebook away for the day.

The next day, I start at the beginning and try to recall each page. I don’t get very far. I do this for no more than thirty minutes. After this thirty minute period, I’ll take a break and begin taking notes for the next section of whatever it is I’m learning. Why is the 30 minute period relevant? Studies show you recall much more at the start of your learning session versus at the end. The amount of information you’ll retain near the end of that 30 minutes session is almost zero. Here is an example of what my routine looks like at a high level. These are just basic recommendations.

• Day One

  • Take notes

  • Read over notes once (No more than 30 minutes)

• Day Two

  • Try to recall first page of notes from day one

  • Study the notes from day one

  • No more than ½ hour of study for all five pages of notes

  • You can break for ½ hour and study ½ hour for no more than 2 hours day

• Day Three

  • Take new notes (ex: Next section of the course)

  • Read over new notes once

  • Try to recall notes you took on first day

  • Study notes you took on the first day for ½ hour

• Day Four

  • Try to recall the notes you took on day one and day two

  • Study first day notes for ½ hour

  • Take a break no less than ½ hour

  • Study notes you took on day two for ½ hour

You’ll create your own routine based on this general idea. It’s a circular learning approach. If you make it to the third day of note taking and you don’t have the majority of day one down, stop taking new notes and focus learning the information you’ve already taken. This isn’t a race, it’s a learning process. There’s no set time for everyone. We are all different.

Adjust the process to fit your needs and learning style. Write it down using flow-based note taking, study it, take some time off, study it again, time off… you get the idea.

Try this three part process and let me know how it works for you.