Learning Expert Reacts to Top Medical Student Advice
Summary
TLDRIn this video, Dr. Justin, a learning coach and former medical doctor, critiques and reacts to 'TikTok' study advice. He shares his four-step method for mastering any material, emphasizing the importance of understanding over memorization, creating integrated flashcards, and active learning sessions. He also discusses the effectiveness of various revision techniques, including summary pages and the Feynman method, and offers tips to make revision more manageable. Dr. Justin encourages viewers to find the best study method that suits their learning style.
Takeaways
- 🎓 The speaker, Dr. Justin, emphasizes the importance of efficient learning methods and shares his four-step method used in medical school for mastering any material.
- 🔍 Step one involves watching lectures at an accelerated pace (1.5x to 2x speed) to get a basic understanding of the material, focusing on grasping the overall concepts rather than memorizing every detail.
- 📚 Step two recommends reviewing lecture notes and PowerPoint slides to create flashcards on a free app, using a method that encourages integration and relationships between information, rather than isolated recall.
- 🔄 Step three suggests reviewing flashcards, which is an efficient way to drill information into memory, and highlights the importance of changing flashcard questions to avoid pattern recognition and maintain active learning.
- 🤝 Step four involves active learning sessions with classmates, where practice questions are exchanged to understand information from different perspectives and fill in any knowledge gaps.
- 📈 Dr. Justin critiques the effectiveness of certain study methods, such as crosswords and the dueling method, pointing out their limitations in terms of deep processing and conceptual understanding.
- 📝 He advocates for the use of summary pages to condense course material onto a single page, which forces prioritization and evaluation of information, making it more manageable.
- 📉 The speaker advises against relying solely on homework and suggests negotiating with teachers for self-study using more effective methods if traditional homework is not beneficial.
- 📈 He also discusses the Feynman technique, which is beneficial for beginners in learning strategies, as it encourages active recall and higher-order thinking.
- 🌟 Dr. Justin emphasizes that there is no 'perfect' revision method and suggests using a combination of techniques to cover all learning bases, such as flashcards, posters, past papers, and active teaching.
- 📋 Lastly, he provides tips for making revision easier, including using a planner, a clock, an exercise book for notes, and considering digital tools like tablets for non-linear note-taking.
Q & A
What is the four-step study method Dr. Justin uses?
-Dr. Justin's four-step method includes: 1) Watching lectures at 1.5 to 2x speed and taking notes for a basic understanding, 2) Reviewing the lecture and notes to create flashcards, 3) Reviewing flashcards to drill in the information, and 4) Engaging in active learning sessions with classmates to fill in knowledge gaps.
Why is watching lectures at a faster speed beneficial according to Dr. Justin?
-Watching lectures at a faster speed helps to get a basic overview of the material without focusing on memorizing every single fact, which is more efficient for understanding the material as a whole.
What is the purpose of creating flashcards after reviewing lectures and notes?
-Creating flashcards helps in reinforcing the material by testing recall and encouraging the creation of connections and relationships between the information, which is more effective for learning than isolated memorization.
How does Dr. Justin suggest modifying flashcard questions to avoid pattern recognition?
-To avoid pattern recognition, Dr. Justin suggests changing the question or adding a new flashcard to test oneself in a different way, ensuring that the learning process involves higher-order thinking rather than just memorization.
What is the importance of active learning sessions with classmates as mentioned by Dr. Justin?
-Active learning sessions with classmates allow for understanding the material from different perspectives and filling in any knowledge gaps that might have been missed, enhancing the learning experience.
What is the issue with relying solely on crossword puzzles for studying according to the script?
-Relying solely on crossword puzzles can limit the learning process to isolated information recall and does not effectively test conceptual understanding or integrated thoughts, which are crucial for deep processing.
What is the Feynman method and why is it recommended for beginners?
-The Feynman method involves explaining a concept as if teaching it to someone else, which encourages active recall and higher-order thinking. It is recommended for beginners because it helps in identifying knowledge gaps and strengthening understanding through generative effects.
Why does Dr. Justin suggest not doing all the homework if it's not useful for effective learning?
-Dr. Justin suggests that if homework is not contributing to meaningful learning or is taking time away from more effective self-study methods, students should consider focusing on those methods instead, especially if they have a better understanding of their learning needs.
What are the benefits of using a tablet with a stylus for non-linear note-taking during revision?
-A tablet with a stylus provides an infinite canvas for integrative thinking and non-linear note-taking, which is superior for learning as it allows for better organization and connection of information.
What is the main advice given by Dr. Justin for effective revision?
-Dr. Justin advises using a combination of all effective revision methods, such as flashcards, posters, past papers, and teaching out loud, to cover all learning bases and avoid relying on a single method with its inherent flaws.
Why is it important to consider the benefit and cost of a revision technique before using it?
-Considering the benefit and cost of a revision technique helps in making informed decisions about which methods to include in one's study system, ensuring that the time and effort invested in revision are productive and yield the best results.
Outlines
🎓 Effective Study Techniques for Lazy Students
Dr. Justin, a learning coach and former medical doctor, shares his insights on study advice from a 'tick tock' video, emphasizing the value of his four-step method used in medical school. The method includes watching lectures at an accelerated pace for a basic understanding, creating flashcards for active recall, and engaging in active learning sessions with peers. He critiques the idea of the 'best' revision method, suggesting that a combination of techniques is more effective and warns against relying solely on flashcards due to their limitations in fostering deep processing and conceptual understanding.
📚 The Limits of Flashcards and Crossword Puzzles for Learning
The speaker discusses the limitations of using flashcards and crossword puzzles as study tools, noting that while they can be fun and engaging, they may not support deep learning or the development of conceptual understanding. He suggests that these methods can lead to pattern recognition, which does not necessarily test higher-order thinking or the ability to apply knowledge in various contexts. The speaker advocates for a more integrated approach to learning, where information is connected and relationships between concepts are emphasized.
🤔 The Feynman Technique and the Importance of Active Learning
The paragraph delves into the Feynman technique, a learning method that involves teaching a topic to another person to identify knowledge gaps and deepen understanding. The speaker acknowledges the technique's effectiveness, especially for beginners, due to its generative and active recall benefits. However, he also points out that the method's success depends on one's ability to engage in deep processing. The speaker encourages seeking challenging materials and regular revision to enhance learning outcomes.
📝 Tips for Effective Revision and Study Efficiency
The speaker provides tips for making revision more manageable and efficient. He suggests using a random in to plan revision and rest days, having a dedicated clock to avoid phone distractions, and using an exercise book for organized notes. He also recommends colorful note-taking to enhance memory and the use of digital flashcard apps like Anki for isolated fact recall. The speaker emphasizes the importance of using a variety of revision techniques to cover all learning bases and tailoring one's study approach based on personal effectiveness.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Revision Method
💡Learning Coach
💡Flashcards
💡Active Learning
💡Deep Processing
💡Mitochondria
💡Pattern Recognition
💡Cognitive Load
💡Dueling Method
💡Feynman Method
💡Cognitive Engagement
Highlights
The four-step method used in medical school for mastering any material.
Watching lectures at 1.5 to 2x speed and taking notes for a basic overview.
Using an AI transcription tool to convert lectures into text for faster review.
Creating flashcards for active recall and integration of material.
The importance of modifying flashcard questions to avoid pattern recognition.
Reviewing flashcards as an efficient way to drill in information.
Engaging in active learning sessions with classmates for diverse perspectives.
Using summary pages to condense course material onto a single page.
The value of non-linear methods for effective summarization and prioritization.
Crosswords as an underrated revision method for integrated learning.
The limitations of crosswords for deep processing and conceptual understanding.
The dueling method for better comprehension through active engagement.
The Feynman method as an effective technique for beginners in learning strategies.
The importance of teaching as a method to evaluate and deepen understanding.
Asking teachers for extra challenging material to enhance learning.
The potential downside of homework if it distracts from more effective study methods.
Tips for making revision easier, including planning and using a physical clock.
Using an exercise book for organized and colorful revision notes.
The benefits of an infinite canvas for non-linear note-taking and integrative thinking.
The ineffectiveness of posting notes everywhere for complex information recall.
The recommendation to use a combination of all revision methods for comprehensive coverage.
The importance of considering the benefit-cost ratio of each revision technique.
Transcripts
the best revision method for lazy
students crosswords I like this just
because it seems fun I want to do one I
hate when people say the best way to do
something uh don't tell me this is the
ah hey guys it's Dr Justin here again
and this is part three of me reacting to
tick tock study advice if you're new to
this channel I am a learning coach
learning researcher certified teacher
and the head of learning that I can
study and a former medical doctor over
the last decade I have helped tens of
thousands of Learners across the world
learn more efficiently so here's my take
on this advice and this part three I
think has probably the most high value
like generally good advice compared to
the the first two parts so hope you
enjoy here's the study method that I use
in medical school to learn everything
this four-step method will help you
master any material no matter what
subject you're learning or what level
you're at step one I watched the lecture
on 1.5 to 2x speed and take notes my
goal of the first pass is simply to
understand the material rather than
memorize every single fact the lecture
is needed just try to get a basic
overview of okay here's a hack that I'm
gonna use I'm gonna tell you about that
just takes that to another level what
they've said so far that actually sounds
good right like the focus is being on
The Superficial General broad base
here's two more things that you can add
if you've got multiple lectures that are
talking about essentially the same
concept and the same topic do all of
them at once if you can because you'll
find more relationships between them
than if you were to just do a single
lecture sometimes there's something that
you look at and you're like it takes you
15 minutes to just get your head around
that but then actually three lectures
later if you had known that information
it would have made this so much easier
to understand
learning like broadly and superficially
at the beginning is always better than
going narrow and deep anyway the the tip
here download the lecture if you can put
it into an AI to transcribe it into
words and then just read it it's faster
than doing 1.5 or double speed just try
to get a basic overview of the
information use the free Google Chrome
extension video screen controller to
watch electrics faster step two I review
the PowerPoint lecture and the notes
that I took and I used them to make
flashcards on a free apps
because team yourself the material is
one of the best ways to learn rather
than saying what is the mitochondria I
say what specific function of the
mitochondria is conducive to life okay
so all right like there was a Redemption
here I was like oh we just immediately
dropped into isolated lower what a
non-integrated you know space retrieval
methods but actually the spin that he
took on it is much much better and this
is a way that most people aren't really
using flashcards so what what he's done
is that he's created integration he's
created connection and relationships
between the information so it's not just
isolated Factory call it requires more
what we call elaboration and that's
going to be a lot better for your
learning than just a simple simple
isolated one so well done um whatever
your name was something Nosh right knee
I think I said that name wrong
um but the other thing is that you
should you should um sort of refresh
your flashcard questions every now and
again if you're going to use this
technique and again I still think that
going straight to flashcards is probably
premature because you're gonna have so
many and like you're gonna spend all
your all of your time doing that but if
you are really gonna do that then make
sure you've refreshed the refresh the
questions the issue is that you can get
into like a a pattern of queued recall
only and what that means is that you can
have a certain question you memorize the
answer to that single question and
you're no longer actually testing on the
relationships anymore so like a great
way that you know if this has happened
is that you read a question like this
and at the first point you read that
question you might think about it and be
like hmm I wonder what it is and try to
answer it and the second time you're
like wait what were the relationships
that I thought of there and then you
answer it again but maybe like the
fourth time that you answer it you're
just reading this what specific function
of the Mito and then you already
remember what it is and you can answer
it straight away and what that indicates
is that it's now a pattern recognition
thing you're no longer thinking about or
testing yourself on the relationships so
rather than doing the same thing it's
better to change the question so modify
that question now or add a new flash
card and get rid of this one and swap it
out so instead of what specific function
of the mitochondria is conducive to life
you could say if the mitochondria did
not have this specific function how
might the cell be uh disadvantaged so
you can see it's like a similar kind of
question but it's actually testing you
in a different way so you should be
always mindful of when you're entering
into just that pure like trigger
response pattern recognition because
that's not really testing on higher
order structures anymore
boom creating energy step three I review
The Flash okay well I mean that was
the emotional roller coaster this one
boom creating energy so that's like the
worst way to answer this question this
is something that I call importance
checklisting which is when you have a
question that makes you do integrated
thinking but instead of doing the
integrated thinking you answer it in a
way that causes you to have a single
isolated lower order response this is a
great question to prompt you for more
elaborative thinking and it is more time
consuming which is the reason why having
a high volume flash cards with high
frequency repetition is not
mathematically scale like scalable
sustainable if you're learning lots of
stuff
um but if you did have a question like
this boom creating energy is not a great
way to to answer it you should elaborate
a little bit more like but anyway
I review the flash cards that I made
this is probably my favorite step
because it takes the least amount of
time and it really drills in the
information step four measuring the
effectiveness of a strategy based on how
long it takes is not a great way you
should be measuring the effectiveness
based on the type of knowledge that
helps you create or retrieve and then
the amount of time it takes to achieve
that it can if something takes you a
very short amount of time but it doesn't
provide a great benefit then it's not
going to be very effective when this guy
says review your flashcards I'm sure
he's doing something in his head that
makes it more effective and that is
probably the secret Source behind this
which is a reason why he's able to use
these techniques with success is what's
happening cognitively
ask a classmate to do an active learning
session with me in which we ask each
other practice questions this allows me
to understand the information from their
perspective as well and it allows me to
fill in any gaps that I might have
missed you can't miss this one because
it's definitely one of the best steps
for drilling in there and then but
that's really good the last one is
really really good you know it's it's
got that social learning element it is
exposing you to more perspective so
that's a really good step the only
downside is that you need friends this
study method has significantly decreased
my study time and made me way more
efficient try it out and let me know
what you think follow me drop a like and
send this video to a friend who studies
a lot
it is a revision technique that I use to
get Ole stars at GCSE and a level and in
two years worth of content can almost
feel impossible so it's really important
that you have an effective technique to
condense the course down I did this
using summary Pages where I'd make a
single April page for a topic like the
alkanes and we've forced myself to find
a way to break everything down so the
whole course material fit onto that one
page I have loads more revision
techniques so we'll make more videos so
follow that
cool so I think the main thing with this
is like as I've said you know summary
summary Pages work because it forces
that prioritization evaluation of
information if you use non-linear
methods of summarization you're going to
find that it's more challenging but much
more effective as well so you know
that's the additional thing that I add
to that but I think I've already talked
about summary Pages a lot
um through this like set of videos the
best revision method for lazy students
crosswords they're so underrated that
they've gotten through gcses a levels
and med school there are children that
let you study entire courses and dance
here's some examples in container the
restrooms
you know what
I don't know if I'm out of touch
but I have never seen crossword studying
like this this type of thing I I have a
lot of opinions about the fact that it's
still you know it's essentially just the
same thing as flashcards right and so
there's the limitations with isolated
information and recall and it's not
really testing your conceptual
difficulty and networks are integrated
thoughts so you're not really going to
get any of the benefits of deep
processing really unless of course
you're already a deep processor but if
you get curveball questions or higher
level questions you're kind of screwed
if you only rely on this technique and
you don't have good deprocessing okay
that's the Spiel done but this is just
cool I like this just because it seems
fun I want to do one this is cool I've
never seen this before maybe I'm just
maybe I'm out of touch now
uh don't tell me this is the
ah I hate this
um
we don't even start so from a research
perspective there was research that says
that you know something like the dueling
method can work because of the fact that
there is actually like a you know I
can't remember what you might call it
like a neuronal Arc I almost you know I
imagine but there is something with you
know active literally just moving your
hands and just doing things and reading
that allows you to have better
comprehension of the information the
main issue with this is that it is
extremely extremely deep processing
dependent which means that if you don't
have really high and good levels of deep
processing to begin with you will really
struggle to improve by uh any any like
real meaningful amount by using this
method so again if you're struggling
like you're actually struggling or
you're just you know you're average and
you just want to be like and that higher
tier this is not really the thing that's
going to change things very much but if
you're if you're like kind of doing well
and you just want to like increase the
engagement when you're specifically
reading something then this method can
help you a little bit there's probably
something like a you know five to ten
percent benefit in terms of focus and
comprehension at the point of reading
but the word comprehension is like it's
complicated like how do you even measure
comprehension it's not just you know
it's not just that you remembered
something it's about how you can then
use that information and then how many
different ways this is not really going
to help you with that
I'm looking forward to that the best way
to learn anything in just three steps
first is you choose your topic and start
studying I hate when people say the best
way to do something you know or an
imagine like how do you know that
although teaching it to people is a lot
like where do you get that confidence
from better this exercise is definitely
where you will discover the gaps in your
knowledge and basically the aim of this
whole technique is to help you identify
your weaknesses in a topic and work on
them harder and turn them into a
strength
yeah cool well I mean that's a fireman
method
is that Fame no I'm sure it's fine man
anyway the Feynman method is
um is a good method I think it's
probably for uh for like a beginner
that's just trying to get into effective
learning strategies it's like one of the
best techniques that you can use to just
start getting in there there's a lot of
great generative effects there's a lot
of great active recall Active Learning
retrieval uh benefits from it it's
forcing some higher order integrated
information there is a little bit of
nuance there that it it still really
depends on your ability to do the Deep
processing so even though it encourages
it the defining method doesn't have a
lot of detailed instruction on how to do
it especially the teaching step because
the way you teach something also changes
the way you think about it so there are
methods of teaching that force you to
evaluate it to a deeper level and so
it's a lot more effective whereas if you
were to teach something but the way
you're teaching it is very just like you
know almost like reading off the
PowerPoint Style just like very linear
like here are the facts that's not very
effective because then you're only
testing yourself at the lower orders so
you know there's a lot of variation
there but for a bit beginner technique
find my method is is great to start with
you know if I'm working with someone
that's got some experience with this I
know that there's going to be a
foundation that's a lot easier to work
with here are the three things I did to
get a 99.99
oh and you missed the point ask your
teachers for extra material like
challenging practice exam questions
or application questions so that you're
not cramming for the end of the video
okay pretty simple points there don't do
all the homework necessarily though I
think she probably benefited from going
to a school that gave more meaningful
homework but there are honestly a lot of
and like look I don't mean this in a way
that's like Consulting to teachers or
anything and sometimes it's just it's
just how things are but sometimes
homework is just not very useful you
know there are really great guidelines
that are especially not evidence-based
ones on how to set homework that is
Meaningful that produces good learning a
lot of it is just kind of like
the teacher has an idea about something
and just gives it a go but actually a
lot of homework is not going to help you
if you are not studying okay if you're
not studying in your personal time do
your homework it's going to help you but
if it's taking time away from something
else that you want to be doing that is
more productive for your studying you've
got another method that you want to use
then it depends on the method and
depends on the homework but usually I
find that homework then is kind of a
distractor more so and I wish we had an
education system that made it easier for
teachers to just like let students do a
little bit more of their own thing and
take a little bit more control of their
own and ownership over their learning
rather than like prescribing homework
but at the same time as someone that
works with thousands of students like I
know how hard it is to do that and I
can't imagine trying to do that in like
a school setting unless you're in like a
private school where there's a lot more
resources and a lot more support
um but a lot of time homework is not
really going to help you and actually
one of the best things that you can do
for yourself is learn a more effective
method of self-study and just do your
homework as fast as you can just so that
the teacher like checks the box or
something or negotiate with your teacher
if they seem like an open-minded person
be like hey I really want to self-study
using this method I think it's going to
be really effective for me is it okay
for just like the next couple weeks I
try using this method and then I I talk
to you about how I'm finding it because
I feel like it might be more useful for
me than doing the homework well you know
if they seem like an open-minded person
maybe try to give that a go but you know
that's going to be up to you right I
don't think any responsibility for you
know you getting in trouble with your
teacher if they're like a super super
conservative like you know like how dare
you define me kind of personality
um
yeah the the next thing asking for a
more more challenging material this is
actually good like you I I think every
student should always hold themselves to
a higher standard in general it just
pushes you forward a little bit more and
learning outside the scope is better for
your learning overall anyway uh and
revising on a regular basis this is good
advice too uh so overall I think there's
just maybe a little bit of nuance that
this person is missing based on the fact
that she probably doesn't have
experience working with lots of schools
and students of diverse backgrounds but
given that it's just coming from her her
experience and she did say like this is
how she did it I think it's yeah like
good advice revising for anything can be
incredibly stressful so it's my top tips
to make revision that little bit easier
and to alleviate some of those choices
so when I was revising I would always
get my things from environment so
definitely go and check those out for
all of your revision needs my first tip
is to get some random in so you can map
out when you're going to do revision
when you're going to take rest days
because that's really important when
you're gonna do mock exams all of those
things that's good my second tip is to
get a clock that's just on the table
it's not your phone so you don't get
distracted
your revision time and figure out what's
next
what he said next tip get yourself an
exercise book one that you can divide
into sections is so useful just for all
of your original notes but whilst
revising make it colorful make it but
you know so so again this is only if
you're using a linear note-taking style
but once you start getting into higher
order learning and that becomes the
method through which you think like once
you start understanding the value of
integrated thinking you will find that
A4 size paper is just so restrictive and
it's hard to use so again I I always say
and I understand not everyone can afford
it but if you can try to save up to get
yourself a tablet even if it's like the
cheapest possible you know like Android
tablet out there with a tablet with a
Pen stylus Infinite Canvas is like is a
game changer for for learning if you are
using integrative thinking and
non-linear note taking which really is
just vastly Superior so useful just for
all of your audition notes whilst
revising make it colorful make it stand
out it's going to help you remember it
uh I mean the research on that is it
doesn't really work quite that way but
stick them everywhere short notes to
help you remember
so the final thing that that's not
really going to be very effective for
most people unless you've got a very few
number of things that you're trying to
remind yourself for if the information
is very very simple but if you like it's
quite a niche situation where you'd need
that if you do really have detailed
isolated fact related information that
you're trying to remember you should
really be using a digital flashcard app
for those that type of information like
Anki I actually used to do that though I
actually used to have stuff like just on
my mirror so like when I'm brushing my
teeth and you know I can remember it and
all I remember is I had the notes up I
don't remember anything that was on them
when it comes to revising like properly
this is something I'm so passionate
about so I don't care what Tick Tock
again I hate the best title here it's
like what how how do you know that why
are you why are you so confident about
that what YouTube video what like genius
that you know that has told you like
this is the perfect method to revive and
smash your exam like genuinely there is
no perfect method that's like
oh wait so this she's responding to
someone that is asking what is the best
technique oh all right I get it sorry my
bad Christina when it comes to revising
like properly this is something I'm so
passionate about so I don't care what
Tick Tock what YouTube video what like
genius that you know that has told you
like this is the perfect method to
revise and smash your exam like
genuinely there is no perfect method one
of the best methods is genuinely to use
all the methods as in do some flashcards
make a few posters do some past papers
do blurting on a whiteboard and fill in
the bits that you don't know like use
everything because all methods have
flaws past papers are great but they're
not going to cover every single topic
ever flashcards are great but they do
get boring after a while the posters are
great but it does take forever to make a
poster on the topic each supervision
technique has their strengths and
weaknesses so if you can use all of them
you're going to be covering all bases
yeah like that's great that's great
advice I don't have a lot to say about
that I would say don't use all revision
methods I know especially in some
countries there are revision methods
that are like straight up will not work
especially in Asia there are some very
desperate students trying to do stuff uh
and so like I wouldn't say do everything
I would say think about the benefit cost
and benefit of the technique if you know
the cost and benefit like of a technique
then you should be able to mix and match
them and then bring them together into
your system and make it make a decision
about that right but I would say think
about it and then use it and I think
that's something that was like implicit
in what she was saying I'm sure she's
not saying like do all the real crazy
things but the essence of the message is
there and I agree with it and so that's
great advice good advice Christina and
that's it that that's it we are at the
end of all the videos if there are
specific things that you want me to
review uh let me know but otherwise
thanks for watching if there's things
that you want me to go into a little bit
more depth let me know know in the
comments and I'll try to make a bigger
video explaining some of that a little
bit more if you like these kind of
reaction videos let me know as well but
thanks for watching we'll see in the
next one
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