11 Ways to Spaced Repetition in 11 Minutes

Summary

This video script introduces 11 practical ways to utilize spaced repetition for effective learning, emphasizing its superiority over cramming. It suggests techniques like delayed review, interleaving, and end-of-day review, and progresses to more complex methods involving study timetables and algorithms. The script highlights the importance of combining spaced repetition with active recall for optimal learning outcomes and promotes the use of RemNote, a note-taking app with built-in spaced repetition features, as a seamless solution for learners.

Takeaways

• 🧠 Spaced repetition is a scientifically-backed learning technique that enhances memory retention by spacing out study sessions.
• 🚀 The speaker used spaced repetition effectively during medical school to balance studies with other activities like creating a YouTube channel and building RemNotes.
• 📚 The script outlines 11 practical ways to apply spaced repetition to improve academic performance, emphasizing real-life applications over theoretical science.
• 🔄 Spaced repetition involves delaying review of learned material to allow for memory decay, which paradoxically increases retention upon subsequent review.
• 🔄 Tier one of spaced repetition includes basic techniques like delayed review and interleaving topics within a single study session to enhance connectivity and retention.
• 📈 Tier two introduces increasing intervals between repetitions, such as the shoe box method and the use of digital tools like Kanban boards for managing study materials.
• 📅 Study timetables, both prospective and retrospective, are recommended for planning and tracking study sessions based on the spacing effect and personal performance.
• 📝 The script suggests focusing on individual concepts within topics, using tools like outlines or note-taking apps to customize study sessions based on mastery level.
• 🤖 Tier three leverages advanced spaced repetition algorithms that adapt to the learner's current understanding, optimizing the timing of reviews for maximum efficiency.
• 📱 Apps with built-in spaced repetition algorithms, such as SuperMemo, Anki, and RemNote, are highlighted as effective tools for implementing tier three spaced repetition strategies.
• 🔒 Combining spaced repetition with active recall is crucial for effective learning; they complement each other like sword and shield, enhancing the study process.

Q & A

What is the core concept of spaced repetition?

Spaced repetition is a learning technique that involves reviewing information at increasing intervals over time, which helps to enhance memory retention and efficiency in studying.

How does spaced repetition differ from cramming?

Spaced repetition involves spreading out study sessions over time, allowing for better retention, whereas cramming is the last-minute, intensive studying that typically results in short-term memory without long-term retention.

What are the three tiers of spaced repetition mentioned in the script?

The three tiers of spaced repetition are: Tier one (basics), which includes delayed review and interleaving of topics; Tier two (spacing with increasing intervals), which involves methods like the shoe box method and study timetables; and Tier three (custom algorithms), which includes using apps with built-in spaced repetition algorithms or custom spaced repetition within a note-taking app.

What is the 'shoe box method' or 'Leitner system' and how does it work?

The 'shoe box method' or 'Leitner system' is a technique where study materials are categorized into different boxes based on the frequency of review. Items are moved to higher boxes as they are successfully reviewed, ensuring that more difficult or less well-understood topics are reviewed more frequently.

How does the 'end of day review' method benefit memory retention?

The 'end of day review' method takes advantage of the fact that we tend to forget a significant portion of what we learn within a day. Reviewing newly learned material at the end of the day helps to reinforce the memory before it fades.

What is the purpose of using a Kanban board for spaced repetition?

A Kanban board can be used to visually organize and manage the spaced repetition process. It allows you to move items along the board to different columns as you review them, simulating the spacing effect and helping to keep track of what needs to be studied and when.

What is the advantage of using a 'prospective revision timetable'?

A 'prospective revision timetable' allows you to plan your study sessions in advance, scheduling repetitions at increasing intervals. This method helps in maintaining a structured study routine and ensures that you revisit topics at optimal times for memory retention.

How does 'retrospective revision timetable' differ from a 'prospective revision timetable'?

A 'retrospective revision timetable' focuses on reviewing topics based on their difficulty or how well they are known, rather than following a pre-planned schedule. It involves ranking topics after each review session and choosing what to study next based on the weakest areas.

What is the significance of combining spaced repetition with active recall?

Combining spaced repetition with active recall is crucial because active recall is the act of retrieving information from memory, which strengthens neural connections and improves long-term retention. Spaced repetition provides the optimal timing for these retrieval attempts.

Why is RemNote considered an effective tool for implementing spaced repetition?

RemNote is considered effective because it integrates spaced repetition algorithms into its core product, allowing for a seamless experience without the need for plugins or custom coding. It also automatically generates spaced repetition flashcards from notes, saving time and enhancing the learning process.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Mastering Spaced Repetition for Effective Learning

This paragraph introduces the concept of spaced repetition as an efficient learning technique, scientifically proven to enhance memory retention. The speaker reflects on their personal experience with spaced repetition during medical school, which allowed them to excel academically and pursue other interests simultaneously. The paragraph emphasizes the simplicity of spaced repetition, contrasting it with cramming, and promises a list of practical applications to improve grades. It also outlines the tiered benefits of spaced repetition, starting with basic techniques that are easy to implement.

05:01

🔄 Implementing Spaced Repetition Techniques for Better Grades

The second paragraph delves into practical spaced repetition methods, starting with 'delayed review,' which leverages memory decay to enhance retention by revisiting material after allowing some forgetting. The speaker provides a study schedule example, suggesting alternating subjects to create spacing. 'Interleaving' is the next method, which involves mixing subjects within a single study session to improve connections and retention. 'End of day review' is also discussed as a strategy to combat daily memory loss. The paragraph moves on to tier two techniques, such as the 'shoe box method' or Leitner system, which uses physical or digital boxes to organize study materials based on review intervals. It also mentions using a Kanban board for digital organization and a study timetable for planning review intervals, as well as the retrospective revision timetable for personalized study sessions based on topic mastery.

10:02

📈 Advanced Spaced Repetition Strategies and Tools

The final paragraph discusses advanced spaced repetition strategies in tier three, focusing on personalized intervals that adapt to the learner's grasp of the material. It introduces 'Spaced Repetition Algorithms' that recommend study topics based on the individual's current understanding, likening them to personalized content recommendations on platforms like YouTube. The speaker mentions using apps with built-in algorithms, such as SuperMemo and Anki, and the emerging trend of incorporating such algorithms into note-taking apps. The paragraph highlights 'RemNote' as an innovative tool that integrates spaced repetition algorithms into its core functionality, offering features like automatic flashcard generation from notes. The speaker emphasizes the importance of combining spaced repetition with active recall for optimal learning outcomes and suggests exploring various study methods for different subjects.

Keywords

💡Spaced Repetition

Spaced repetition is a learning technique that involves revisiting and reviewing information at increasing intervals over time. It is central to the video's theme as it is presented as a powerful method for efficient learning. The script explains that it is the opposite of cramming and provides various ways to apply it, such as delayed review and interleaving topics, to enhance memory retention.

💡Memory Decay

Memory decay refers to the natural process of forgetting information over time if it is not reinforced. In the context of the video, it is mentioned as the scientific basis for delayed review in spaced repetition. The script suggests allowing some time to pass after learning something before reviewing it again to increase retention, as struggling with the material during review can lead to better long-term memory.

💡Interleaving

Interleaving is a study technique where different subjects or topics are mixed within a single study session rather than studying one topic in isolation. The video script uses interleaving as an example of how to apply spaced repetition within a single study session, which helps the brain to make connections between different topics and retain information more effectively.

💡End of Day Review

End of day review is a strategy where newly learned material is revisited at the end of the day to reinforce memory. The script highlights this as an effective method to combat the tendency of forgetting more than half of what is learned within a day, suggesting that reviewing material right before the end of the day can help in better ingraining the information in memory.

💡Shoe Box Method

The shoe box method, also known as the Leitner system, is a form of spaced repetition that involves categorizing study materials into different 'boxes' based on how well they are known. The script describes this method as a way to customize study intervals, with items moving up a box each time they are correctly reviewed and moving back to the first box if they are not.

💡Kanban Board

A Kanban board is a project management tool that can be adapted for studying by acting as a digital version of the shoe box method. The video script mentions using a Kanban board to manage study materials, allowing for the movement of topics between 'boxes' or columns after they are reviewed, which helps in visualizing and organizing study progress.

💡Study Timetable

A study timetable is a schedule that outlines when and what to study, often using increasing intervals between reviews. The script introduces the concept of a prospective revision timetable, where study sessions are planned in advance with specific dates and topics, and a retrospective revision timetable, which is based on reviewing topics based on their mastery level.

💡Retrospective Revision

Retrospective revision involves reviewing study topics based on their perceived difficulty or the learner's familiarity with the material. The video script explains that this method allows for a more personalized study plan, focusing on weaker topics more frequently and stronger topics less so, which can be particularly useful as exams approach.

💡Spaced Repetition Algorithms

Spaced Repetition Algorithms are systems that adjust the intervals between study sessions based on the learner's performance with the material. The script discusses these algorithms as a way to optimize spaced repetition, with apps like Anki and SuperMemo using them to recommend when to study specific topics for maximum retention.

💡Active Recall

Active recall is a learning technique where learners actively attempt to remember information without looking at the material. The video script emphasizes the importance of combining active recall with spaced repetition for effective studying, suggesting that active recall is the action of studying, while spaced repetition is the timing strategy.

💡RemNote

RemNote is a note-taking app mentioned in the script that integrates spaced repetition algorithms into its core functionality. The script positions RemNote as a tool that simplifies the process of spaced repetition by automatically generating flashcards from notes, thus combining the benefits of note-taking with the efficiency of spaced repetition.

Highlights

Spaced repetition is a scientifically-backed method for efficient learning, allowing for faster learning and time for other activities.

Spaced repetition involves spacing out study sessions rather than cramming, leading to better retention.

The video outlines 11 practical ways to apply spaced repetition for improved academic performance.

Delayed review is a spaced repetition technique where you allow time to pass before revisiting material to enhance retention.

Interleaving topics involves studying different subjects in a single day to improve connections and retention.

End of day review helps counteract the forgetting curve by refreshing newly learned material before the day ends.

Tier two of spaced repetition introduces increasing intervals between repetitions, mimicking memory decay.

The shoe box method, or Leitner system, organizes study materials into boxes for varying intervals of review.

Kanban boards offer a digital alternative to the shoe box method for managing spaced repetition intervals.

Study timetables, or prospective revision timetables, schedule study sessions in advance using doubling intervals or Fibonacci sequences.

Retrospective revision timetables review topics based on difficulty and personal mastery, rather than fixed schedules.

Focusing on individual concepts within a topic allows for more granular control over spaced repetition.

Spaced repetition algorithms adjust study intervals based on personal mastery of topics, optimizing learning efficiency.

Apps with built-in spaced repetition algorithms, like SuperMemo and Anki, offer automated learning schedules.

Custom spaced repetition within note-taking apps requires additional setup but allows for personalized learning strategies.

RemNote is a note-taking app with integrated spaced repetition algorithms, offering a seamless learning experience.

Combining spaced repetition with active recall is crucial for effective learning, as they complement each other.

RemNote's algorithm generates flashcards from notes, streamlining the process of transferring notes to study materials.

Active recall and spaced repetition should be mixed and matched based on the subject to achieve the best study results.

Transcripts

- Spaced repetition the best way to learn anything fast.

Backed by science, spaced repetition was my super power

during medical school.

It allowed me to learn so fast

that I had plenty of time for other things

like starting a YouTube channel, producing music

and building RemNotes all during my training.

The science behind spaced repetition

can be quite complicated,

but honestly you can watch any other video

on the internet for that.

But in this video,

I'm cutting straight through all that fluff

and I'm giving you real life applications.

11 ways to use spaced repetition step-by-step

to get better grades.

In a nutshell spaced repetition

is simply spacing out your studies.

It's the opposite of cramming,

which means that all the benefits are also at the opposite.

At the end of this video,

I'll talk about the most common mistakes

that students make when using spaced repetition

so that you can avoid it.

But for now, let's get into the list.

(electronic whoosh)

So I see spaced repetition in three different tiers.

The higher you go, the more benefits you get.

But also the more complex it is to apply.

Tier one is the basics.

You don't get the full effects,

but it's easy to get started

and you can start right after this video.

(electronic whoosh)

So the first way to use spaced repetition

is delayed review.

And this is based on the science of memory decay.

When you first learn something,

give it some time to marinate,

allow yourself to actually forget some of the material.

That way, the next time you review it,

you'll struggle a bit more,

but retention will be way higher,

more effort equals more retention.

So here's an example of what you could do

with your class schedule.

After you go to your first math lecture,

just let the materials sit and do something else.

Like maybe preview the history of lecture

for tomorrow's history class.

Then tomorrow you can go to history lecture,

but after that, leave history alone.

Now that some time has passed since you've seen math,

you can go back and do say the math homework or math review.

Then maybe you can preview science

and then you can do the history homework,

and then back to science

and then back to math again and so on and so on.

You're delaying your review

allowing for some space to happen between repetitions.

(electronic whoosh)

The second method here is interleaving your topics.

So it's kinda like the first method

where you're spacing your subjects across multiple days.

This method spaces your subjects across

these single study day.

So let's say you plan to study three chapters today,

instead of studying in blocks

as in only starting chapter one in the morning,

only studying chapter two in the afternoon

and only studying chapter three in the evening,

you can try breaking up the blocks and interleaving them.

(bird chirps)

So for example, we can study chapter one

in the morning, afternoon, and evening.

With block study,

your brain can completely forget about chapter one

after the morning but with interleaving,

your brain is forced to hold on to chapter one material,

even while studying for chapters two and three.

And this allows you to make connections

between all the chapters.

So the next time you plan a study for an entire day,

like cramming for a test, try out this method.

You're basically applying spacing to your cramming.

(electronic whoosh)

So the next method is end of day review.

According to the science of memory,

we tend to forget more than half

of what we learned within a day.

So a good time to review newly learned material

is to do a refresher at the end of the day.

If you watched my other video

about 12 ways to use Active recall,

then this is a great time to run through the questions

that you wrote in class.

It's okay if you can't remember everything,

you can always review it at a later repetition,

but the things you can recall

will be better ingrained in your memory.

(electronic whoosh)

Let's move on to the next tier.

In tier two spacing, you're adding the idea

that each repetition should be done in increasing intervals.

The reason here is because again,

it mimics the science of memory decay.

(electronic whoosh)

An easy way to demonstrate this is the shoe box method.

Also known as the Leitner system.

The way it works is that you have four or five boxes,

items in box one is studied every day.

Box two is studied every other day.

And so on as you see here.

Box five is retired,

meaning that you already know all the material well enough,

and you can just quickly review it right before the test.

So to start place your study topics into box one.

A lot of people use flashcards,

but you can put whatever you like,

past papers, problem sets, whatever.

Every time you get a topic right, you move it up one box.

Every time you get a topic wrong,

you move it all the way back to box one.

This ensures that you studied your weaker topics more often,

and this method is highly customizable.

For example, you can come up with your own intervals

or you can move your wrong topics back just one box,

instead of all the way back to the beginning

for a less punishing schedule.

(electronic whoosh)

The next method is using a Kanban board.

You can think of it similar to the shoe box method,

but done on your electronic device

rather than with physical cards.

The columns will act as the boxes.

And after you review an item,

you can move it along to the next box column accordingly.

There are a number apps that enable you to do this.

Some free ones that come to mind are Trello and Notion.

(electronic whoosh)

The next method is to use a study timetable,

also known as a prospective revision time table.

The idea is that you're scheduling your repetitions

ahead of time in your calendar.

So you have the dates in the first column,

and then you can fill in your study topics.

If you want to be more detailed,

you can even put time in the first column.

A common spacing interval is to double the days.

So for example, if you're studying chapter one on this day,

then the next time you'll study it

is two days later, then four days later,

then eight, then 16 and so on.

Or if you wanna get really fancy,

you can try using the Fibonacci Sequence.

There's another method for timetables,

and that would be the retrospective revision timetable.

It's basically the reverse.

Instead of having the dates in the first column,

you put the study topic in the first column.

And every time you review a topic,

you rank it based on how well you knew it.

So let's say that I studied chapter one on January 1st,

and I felt like I knew it well,

I'd highlight it in green.

For me, yellow is medium

and then red means I don't know it very well.

So unlike the other timetable,

for this one we don't plan out the schedule ahead of time.

We just choose what we wanna study that day

based on which topics are the weakest

or on which topics we haven't studied in a while.

You just keep studying everyday

until all your topics turn green as you approach your exam.

The obvious advantage of this method is that

you're studying based on your strengths and your weaknesses.

(electronic whoosh)

The next method takes the idea of retrospective revision

and applies it not just to your study topics,

but to individual concepts within the topic.

For example, instead of deciding

to study for the topic of pharmacology,

I'm zooming in and studying individual facts

from that chapter.

This method works well using an outline or note-taking app,

because you can go down your list of concepts

and you can highlight the questions

based on how well you know them,

or you can use emojis if you wanted to.

If you're using a note taking app

with a tagging feature like RemNote, for example,

instead of highlighting, you can tag the concept.

This way, you can later do a quick focus review

on your weaknesses right before your test,

by choosing to study specific tags.

(electronic whoosh)

So let's move on to tier three.

These next methods I'm about to share

will give you maximum spaced repetition benefits.

So in tier two, the intervals are increasing,

but the optimal spacing is having

the intervals adjust to you.

Your understanding of topics can fluctuate,

so the intervals for specific topics

can get longer or shorter

based on how well you know that topic.

And this can get extremely complicated,

but luckily we have Spaced Repetition Algorithms.

Think of it like the YouTube algorithm.

It recommends videos that it thinks you will enjoy

based on your personal watch history.

Well, in the same way, Spaced Repetition Algorithms

will recommend specific topics for you to study

based on your personal mastery of those topics

at that moment in time.

So this next method is use an app

with built in spaced repetition algorithms.

Some of the old school ones are SuperMemo and Anki,

but nowadays are plenty of other options

with all sorts of aesthetics and gamification.

(electronic whoosh)

The next method is custom spaced repetition

within a note-taking app.

So there has been a recent trend

of people trying to build spaced repetition algorithms

directly into a note-taking app,

like Notion or Rome Research.

I admire the creativity of these DIY algorithms,

but main downside here is that

it requires some form of plugin or add on or custom coding

that you have to do yourself.

Which can make it very complicated,

if you don't know what you're doing.

Personally, I think it's a lot of work

and hassle to go through,

just achieve makeshift spaced repetition.

I mean, you can pack on as much muscle as you want.

A Diglett is still just a Diglett.

(electronic whoosh)

Which takes us to the last method

and in my biased opinion,

the best way to implement spaced repetition.

And that is by using RemNote.

It's currently the only note taking app out there

that has spaced repetition algorithms

built into the core product itself.

No plugins, no coding, it's just seamless.

We've built our own RemNote algorithm,

but you can also switch to the traditional Anki algorithm

or customize your own based on your preferences,

Maddie and I have been using spaced repetition

throughout medical school and our careers,

so with our awesome team, we've optimized RemNote

through years of personal experience.

RemNote does something that no other note taking app can do.

It automatically generates spaced repetition flashcards

from the notes that you take,

so it completely removes the time intensive step

of transferring your notes to flashcards.

Just imagine if Anki and Notion had a baby

and that baby got a PhD in productivity.

And I say productivity because there are a ton

of other features built into RemNote

that save you time during your studies.

As I mentioned before,

achieving tier three of spaced repetition

can get pretty complicated,

but I firmly believe that everyone

should be using spaced repetition to learn.

And RemNote is our way

of making this technology accessible to everyone.

Which is why RemNote,

will always be free for you to start using.

(electronic whoosh)

Now, let's talk about the biggest mistake

that students make when using spaced repetition.

And that is you gotta combine spaced repetition

with Active recall.

So if you're using spaced repetition to space out,

how many times you reread your notes

or rewatch your lectures, then you're missing the point.

When it comes to studying, Active recall is what you do

and spaced repetition is how you do it.

They go hand in hand like sword and shield.

Which means the best study strategies

are some combination of methods in this video

and methods mentioned in our previous Active recall video.

Whether it's combining retrospective timetables

with practice problems

or the shoe box method with mind maps,

or spaced repetition algorithms with flashcards,

you wanna mix and match

based on what type of subject you're trying to study for.

So for a refresher, check out 12 different ways

to use Active recall,

and you can watch it right here.

(upbeat music)