You're not stupid: How to learn difficult things with Obsidian
Summary
TLDRThe speaker shares their transformative experience using Obsidian, a free writing app that revolutionized their learning process by creating a network of interconnected notes. They emphasize the app's simplicity, the ability to link ideas, and the network effect it has on learning, which aligns with how our brains naturally work. The speaker also recommends the book 'Make It Stick' and suggests starting simple with Obsidian before exploring advanced features. They highlight the benefits of data privacy and cross-platform availability, urging viewers to try the app for its potential to enhance their knowledge network.
Takeaways
- 📝 The speaker has been using the free writing app Obsidian for six months, which has significantly improved their learning process.
- 🌟 Obsidian is not sponsored in the video; the sponsorship is by Brilliant, a learning platform for math, science, and data science.
- 💡 Traditional note-taking methods are often isolated and don't allow for the interconnectedness of ideas, whereas Obsidian enables a network of notes.
- 🔗 Obsidian allows users to link notes together, creating a visual web of thoughts, ideas, research, and readings.
- 🧠 The app mimics the way our brains work, supporting the network effect in learning, which has been backed by research over the past 20 to 30 years.
- 📚 The speaker recommends the book 'Make It Stick: The Science of Learning' for further insights into effective learning strategies.
- 📈 Obsidian encourages the development of a personal knowledge network, which can lead to a chain reaction of idea generation.
- 🔑 The app stores notes as plain text files on the user's machine, ensuring privacy and avoiding proprietary format issues.
- 📱 Obsidian offers a premium feature for syncing notes with mobile devices, enhancing accessibility and convenience.
- 🎓 Brilliant.org, the video's sponsor, provides interactive learning experiences in coding and data analysis, promoting a hands-on approach to learning.
- 🎉 The first 200 users to sign up through the provided link will receive a 20% discount on Brilliant's annual premium subscription.
Q & A
What is the main topic of the video?
-The main topic of the video is the introduction and benefits of using the free writing app, Obsidian, for transforming one's learning and note-taking process.
How long has the speaker been using Obsidian?
-The speaker has been using Obsidian for the last six months.
What is the primary benefit of using Obsidian for note-taking?
-The primary benefit of using Obsidian is that it allows users to create a network of interconnected notes, which enhances learning and idea generation by linking different thoughts and pieces of research.
How does Obsidian differ from traditional note-taking methods?
-Unlike traditional note-taking methods that result in separate and unconnected notes, Obsidian enables users to link notes together, creating a web of interconnected ideas and knowledge.
What does the speaker suggest doing with Obsidian after installation?
-The speaker suggests creating an empty vault, starting a new note, and linking it to other notes or ideas to begin building one's knowledge network.
What is the 'network effect' in the context of learning and ideas?
-The 'network effect' in the context of learning and ideas refers to the phenomenon where multiple connections between different ideas and insights create a chain reaction of idea-making, enhancing the learning process.
Which book does the speaker recommend for understanding the science of learning?
-The speaker recommends the book 'Make It Stick: The Science of Learning and Memory' for understanding the science of learning.
What feature of Obsidian ensures that the user's data remains private and accessible?
-Obsidian stores the notes as plain text files on the user's machine, ensuring privacy and accessibility without relying on a proprietary format.
How can users sync their Obsidian notes with their mobile devices?
-Users can sync their Obsidian notes with their mobile devices by paying for the syncing feature offered by the app.
What is the sponsor of the video and how does it relate to learning?
-The sponsor of the video is Brilliant.org, a platform for learning math, science, and data science interactively, which aligns with the video's theme of effective learning techniques.
What does the speaker suggest for users to do after watching the video?
-The speaker suggests that users download Obsidian, go through the 'Getting Started' section of the help page, and begin using it to start building their knowledge network.
Outlines
📚 Discovering Obsidian: Transforming Learning Through Note-Taking
The speaker shares their experience using the free writing app Obsidian for six months, which has significantly improved their learning process. They explain that traditional note-taking methods often result in isolated ideas, but Obsidian allows for interconnected notes, forming a network of thoughts and knowledge. The app is not visually impressive initially, but its strength lies in its ability to link notes, creating a web of interconnected ideas. The speaker emphasizes the importance of this network effect for learning, as it mirrors how our brains work, allowing for deeper understanding and improved memory. They recommend the book 'Make It Stick' for further insights into effective learning strategies and encourage viewers to start using Obsidian by creating simple notes and links, gradually exploring more advanced features.
🚀 Learning Data Analysis and Coding with Brilliant.org
The speaker introduces Brilliant.org as a sponsor of the video and a valuable resource for learning math, science, and data analysis interactively. They highlight the effectiveness of learning by doing and how Brilliant's interactive questions challenge learners to think deeply about subjects. With thousands of lessons ranging from beginner to advanced levels, Brilliant offers a comprehensive learning experience. The speaker promotes Brilliant's new data analysis fundamentals course, which allows learners to work with real data. They offer a special discount for the first 200 viewers who sign up through the provided link, emphasizing the high demand for data skills and the opportunity to future-proof one's learning.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Obsidian
💡Learning Techniques
💡Note-taking Systems
💡Network Effect
💡Cognitive Science
💡Make It Stick
💡Zettelkasten Method
💡Data Privacy
💡Brilliant.org
💡Interactive Learning
Highlights
The speaker has been using the free writing app Obsidian for six months, which has transformed their learning experience.
Obsidian is a note-taking and knowledge management tool that allows users to create a network of interconnected notes.
The app is not just for writing but also for learning and idea generation, as it helps in connecting disparate ideas and thoughts.
Obsidian's interface might seem simple at first, but it's powerful in its ability to visualize and manage a web of thoughts and ideas.
Traditional note-taking methods often result in separate, unconnected ideas, whereas Obsidian encourages a network effect for learning.
Research suggests that fitting new knowledge into an existing knowledge network helps develop deeper understanding and improves memory.
The book 'Make It Stick' is recommended for its discussion on learning methods and techniques similar to those offered by Obsidian.
Obsidian allows for the creation of a personal knowledge network that grows and evolves with the user's learning and insights.
The app is beginner-friendly, encouraging users to start with simple note creation and linking before exploring more complex features.
Obsidian's Zettelkasten method is mentioned as an effective note-taking approach, though it might be confusing for some beginners.
The speaker is actively summarizing their entire library and notes into Obsidian, highlighting the app's impact on their learning process.
Obsidian stores notes as plain text files on the user's machine, ensuring privacy and avoiding proprietary format issues.
The app offers a paid sync feature, allowing users to access their notes on mobile devices and continue their learning on the go.
The sponsor of the video, Brilliant.org, offers interactive learning experiences in math, science, and data analysis.
Brilliant's platform includes thousands of lessons from beginner to advanced levels, catering to a wide range of learners.
A new data analysis fundamentals course on Brilliant allows learners to work with real data, enhancing their analytical skills.
The video offers a link for the first 200 viewers to get a 20% discount on Brilliant's annual premium subscription.
Transcripts
I've spent the last six months using the
free writing app obsidian and it has
completely transformed my learning it
can do the same for you and I'm going to
show you how this video is not sponsored
by obsidian it is sponsored by brilliant
more on that later I've been learning
the wrong way my entire life I mean I
didn't realize it at the time I thought
I was doing it properly it seemed to
work for me and then about 6 months ago
I started experimenting with different
learning techniques and note taking
systems
which is when I discovered the free
writing app obsidian this is the
obsidian website download it here
install and you will see this it doesn't
look much and if you're a firsttime user
you could at this point easily decide
it's not for you don't do that instead
create an empty vault in a location if
you're choosing call it what you like it
doesn't really matter mine lives in an
obsidian folder inside my documents
folder put put yours anywhere and then
with crln this will happen your first
note I have a note here on Python and
this is where we start to see obsidian
strengths in this note I can link to
other notes that I've written which
creates a note Network that obsidian
will let me visualize like this now you
see the advantages of obsidian it's your
web of thoughts ideas research and
readings and it will be as
transformative for you as the worldwide
web was well for the world here's why
when you write traditional notes they're
usually for a one-off piece of probably
ephemeral work if you do store them
they're all separate ideas from one set
of notes can never connect with ideas
from the others they're locked up with
obsidian each time you write a note
you're adding to previous notes nothing
is ever lost because it's all part of a
network your network your network of
knowledge traditional notetaking traps
your creativity your notes could be full
of hundreds of tiny insights unable to
connect with each other obsidian frees
them and allows multiple connections
creating a chain reaction of idea making
this is the network effect applied to
your learning and ideas and it turns out
this is how our brains work a lot of
research has been done into this over
the last 20 to 30 years and I've linked
to an article called teaching the
science of learning which summarizes a
lot of it fitting new knowledge into an
existing knowledge Network helps to
develop deeper understanding and
summarizing in your own words something
that you've read or watched also
improves memory and understanding this
would be a good time for me to recommend
the book make it stick teaching the
science of learning which discusses
these methods and others in detail I
think obsidium will transform your
learning workflow and outcomes this is
what you should do install and start
using it don't create any complex
systems at this stage just start a new
node note and write what should you
write something that interests you a
thought about a topic you're learning or
a summary of a book or a course chapter
that you're doing or a link to a YouTube
video with a brief explanation of the
video and why you liked it tag it you do
that by writing a hashtag and then a
word those tags will form some of the
links in your network and then create
another note can you link the new note
to the previous one and just keep
working with it like that creating and
grow your network the links between
different thoughts and notes will start
to inspire new ideas as you become more
comfortable you can develop a more
sophisticated workflow or you can adopt
systems by other people there's the
zettle Casten method which is effective
but a little confusing for beginners
there's a book on the zetel Casten
method called how to take smart notes
which uh I wouldn't recommend it for
beginners just start with the basics get
to know how to make notes link notes and
use tags and then explore as you get
more confident you can explore some of
the other obsidian features like the
canvas and plugins there's a lot to
discover obsidian has inspired me to
develop my network as fast as I can I'm
currently working through my library
summarizing all my books and going back
through my notes putting them all into
obsidian if that weren't enough to
convince you there are lots of other
reasons that I really like obsidian the
notes data is stored on your machine in
plain text files it's private and
there's no proprietary format that could
be a problem in the future you can also
sync it with your mobile phone you do
have to pay for that feature but it does
mean that you can use obsidian whilst
not sitting in front of your
computer my biggest regret is I didn't
have a system like this years ago go to
obsidian MD download it and then work
through the getting started section of
the help
page and then get started you're
watching this video which probably
probably means you're interested in
coding and data analysis which can be
quite difficult but there is a free and
easy way to learn them from
brilliant.org the sponsor of this video
if you want to become a more effective
learner then you'll love brilliant it's
the best way of learning math science
and data science interactively we learn
by doing you can watch a video about how
to tie a shoelace again and again but
you'll only learn it when you give it a
try and it's exactly the same with
coding and data analysis interactivity
is at the part of brilliant their
interactive questions challenge you they
make you think about the subject in
different ways and with each interactive
question you're deepening your
understanding brilliant has thousands of
lessons going from beginner to Advanced
so whatever your level there'll be
something there for you you can learn
computer science AI data science or
neural networks data skills are in high
demand and you can learn these with
their new data analysis fundamentals
course where you get to work on
analyzing and drawing inferences from
real data with brilliant you can build a
daily learning Habit to Future proof
yourself try it free for 30 days by
going to brilliant.org python programmer
or just click on the link in the
description and the first 200 of you
will get 20% off brilliant's annual
premium
subscription
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