How I Learn New Content and Never Forget

Koi

23 Sept 202203:54

Summary

TLDRThis video transcript delves into the concept of 'higher order learning' as suggested by learning expert Justin Sung. It contrasts lower order learning, which focuses on memorizing facts, with higher order learning that involves applying and evaluating information. The video outlines a framework to promote deeper understanding by asking critical questions about the importance, relevance, and application of the material. It uses the example of COVID-19's RNA structure to illustrate how higher order learning can enhance comprehension and problem-solving in virology.

Takeaways

📚 Higher Order Learning: The concept of 'higher order learning' is introduced as a way to deeply understand and connect information, as opposed to just memorizing facts.
🤔 Understanding Spectrum: Understanding is presented as a spectrum, with recalling facts and concepts at the lower end, and applying or evaluating information at the higher end.
🧩 Puzzle Analogy: The script uses a puzzle analogy to explain the difference between lower and higher order learning, emphasizing the importance of seeing how pieces fit together.
🔑 Three Critical Questions: A framework for higher order learning is suggested, which involves asking why something is important, how it relates to other information, and how it will be used or tested.
🔍 Importance of COVID-19: The script uses COVID-19 as an example to illustrate the application of the higher order learning framework, highlighting the significance of RNA in the virus.
🔬 RNA vs DNA: The differences between RNA and DNA are discussed to show how understanding the basics can lead to a deeper comprehension of complex topics like virology.
🛡️ Vaccine Development: The script suggests thinking about how a vaccine might work against COVID-19 as a way to apply higher order learning and understand the material at a deeper level.
📝 Avoiding Relearning: The importance of learning material properly the first time using higher order learning is emphasized to avoid the need for relearning later.
📆 Memorization of Details: The script acknowledges that there will be details that cannot be connected through higher order learning and introduces a fourth question about the necessity of memorizing such details.
🔑 Fourth Bonus Question: The script teases a fourth question, 'Do I need to memorize the details?', which is suggested as a topic for a future video.

Q & A

What is the main issue the speaker faced with their learning process?
-The speaker felt they understood the material during class but struggled to recognize anything when reviewing their notes, often feeling like they had to relearn everything.
Who did the speaker consult to address their learning issue?
-The speaker consulted an expert learning coach named Justin Sung.
What concept did Justin Sung introduce to the speaker?
-Justin Sung introduced the concept of 'higher order learning' to address the speaker's learning difficulties.
What does 'higher order learning' refer to in the context of the video?
-'Higher order learning' refers to the ability to apply information, evaluate it, and understand how different pieces of information relate to and fit together within a bigger picture.
According to the video, what is an example of 'lower order learning'?
-An example of 'lower order learning' is memorizing facts and concepts without understanding their relationships or applications, such as memorizing that 'mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell' without understanding its role in the cell's function.
What are the three critical questions the speaker suggests asking to promote higher order learning?
-The three critical questions are: 'Why is it important?', 'How does it relate to other info?', and 'How will I use this info or how will I be tested on this?'
What is the fourth bonus question that the speaker mentions for situations where higher order learning may not apply?
-The fourth bonus question is 'Do I need to memorize the details?', which is used to determine if certain details are important to memorize despite not fitting into higher order learning.
How does the speaker use the concept of 'puzzle pieces' to explain higher order learning?
-The speaker uses 'puzzle pieces' as a metaphor for concepts or pieces of information. Higher order learning involves taking multiple puzzle pieces and relating them together to understand how they fit into the bigger picture of the subject matter.
What is an example of applying higher order learning to the topic of COVID-19 in the video?
-The example given is understanding why COVID-19 is important due to its RNA structure, how it relates to other information about RNA and DNA, and considering how this knowledge could be applied in creating a vaccine.
What advice does the speaker give for students who want to avoid relearning material?
-The speaker advises students to invest more time upfront to understand the material at a higher level, using higher order learning techniques, to avoid the need for relearning and playing catch-up later.
What is the speaker's call to action for viewers at the end of the video?
-The speaker asks viewers to share which part of the framework was most helpful to them in the comments below, as it will help with future video ideas.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Embracing Higher Order Learning

The paragraph introduces the concept of 'higher order learning' as a solution to the common struggle of not recognizing or understanding class material when reviewing notes. It emphasizes the importance of truly understanding information beyond just memorizing facts, suggesting that higher order learning involves applying and evaluating information. The video aims to break down this concept and provide a step-by-step guide to apply it effectively, starting with the idea that understanding lies on a spectrum, from recalling facts (lower order) to applying and evaluating information (higher order).

🧩 The Puzzle of Higher Order Learning

This section uses the analogy of solving a puzzle to differentiate between lower and higher order learning. Lower order learning is compared to understanding individual puzzle pieces in isolation, such as memorizing facts about cell components like mitochondria and the Golgi apparatus. In contrast, higher order learning is about relating multiple pieces together to see how they fit into the bigger picture, understanding the relationships and comparisons between different concepts.

🤔 A Framework for Higher Order Learning

The paragraph presents a framework to promote higher order learning, which revolves around asking three critical questions: why is the information important, how does it relate to other information, and how will it be used or tested. These questions are designed to encourage deeper understanding and application of knowledge. Additionally, a fourth bonus question is hinted at, which is whether the details need to be memorized, a topic to be explored in a future video.

🦠 Applying the Framework to COVID-19

The framework for higher order learning is applied to the topic of COVID-19, an RNA virus. The paragraph explains how understanding the importance of COVID-19's RNA genetic material, its relation to the stability and volatility of RNA compared to DNA, and considering how this knowledge might be applied in creating a vaccine, exemplifies higher order learning. It suggests moving beyond rote memorization to invest time in understanding the material deeply, which can prevent the need for relearning later.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Higher Order Learning

Higher Order Learning refers to the process of understanding and applying information beyond just memorizing facts. It involves evaluating, analyzing, and synthesizing knowledge to solve problems or answer complex questions. In the video, it is the core concept that differentiates between simply recalling information and truly grasping its application and significance. The script uses the analogy of solving a puzzle to illustrate the difference between lower order learning, which focuses on individual pieces, and higher order learning, which involves understanding how the pieces fit together to form a complete picture.

💡Lower Order Learning

Lower Order Learning is the basic level of understanding where one can recall facts and concepts without necessarily applying them to new situations. It is characterized by memorization and recognition of information. In the context of the video, lower order learning is depicted as understanding each puzzle piece in isolation, such as memorizing that 'mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell' without connecting it to the broader concepts of cellular function.

💡Active Recall

Active Recall is a learning technique where one actively tries to remember information without looking at the material, thus testing one's memory and understanding. It is a method often used in lower order learning to reinforce memorization. The script mentions active recall in the context of learning individual pieces of information, such as the function of the Golgi apparatus, as a part of lower order learning.

💡Conceptual Understanding

Conceptual Understanding is the ability to grasp the underlying principles or ideas that connect various pieces of information. It is a key aspect of higher order learning. The video emphasizes the importance of conceptual understanding by discussing how understanding the nature of RNA and DNA relates to the behavior of the COVID-19 virus, thus showing the interconnectedness of concepts in higher order learning.

💡Critical Questions

Critical Questions are a set of inquiries designed to promote higher order learning by encouraging deep thinking about the importance, relevance, and application of information. The video outlines three critical questions: 'Why is it important?', 'How does it relate to other info?', and 'How will I use this info?' These questions are used as a framework to delve deeper into the material and move beyond surface-level memorization.

💡COVID-19

COVID-19 is an RNA virus that has been the subject of extensive study and is used in the video as a practical example to illustrate higher order learning. The script explains the importance of understanding the nature of RNA in COVID-19 and how it relates to the virus's ability to mutate and the challenges it poses for vaccine development.

💡RNA

RNA, or ribonucleic acid, is a single-stranded molecule that carries genetic information in the cells of most organisms. In the video, RNA is highlighted as a key difference between COVID-19 and other organisms that typically use DNA, which is double-stranded. Understanding the properties of RNA is crucial for higher order learning about the virus's behavior and implications for vaccine development.

💡DNA

DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is a double-stranded molecule that contains the genetic instructions used in the growth, development, functioning, and reproduction of all known living organisms. The video contrasts DNA with RNA to emphasize the unique characteristics of RNA in COVID-19 and its implications for the virus's instability and rapid mutation.

💡Vaccine Development

Vaccine Development is the process of creating vaccines to prevent infectious diseases. In the context of the video, it serves as an example of how higher order learning can be applied to understand and potentially combat COVID-19. The script suggests that understanding the nature of RNA in the virus could inform the development of a vaccine targeting the RNA component.

💡Memorization

Memorization is the act of committing information to memory, often without necessarily understanding the underlying concepts. The video discusses memorization as a part of lower order learning, where facts are learned without the deeper understanding that higher order learning provides. It is contrasted with the application and evaluation of information in higher order learning.

💡Framework

In the context of the video, a Framework refers to a structured approach or system of concepts or rules that organizes and provides a context for understanding complex ideas. The framework for higher order learning presented in the video includes asking critical questions and considering the application and importance of the information, which helps to move beyond simple memorization to a deeper level of understanding.

Highlights

The concept of 'higher order learning' is introduced as a key to truly understanding material beyond mere memorization.

The importance of explaining concepts simply to ensure true understanding is discussed.

Applying information and solving problems are suggested as indicators of understanding.

A spectrum of understanding is presented, from recalling facts to applying and evaluating information.

Higher order learning involves relating multiple pieces of information to understand the bigger picture.

A framework for higher order learning is proposed, focusing on asking three critical questions.

The first question in the framework asks why the information is important.

The second question encourages relating new information to existing knowledge.

The third question is about how the information might be applied or tested.

An example using COVID-19's RNA structure to demonstrate higher order learning is provided.

The difference between RNA and DNA in terms of stability and mutation is explained.

The concept of a vaccine against COVID-19 is used to illustrate applying higher order learning.

The importance of understanding material deeply to avoid relearning is emphasized.

A fourth bonus question about memorizing details is introduced as part of the learning framework.

The transcript suggests that not all details are suitable for higher order learning, such as random dates or names.

An invitation for feedback on the framework's effectiveness is extended to the audience.

A teaser for the next video in the series on understanding is given.