You're not stupid: How to learn difficult things with Obsidian

Summary

The 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

00:00

📚 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.

05:01

🚀 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.

Keywords

💡Obsidian

Obsidian is a free writing app that the speaker has been using for six months, which has significantly improved their learning process. It allows users to create a network of interconnected notes, enhancing the organization and accessibility of thoughts and ideas. In the video, the speaker emphasizes the transformative power of Obsidian in creating a web of knowledge.

💡Learning Techniques

Learning techniques refer to the various methods and strategies one can use to acquire knowledge more effectively. The speaker discusses their journey of discovering new learning techniques and note-taking systems, leading them to Obsidian, which has changed their approach to learning.

💡Note-taking Systems

Note-taking systems are organized methods for recording information during lectures, readings, or personal reflection. The speaker highlights the limitations of traditional note-taking and contrasts it with the interconnected approach of Obsidian, which fosters a network effect in learning.

💡Network Effect

The network effect refers to the phenomenon where a product or service becomes more valuable as more people use it. In the context of the video, the network effect is applied to personal learning, where the interconnectedness of notes leads to a chain reaction of idea generation and improved understanding.

💡Cognitive Science

Cognitive science is the interdisciplinary study of the mind and its processes, including learning and memory. The speaker references cognitive science to support the idea that fitting new knowledge into an existing knowledge network helps develop deeper understanding, which is a principle applied in Obsidian's note-taking approach.

💡Make It Stick

Make It Stick is a book that discusses the science of learning and provides methods to improve memory and understanding. The speaker recommends this book as it aligns with the principles of effective learning that Obsidian facilitates through its note-taking system.

💡Zettelkasten Method

The Zettelkasten method is a note-taking and organizational strategy that encourages the creation of a system of interconnected notes. The speaker mentions this method as an example of a more sophisticated workflow that can be adopted within Obsidian, although it might be confusing for beginners.

💡Data Privacy

Data privacy concerns the protection of personal information from unauthorized access or disclosure. In the context of the video, the speaker appreciates that Obsidian stores notes as plain text files on the user's machine, ensuring privacy and avoiding proprietary formats that could become problematic in the future.

💡Brilliant.org

Brilliant.org is an online learning platform that offers interactive courses in math, science, and data science. The speaker mentions Brilliant as a sponsor of the video and praises it for its interactive learning approach, which aligns with the video's theme of effective learning techniques.

💡Interactive Learning

Interactive learning is an educational method that involves active participation from the learner, often through the use of technology. The speaker advocates for interactive learning as a more effective way to acquire skills, as demonstrated by Brilliant.org's approach to teaching coding and data analysis.

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