Learning Techniques. Take Questions. | Ali Abdaal

Summary

The transcript discusses the evolution of note-taking practices during medical school. Initially, students took extensive notes during lectures, but over time, they realized that summarizing information with a book open was not very effective. As they progressed, they moved away from note-taking altogether, recognizing the abundance of resources and revision guides available online. Instead, they adopted a method of writing questions to test their knowledge, which fostered active recall and spaced repetition. This approach was so effective that one student who used it ranked second in their year. The speaker also mentions the importance of chapter notes for better understanding and retention.

Takeaways

• 📚 Taking extensive notes during lectures may not be as effective for learning as previously thought.
• ⏱ Spending hours on note-taking can lead to questioning the value and purpose of such an activity.
• 🔍 Research indicates that summarizing with a book open is not very effective for learning.
• 📉 The evolution of note-taking habits during medical school shifted from copious notes to nearly none as resources became more accessible.
• 🌐 There are abundant online resources and revision guides for medicine that make note-taking less crucial.
• 🤔 Active recall and spaced repetition are suggested as more effective learning strategies than traditional note-taking.
• ✍️ Writing questions instead of notes can facilitate active recall and is a more efficient use of time.
• 🚫 Avoid writing down answers to questions as it is considered a waste of time; instead, rely on online resources to find answers.
• 💡 The process of answering questions from notes or resources helps to reinforce learning and identify gaps in knowledge.
• 📈 A friend's success, ranking second in the year, demonstrated the effectiveness of the question-writing method for learning.
• 📝 Chapter notes can also be a useful tool, as mentioned in one of the videos, to summarize and review material.

Q & A

What was the initial approach to note-taking during the first year of medical school as described in the transcript?

The initial approach involved attending lectures and taking detailed notes, which was later realized to be time-consuming and not very effective for learning.

What is the issue with spending a lot of time taking notes during lectures?

The issue is that it may not contribute to effective learning, as research suggests that summarizing with a book open is not very effective.

How did the note-taking habits evolve over time for the speaker and their friends during medical school?

The habits evolved from taking copious notes to practically not taking any notes at all, as they discovered the abundance of resources and revision guides available for medicine.

What alternative method did the speaker adopt instead of traditional note-taking?

The speaker adopted active recall and spaced repetition using online resources and notes, focusing on writing questions rather than answers.

Why does writing down questions instead of answers save time and is considered more effective?

Writing down questions saves time because looking up or finding the answers in existing notes or online resources is easier and more efficient than writing them out. This method also encourages active recall, which is a more effective learning technique.

What is the benefit of using active recall in the learning process?

Active recall forces the learner to mentally retrieve information, which strengthens memory and understanding, making it a more effective learning technique than passive reading or writing.

What is spaced repetition and how does it help with learning?

Spaced repetition is a learning technique where material is reviewed over increasing intervals of time, which helps to move information from short-term to long-term memory and improves retention.

How did the speaker's friend, a first-year medical student, apply the method of writing questions for himself?

The friend wrote down a list of questions for every subject, revising by going through and answering these questions in his head, and then looking up the ones he didn't know.

What was the outcome for the speaker's friend who used the question-writing method during his studies?

The friend ended up ranking second in the year, which serves as proof that the method can be effective if applied properly.

Why is it suggested that writing out Q&As for an entire field like medicine is unsustainable?

Writing out Q&As for an entire field is unsustainable due to the vast amount of information and the time it would take to create and review such comprehensive notes.

What does the speaker suggest as an efficient way to review and reinforce learning?

The speaker suggests reviewing by writing questions and using active recall to answer them, then looking up the answers if needed, as an efficient way to reinforce learning.

How does the use of technology, such as the 'find' function on a computer, facilitate the learning process described in the transcript?

Technology facilitates the learning process by making it easy to search through electronic notes and online resources to quickly find and review information, reducing the need for manual note-taking.