What I Learned after 5000 Hours of Studying

Summary

In this enlightening video, Dr. Justin Sung shares his profound realizations on effective studying, drawing from over 10,000 hours of learning across various fields. He discusses the pitfalls of over-reliance on a single study technique, the concept of 'learning debt,' and the importance of embracing 'desirable difficulties' to build robust knowledge networks. Sung's insights aim to transform viewers into top scholars by advocating for gradual method adjustments, thoughtful learning strategies, and the cultivation of expertise for long-term learning efficiency.

Takeaways

• 📚 The speaker emphasizes the importance of studying efficiently, sharing personal experiences and realizations that led to significant improvements in his learning ability.
• 💡 The concept of a 'therapeutic index' in medicine is used as an analogy to explain the potential downside of overusing a single learning technique, such as flashcards.
• 🔄 The speaker discovered that making small, incremental adjustments to his study methods over time helped him to rely less on flashcards and to better understand the impact of his studying on memory and learning.
• 🚫 The realization that 'learning debt' can occur when past study methods are not effective for future needs, causing the need to relearn information, was a turning point for the speaker.
• 🔑 The speaker advises to consider the future needs when studying to avoid creating additional work for the future self, which is a form of 'learning debt'.
• 🤔 The process of identifying retrieval needs, mapping the current learning process, challenging one's reasoning, and learning through experimentation is suggested as a method to improve study techniques.
• 💪 The realization that effort is necessary for effective learning, and avoiding the 'effort' can actually make learning more difficult in the long run by not building strong knowledge networks.
• 🧩 The analogy of a jigsaw puzzle is used to illustrate how building knowledge is like piecing together a puzzle, where having more pieces (knowledge) makes it easier to fit in new information.
• 🏋️‍♂️ The speaker stresses that 'desirable difficulty' in learning is beneficial as it leads to building expertise, which in turn makes future learning easier.
• 🔄 The idea of investing effort upfront to build knowledge quickly is presented as a strategy to make handling knowledge easier in the future and to avoid creating learning debt.
• 📈 The speaker concludes by encouraging viewers to explore specific methods for building high-quality knowledge and to understand the principles of effective learning to craft their own learning process.

Q & A

What was the speaker's initial approach to studying when they started at 17?

The speaker began studying with a focus on entering medical school and spent over 10,000 hours studying various subjects, including medicine, education, learning science, computing, marketing, business, and accounting.

What is the concept of a 'therapeutic index' in medicine, and how does the speaker relate it to studying?

The therapeutic index in medicine is the dose range at which a medication is effective. The speaker relates it to studying by explaining that using a learning technique excessively, like an overdose, can become unhelpful or even harmful, as it did with their overuse of flashcards.

How did the speaker's reliance on flashcards initially help them, and what problems arose later?

Flashcards initially helped the speaker by aiding in recalling facts and achieving good results in their first year of university. However, the problems arose when they entered medical school, as they had too many flashcards to manage, which became overwhelming and unsustainable.

What adjustments did the speaker make to their study methods to rely less on flashcards?

The speaker started making tiny adjustments to their study methods every two or three days, experimenting with small changes and reflecting on their effectiveness, which eventually allowed them to rely on flashcards less and less.

What is 'learning debt,' and how did the speaker experience it during their medical school attachments?

Learning debt refers to the extra work one has to do in the future because of inefficient learning methods used in the past. The speaker experienced it when they failed their first medical attachment due to not knowing how to apply their knowledge properly, leading to relearning previously studied material.

What are the steps the speaker suggests to address learning debt and improve study methods?

The steps include identifying retrieval needs, mapping the current learning process, challenging the reasoning behind current methods, learning and experimenting with new methods, and gradually upgrading the learning system.

Why did the speaker initially struggle with applying their knowledge in real-world situations during their medical attachments?

The speaker struggled because the way they had stored and organized information was more suited for exams rather than practical application with real patients.

What is the speaker's view on trying to make learning easier and less effortful?

The speaker believes that trying to make learning easier and less effortful can sabotage the learning process, as it removes the brain's need to process information, which is essential for building knowledge and expertise.

How does the speaker define 'desirable difficulty' in the context of learning?

'Desirable difficulty' refers to the mental effort required for effective learning, which helps build expertise and makes future learning easier as more connections can be made with prior knowledge.

What is the speaker's advice for students who are comfortable with their current study system but find it daunting to change?

The speaker advises students to change their study methods gradually, ensuring that they do not leave a 'gaping void' by removing their current system all at once, and to enjoy the process of experimenting and upgrading their learning methods.

What resources does the speaker offer for those interested in learning more about building high-quality knowledge?

The speaker offers a big picture overview of their learning system used during their Masters at Monash, as well as a playlist on the foundations of efficient learning as resources for those interested in improving their study methods.