How to Study & Learn Using Active Recall | Dr. Cal Newport & Dr. Andrew Huberman

Summary

The speaker discusses an effective learning protocol called 'active recall', which involves reading material and then stepping away to recall information without looking at notes. This method, though mentally taxing, is highly efficient and aids in long-term retention. The speaker's personal experience with active recall transformed their academic performance, leading to the authorship of a book on the subject. The script emphasizes the importance of this technique in learning and retaining complex subjects like neuroanatomy.

Takeaways

• 📚 The speaker used to highlight and use a system of stars and exclamation marks for note-taking during university, which helped them recall specific segments of text.
• 🧠 A study taught the speaker that taking a break after reading and trying to remember specific elements before revisiting the material can significantly improve information retention.
• 🤔 Active recall, the process of recalling information from memory without looking at notes, is highlighted as an effective learning method that can lead to better understanding and retention.
• 📈 Active recall is mentally taxing but time-efficient, leading to quick learning and less forgetting, almost like having a pseudo-photographic memory.
• 📘 The speaker wrote 'How to Become a Straight-A Student' based on interviews with successful students, focusing on their study methodologies and the core idea of active recall.
• 🚫 Active recall can be difficult for students to adopt due to its demanding nature, but it is a powerful tool for learning and retaining information.
• 🏋️‍♂️ The speaker's personal experience with a heart condition led to a shift in focus from athletics to academics, where active recall became a pivotal study technique.
• 📈 The implementation of active recall transformed the speaker from a good student to achieving a 4.0 GPA every quarter, with minimal grade deductions.
• 📝 The speaker developed specific note-taking and study methods tailored for different subjects, all centered around facilitating active recall.
• 🎓 The speaker's academic success attributed to active recall led to the writing of a book to spread this effective study method to others.
• 🧠 The speaker's method for learning neuroanatomy involved visualizing and mentally mapping brain structures, reinforcing the concept of active recall in a different context.

Q & A

What is the traditional method the speaker used to learn from manuscripts or book chapters?

The speaker used to highlight important segments with a system of stars, exclamation marks, and underlining that had personal significance.

How did the speaker's approach to learning change after teaching a course at Stanford?

The speaker learned from a study about information retention that taking time away from the material and actively trying to remember specific elements before revisiting the material can significantly improve learning.

What is the term for the learning method the speaker advocates?

The speaker advocates for 'active recall,' which involves actively trying to remember information without looking at notes and then checking accuracy with the original material.

What is the main idea behind the book 'How to Become a Straight-A Student'?

The main idea of the book is to share the methodology of high-achieving students who are not burnt out, focusing on the concept of active recall as the core learning strategy.

Why is active recall considered efficient but mentally taxing?

Active recall is efficient because it enhances memory retention and understanding, but it is mentally taxing because it requires effortful thinking and self-testing without the aid of notes.

How did the speaker's personal health condition affect their academic approach?

The speaker's heart condition led to the end of their rowing career, prompting them to focus more seriously on their studies and experiment with effective study techniques like active recall.

What was the impact of using active recall on the speaker's academic performance?

The use of active recall transformed the speaker from a fine student to achieving a 4.0 GPA every quarter from sophomore to senior year, with only one A minus.

What study tool did the speaker use for math classes?

For math classes, the speaker used a stack of white paper to test their ability to recreate proofs from scratch, which is a form of active recall.

How did the speaker apply active recall to learning neuroanatomy?

The speaker would study neuroanatomy by examining tissue samples under a microscope, then lying down and mentally reviewing the different brain circuits, checking notes only for structures they couldn't identify.

What is the speaker's recommendation for the timing of studying using active recall?

The speaker recommends doing active recall in the morning when energy levels are high, as it is a tough but efficient method, and then being done for the day.

What is the speaker's overall opinion on active recall as a learning method?

The speaker is a huge advocate for active recall, acknowledging its difficulty but emphasizing its effectiveness in learning and retaining information.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Discovering Active Recall for Enhanced Learning

The speaker shares their personal learning protocol, which initially involved highlighting and underlining texts with a system of stars and exclamation marks. They discovered the effectiveness of active recall after teaching a course at Stanford and learning about information retention studies. Active recall involves reading material and then taking time to recall information without looking at the source, which the speaker found to be more effective than their previous highlighting method. The speaker also reflects on their past as an author of 'How to Become a Straight-A Student,' where they interviewed top students and found that active recall was central to their success. Despite its mental taxing nature, active recall is presented as an efficient and long-lasting learning method.

05:00

🧠 Embracing Active Recall for Mastery and Efficiency

The speaker passionately advocates for active recall as a challenging but highly efficient learning technique. They humorously mention pretending to study during finals to hide the efficiency of their active recall method. The speaker describes their process of using cards to categorize what they struggled with and what they mastered, allowing for focused review and rapid mastery of material. They emphasize the importance of doing active recall when energetic, such as in the morning, to maximize its benefits. The speaker also shares a personal anecdote about learning neuroanatomy through a combination of visual memorization and mental mapping, highlighting the effectiveness of active recall in creating a strong mental understanding of complex subjects.

Keywords

💡Active Recall

Active recall is a learning technique where one actively tries to remember information without looking at the source material. It is central to the video's theme of effective learning strategies. The speaker describes it as 'replicating information from scratch, as if teaching a class without looking at your notes,' which he found to be the most efficient way to learn and retain information, transforming him from a fine student to achieving straight A's.

💡Information Retention

Information retention refers to the ability to remember and retain learned information over time. In the context of the video, the speaker learned from a study about the importance of taking time away from studied material and then actively trying to remember specific elements, which significantly improved his information retention. This concept is key to understanding the effectiveness of the active recall method discussed.

💡Mental Taxing

Mental taxing describes the cognitive effort or strain involved in a task. The speaker mentions that active recall, while efficient, is 'incredibly mentally taxing,' as it requires a significant amount of mental effort to recall information without referring back to notes or the source material. This term helps to illustrate the trade-off between the difficulty and effectiveness of the learning method.

💡Study Protocol

A study protocol in this video refers to a personal system or method one uses to study and learn from material. The speaker initially used a system of highlighting and underlining with stars and exclamation marks but later adopted active recall after realizing its benefits. The term is important as it sets the stage for the discussion on learning techniques and their evolution.

💡Underlining

Underlining is a common note-taking strategy where one marks important points in text by drawing a line underneath them. The speaker initially relied on this method, but found it less effective than active recall for long-term learning. The term is used to contrast traditional note-taking with the more engaging process of active recall.

💡Motor Commands

Motor commands are instructions that the brain sends to the muscles to execute movements. In the video, the speaker contrasts the passive act of underlining, which he describes as 'going through motor commands,' with the active process of recalling information. This term helps to differentiate between passive and active learning approaches.

💡Straight-A Student

A 'Straight-A Student' refers to a student who consistently achieves the highest grades. The speaker wrote a book called 'How to Become a Straight-A Student,' based on interviews with high-achieving students who did not appear to be over-stressed. The book's premise is closely tied to the concept of active recall, which the speaker credits for his own academic success.

💡Neuroanatomy

Neuroanatomy is the study of the anatomy and physiology of the nervous system. The speaker mentions learning neuroanatomy by visualizing structures in the brain and actively recalling them, which is an application of the active recall technique. This example illustrates how active recall can be applied to complex subjects like neuroanatomy.

💡Efficiency

Efficiency in this context refers to the effectiveness of a learning method in relation to the time spent. The speaker argues that active recall, despite being mentally taxing, is 'very time efficient,' allowing for quick mastery of material. This term is crucial for understanding the speaker's advocacy for active recall as a superior learning method.

💡Memory Crystallization

Memory crystallization is the process of solidifying or making memories more permanent. The speaker describes how active recall leads to crystallization, where information becomes more firmly embedded in memory. This concept is integral to the video's message about the long-term benefits of active recall for learning.

💡Pseudo-Photographic Memory

A pseudo-photographic memory refers to the ability to recall information with high accuracy and detail, similar to a photographic memory, but not necessarily perfect. The speaker claims that using active recall can lead to a 'pseudo-photographic memory,' where one can recall entire lines from studied material with remarkable clarity.

Highlights

The speaker used to highlight and use a system of stars and exclamation marks for studying.

Learned from a study about information retention that taking time away from material and recalling information is beneficial.

Active recall is identified as a highly effective learning method.

The speaker was astonished by the increased information retention using active recall instead of just underlining.

The realization that stepping away and thinking is a natural way the brain learns.

The author's experience writing 'How to Become a Straight-A Student' based on interviewing top students.

The core idea of the book was active recall, replicating information from scratch.

Active recall is efficient but mentally taxing, often avoided by students.

The speaker's personal transformation from a good to a top student using active recall.

Active recall leads to a strong memory and understanding of the material.

The speaker's heart condition and the impact on his athletic and academic life.

The decision to get serious about studies and the systematic experimentation with study methods.

Active recall's role in the speaker's academic success and the writing of his book.

The speaker's method of using white paper for math proofs to practice active recall.

The speaker's experience with neuroanatomy and the creation of a mental map for effective learning.

Active recall's efficiency in mastering material and the speaker's recommendation to do it when energetic.

The speaker's method of using 'struggling' and 'done' piles for active recall practice.

The speaker's mastery of neuroanatomy through active recall and mental visualization.

Transcripts

Tell me what you think of this,

what I always call, protocol,

if I want to learn something

from a manuscript I read or a book chapter,

I used to highlight things.

And I had a very elaborate,

extracted from my university days,

system of stars and exclamation marks and underline

that mean a lot to me,

that, yes, bring me back to a given segment

within the chapter.

But a few years ago,

I was teaching a course

in the biology department at Stanford,

and for some reason,

we had them read a study about information retention.

And I learned from that study

that one of the best things we can do

is read information, in whatever form,

a magazine, research article, et cetera, a book,

and then to take some time away from that material,

maybe walk,

maybe close one's eyes,

maybe leave them open, doesn't matter,

and just try and remember specific elements.

How much does one remember?

Then go back to the material and look at it.

And I've just been positively astonished

at how much more information I can learn

when I'm not simply going through motor commands

of just underlining things and highlighting them,

but stepping away and thinking,

"Okay, yeah, oh, I don't remember

how many subjects there were.

I'll go back and check that,

maybe make a note.

And okay, they did this,

then they did that, and then,"

and then it's crystallized.

And as I say this, I realize,

of course this should work,

[laughing] this is the way that the brain learns.

But somehow, that's not the way

we are taught to learn.

Yeah, well, I'm smiling because when I was 22,

I wrote this book

called "How to Become a Straight-A Student," right?

And the whole premise of the book was,

"I'm going to talk to actual college students

who have straight A's

and who don't seem completely ground out, right?

Like, not burnt out.

And I'm just going to interview 'em, right?"

And the protocol was,

"How did you study for the last test that you studied for?

How did you take notes for the last?"

So I was just asking them

to walk through their methodology.

The core idea of that book

was active recall.

That was the core idea,

that replicating ideas, what I used to say is,

"Replicating the information from scratch

as if teaching a class without looking at your notes."

That is the only way to learn.

And the thing about it was,

it's a trade off.

it's efficient, doesn't take much time,

but it's incredibly mentally taxing, right?

This is why students often avoid it.

It is difficult to sit there

and try to replicate and pull forth,

"Okay, what did I read here?

How did that work?"

It's mentally very taxing,

but it's very time efficient, right?

If you're willing to essentially put up with that,

with that pain,

you learn very quickly.

And not only do you learn very quickly,

you don't forget.

It's almost like you have a pseudo-photographic memory

when you study this way.

You sit down to do a test

and you're replicating whole lines [laughing]

from what you studied,

the ideas sort of come out fully formed

because it's such a fantastic way to actually learn.

It was my key, the whole premise

that got me writing that book

is I went through this period

as a college student

where I came in freshman year,

was a fine student,

not a great student, but a fine student.

I was rowing crew and I was sort of excited to do that.

And then I developed a heart condition,

and had to stop.

Congenital wiring in the heart,

atrial flutter thing.

It meant I couldn't row crew anymore.

So a prolapse of some sort?

It was a circuitry issue

that would lead to a extremely rapid heartbeat.

It's like really rapid,

like tachycardia, right?

You get 200-250 beats a minute just,

and it could be exercise induced, right?

Which is not optimal,

you could take beta blockers,

which would moderate the electrical timing,

but beta blockers reduce your max heart rate.

And if you're a athlete

where the entire thing that matters

is your max heart rate,

so you're doing something like a 2,000-meter rows,

your performance on beta blockers just goes down.

It makes no sense, it's like being a basketball player

that wears weighted shoes,

it's too frustrating.

Right, and it also makes you super mellow.

I was a pretty mellow guy.

[both laughing]

But I was a worst rower.

So I stopped that, and I was like,

"Okay, I want to get serious about my studies."

I said, "I can get serious about my studies

and writing," right?

That's when I actually made the decisions

that I then stuck with for the next 25 years after that.

But one of the things I did to get serious about my studies

is I said, "I'm going to systematically experiment

with how to study for tests

and how to write papers."

And I would try this, "How did it go?"

deconstruct experiment.

Try this, "How'd it go?"

deconstruct experiment.

And active recall was the thing

that turned me all around.

And so I went from a pretty good student

to 4.0 every single quarter,

Sophomore year, junior year, senior year.

I got one A minus

[laughing] between my sophomore year through my senior year.

It was like this miraculous transformation.

It was active recall.

I rebuilt all of my studying,

so if it was for a humanities class,

I had a whole way of taking notes

that was all built around doing active recall.

For math classes,

my main study tool was a stack of white paper.

"All right, do this proof,"

white piece of paper,

and just, "Can I do it from scratch?"

If I could, I know that technique.

If I don't, "All right, I'm going to come back

and try it again later."`

Completely transformed.

I did so well academically,

that's why I ended up writing that book

that basically spread that message to other people.

So I'm a huge advocate for active recall.

It's really hard,

but it is the way to learn new things.

And as you pointed out,

it is very time efficient.

Oh yeah. Yeah.

I mean, it was a problem,

it was a social problem for me

that I would have to pretend

[laughing] during finals period

that I was going to the library to study

because I would be done studying.

This active recall, it's brutal,

but it's incredibly efficient.

You sit down there,

I would have my cards

and I would mark it,

"Okay, I struggled with this,"

I'd put it in this pile,

"I got it done," I'd put it in this pile.

And so then you would just go back to the,

"I struggled with it," pile,

and work on that.

And then make a new, "I struggled with it," pile.

And these would exponentially decay.

And so in a few hours, you could really master,

with a few other tricks that worked,

you could really master the material pretty quickly.

And then, what am I supposed to do?

I didn't do all-nighters.

It wouldn't make any sense.

Active recall is how you prepare,

and it's going to take four hours

and it's going to be tough,

so do it in the morning when you have energy,

and then you're done.

I love it.

I learned essentially all of neuroanatomy

looking down the microscope at tissue samples.

And then I would try and take photographs with my eyes,

I do not have a photographic memory.

But then I would get home in the evening,

look through the neuroanatomy textbook,

lie down,

and try and fly through the different circuits in my mind.

And then if I arrived at a structure in the brain

that I couldn't identify,

I would then go check my notes

and go back. Ah, that's perfect.

So basically, I learned neuroanatomy,

which I'm poor at a great many things in life,

but neuroanatomy, I'm solid at,

and then some, if I may say so.

And it's because there's a mental map,

and you can kind of move through it,

fly through it dynamically.

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