How to Study Multiple Subjects with the Interleaving Strategy
Summary
TLDRAnna Mascara introduces the interleaving strategy as an effective alternative to multitasking for students juggling multiple subjects. Interleaving involves mixing study topics to enhance learning and retention by forcing the brain to hold and connect information. This method is superior to chunking or blocked practice, which focuses on one topic extensively before moving to the next. It's beneficial for developing categorization and problem-solving skills, and it helps avoid the urge to forget once a subject switch is made. Mascara suggests applying interleaving by mixing related subjects and provides two study methods: focusing on different chapters of the same subject or mixing entirely different subjects, recommending 30-50 minute study sessions.
Takeaways
- 🧠 Multitasking is a myth; the human mind can't effectively handle multiple subjects at once, instead it engages in 'task switching', which is mentally taxing.
- 📚 The alternative to multitasking is the 'interleaving' strategy, which involves mixing multiple subjects or topics during study to improve learning and retention.
- 🔄 Interleaving forces the brain to retain knowledge for longer, anticipating its return, which is more effective than 'chunking' or blocked practice where one topic is studied thoroughly before moving on.
- 🔗 Interleaving allows for better connections between subjects and enhances categorization and problem-solving skills, leading to improved long-term retention.
- 🧐 Anna Mascara, the speaker, suggests that interleaving can help avoid the urge to 'purge' knowledge after intensive study of one subject, as the brain knows it will revisit the topic.
- 📈 Research indicates that interleaving offers benefits such as faster skill acquisition, improved mastery, and strengthened memory associations due to the retrieval practice involved.
- 🤔 Interleaving is more challenging than blocked practice, but it leads to better long-term results despite the initial difficulty.
- 🔄 For effective interleaving, it's recommended to mix related subjects, such as math, chemistry, and physics, rather than unrelated ones like English literature and trigonometry.
- 📑 Two interleaving methods are presented: the 'focused method' which involves studying different chapters of the same subject in a mixed order, and the 'complete mix' method which involves switching between completely different subjects.
- ⏱ It's suggested to study for 30 to 50 minutes per subject in interleaving to avoid multitasking or falling into block practice.
- 📝 The script encourages viewers to try interleaving and share their experiences in the comments, emphasizing the importance of changing things up for better long-term retention and faster learning.
Q & A
What is the main argument against multitasking while studying according to the script?
-The script argues that multitasking is a myth because the mind cannot effectively juggle multiple subjects at once, and instead engages in task switching, which is more taxing on the mind.
What is the alternative to multitasking suggested by Anna Mascara in the script?
-Anna Mascara suggests the interleaving strategy as an alternative to multitasking, which involves mixing multiple subjects/topics while studying to improve learning.
What is interleaving and how does it benefit the learning process?
-Interleaving is a process where students mix multiple subjects or topics while studying. It benefits learning by forcing the brain to hold on to knowledge for a longer period in anticipation of returning to it later, thus improving long-term retention and the ability to form connections between subjects.
Why is interleaving considered more effective than chunking or blocked practice?
-Interleaving is more effective than chunking because it allows students to keep information in the back of their mind while studying something else, making it easier to form connections between subjects and improving skills of categorization and problem-solving.
What personal observation does Anna Mascara make about the effects of studying a single subject for a long period?
-Anna Mascara observes that studying a single subject for a long period can lead to an urge to 'purge' the information once the subject is switched, as the brain may forget the previous subject since it believes it won't be returning to it that day.
What are the cognitive benefits of interleaving according to research mentioned in the script?
-Research shows that interleaving offers benefits such as faster acquisition of new skills, improved mastery of existing ones, and enhanced ability to differentiate between concepts and strengthen memory associations.
Why is interleaving considered more difficult than blocked practice?
-Interleaving is considered more difficult than blocked practice because it involves retrieval practice, which requires more effort and cognitive engagement from the learner.
What is the recommended study duration for each subject or topic when using the interleaving method?
-The recommended study duration for each subject or topic when using the interleaving method is between 30 to 50 minutes, to avoid falling into the multitasking or block practice territory.
Can interleaving be applied to any subjects regardless of their relationship?
-While interleaving can be applied to any subjects, it has been found to work better when the subjects are somewhat related, such as mixing math, chemistry, and physics, rather than unrelated subjects like English literature and trigonometry.
What are the two methods Anna Mascara suggests for applying the interleaving method?
-The two methods suggested are the focused method, which involves studying different components of the same subject, and the complete mixing method, which involves mixing different subjects completely.
How does the interleaving method help in avoiding the urge to 'purge' information after studying a subject for a set period?
-The interleaving method helps avoid the urge to 'purge' information by ensuring that the brain knows it will return to the subject later, thus retaining the information more effectively instead of discarding it.
Outlines
📚 The Myth of Multitasking and the Interleaving Strategy
This paragraph introduces the concept of multitasking as a myth and presents the interleaving strategy as an alternative for effective studying. Anna Mascara, the speaker, explains that the brain can't juggle multiple subjects simultaneously and instead engages in task switching, which is mentally taxing. The paragraph emphasizes the benefits of interleaving, where students mix subjects while studying, to improve learning and retention. It contrasts interleaving with chunking or blocked practice, highlighting how interleaving helps in forming connections between subjects and developing categorization and problem-solving skills. The summary also touches on the personal observation that interleaving can prevent the urge to purge information after intensive study sessions.
🔄 Applying the Interleaving Method for Effective Studying
The second paragraph delves into how to apply the interleaving method for studying multiple subjects. It suggests that interleaving works best with related subjects and provides two methods for its application: the focused method and the mixed-subjects method. The focused method involves studying different chapters or components of the same subject in a specific order, followed by a switch in order after a break. The mixed-subjects method recommends alternating between different subjects with breaks in between. The recommended study duration for each session is between 30 to 50 minutes to avoid multitasking or falling into block practice. The paragraph concludes by encouraging viewers to try interleaving and share their experiences in the comments and to subscribe for more educational content.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡multitasking
💡task switching
💡interleaving
💡chunking
💡categorization
💡problem-solving
💡retrieval practice
💡long-term retention
💡transfer of knowledge
💡focused method
💡study duration
Highlights
Multitasking is a myth; the mind cannot effectively juggle multiple subjects at once and instead engages in task switching, which is more taxing on the mind.
Anna Mascara introduces the interleaving strategy as an alternative to multitasking for studying multiple subjects.
Interleaving involves mixing multiple subjects/topics while studying to improve learning and retention.
Interleaving is more effective than chunking or blocked practice, which involves studying one topic thoroughly before moving on to the next.
Interleaving helps keep information in the back of the mind, making it easier to form connections between subjects.
Research shows interleaving is better for developing skills of categorization and problem-solving, leading to better long-term retention.
Interleaving helps avoid the urge to forget information studied in one sitting, as the brain anticipates revisiting the topic.
Interleaving offers benefits such as faster acquisition of new skills and improved mastery of existing ones.
Cognitive psychologists believe interleaving strengthens memory associations by improving the brain's ability to differentiate between concepts.
Interleaving involves retrieval practice, which is more difficult than blocked practice but leads to better long-term results.
Interleaving works better when subjects are somewhat related, such as mixing math, chemistry, and physics.
The focused interleaving method involves studying different components of the same subject in a specific order with breaks.
The mixed interleaving method involves studying different subjects completely in a specific order with breaks.
It is recommended to study for 30 to 50 minutes per subject to avoid multitasking or block practice.
Changing subjects forces retrieval of information and makes new connections, leading to better long-term retention and faster learning.
Anna Mascara encourages viewers to try interleaving and share their thoughts in the comments.
The video concludes with a reminder to like, subscribe, and watch for more school-related content twice a week.
Transcripts
most of us know by now that multitasking
is a myth your mind cannot effectively
juggle multiple subjects at once it
engages in task switching a process that
is very similar to flicking on a light
switch the difference is that it is much
more taxing on your mind than it is on
your kitchen lights but what's the
alternative then because as students we
often have more than one subject to
study for we sometimes even have two to
three exams in the same day i mean if
multitasking isn't the way to go when
studying for multiple topics then what
is hi everyone my name is anna mascara
and i help students and young
professionals like yourself achieve
their academic and career goals without
sacrificing their mental health today we
are focusing on the interleaving
strategy and how it can help you ace
your long list of upcoming exams without
ever having to multitask ever again
let's start with the basics shall we
what is inter-leaving interleaving is a
process where students mix multiple
subjects slash topics while they study
in order to improve their learning this
strategy forces the brain to hold on to
knowledge for a longer period of time in
anticipation of you returning to it
later during the day why is interleaving
better than chunking
chunking or blocked practice involves
you studying one particular topic very
thoroughly before moving on to the next
one of the reasons why it has been shown
that interleaving was more effective
than block practice is that it allows
you to keep information in the back of
your mind while studying something else
making it easier to form
connections between subjects it was also
found to be more effective than blocking
for developing the skills of
categorization and problem solving
leading to better long-term retention
like previously mentioned and an
improved ability to transfer learned
knowledge oh and on a more personal
observation i find this strategy helps
you to avoid the urge to purge after
being studying a subject for a set
period of time if your brain knows that
you will only focus on studying history
for four hours straight and then when
it's time to switch to math for the
second part of your day it's like you
know the men in black painting you
forget everything because you know you
will not be returning to history that
day
at all it's done poop in the trash it
goes the interleaving effects and its
benefits
research shows that interleaving offers
various benefits such as much faster
acquisition of new skills and improved
mastery of existing ones cognitive
psychologists believe that interleaving
improves the brain's ability to
differentiate or discriminate between
concepts and strengthens memory
associations because interleaving
involves retrieval practice it is more
difficult than blocked practice you know
it's important to remember that
effortful studying feels like a pain in
the bum bum but actually produces better
long-term results now then how can i use
interleaving to study for multiple
subjects before we look at how you can
apply the strategy for yourself i have
to let you know that it's been found to
work better when the subjects you let's
say ping-pong between are somewhat
related for example mixing math
chemistry and physics would work better
than english literature biology and
trigonometry let me show you two ways
that you can apply the interleaving
method with some examples the focused
method involves studying different
components of the same subject so let's
say you're dedicating your entire day to
social psychology you could divide your
day as follows in the morning spend 45
minutes studying chapter one on the
sociocultural perspective take a five to
ten minute break then study chapter 2
the evolutionary perspective for the
same amount of time then take a break
again move on to chapter 3 social
learning perspective and finally repeat
with chapter 4 on the social cognitive
perspective after a longer break of
let's say 30 minutes to one hour come
back and switch the order of your
chapters following the same time frames
so in the afternoon you can study let's
say chapter one three two and four and
in the evening switch it up chapter two
four three and one the second method is
pretty much identical to the first one
but instead of mixing different
components of a subject you mix
different subjects completely so math
chemistry physics
then break and then physics chemistry ps
if you're wondering for how long you
should study for each
i would personally recommend between 30
and 50 minutes too short and you're in
multitasking territory too long and it
turns into flat out block practice in a
nutshell changing things up forces you
to retrieve information and make new
connections between subjects or topics
leading to better long-term retention
and overall faster learning so give it a
try and let me know what you think of
interleaving in the comments down below
and with that being said thank you so
much for watching please don't forget to
give this video a thumbs up if you like
it and subscribe to me if you like what
you see because i post school videos
twice a week bye guys i got you back
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