Guest Post: How Elijah Invents Study Techniques
A Guest Post by Elijah Powell, Jan 2024. In this post I explore how neuroplasticity and other core principles shape effective study techniques and how you can invent your own techniques.
Understanding Core Principles
Learning effectively isn't just about studying hard; it's about studying smart. This understanding begins with finding the core learning principles that underpin existing study techniques. For example:
Neuroplasticity: The brain's ability to adapt and reorganize itself, enhancing learning by forming new neural connections.
Cognitive Load: Managing the amount of information our brain processes at once, ensuring optimal absorption and understanding.
Active Recall: Actively retrieving information from memory, which strengthens memory and learning capabilities.
Confidence : Belief in one's abilities, bolstered by successful learning experiences, increasing motivation and persistence (see Dr. K's Video for a good reference).
Relational Thinking: Linking new information with existing knowledge, facilitating deeper understanding.
Contextualization and Consolidation: Integrating new information into a broader context, solidifying knowledge and aiding long-term retention.
Chunking: Breaking down complex information into smaller, manageable units, making it easier to process and remember.
Spacing: Distributing study sessions over time, which enhances memory retention more than massed practice.
Repetition: Repeatedly reviewing information to reinforce memory and facilitate learning.
Identifying Gaps: Recognizing areas of weakness or incomplete understanding, focusing efforts where they are most needed.
Revision Bias: The tendency to overstudy familiar material, which can be counteracted by consciously targeting less familiar topics.
Analyzing Effective Techniques
To find these principles you can examine study techniques you already use, for example:
Blurting: Blurting is a technique where you immediately recall and write down everything you remember after reading material, without referring back to it. Examine blurting, we can see it primarily relies on active recall, a process that strengthens memory and understanding by retrieving information without support. Jun Yuh covers blurting in the following video:
3x5 Blurting: A variation of Blurting, is called “3x5 Blurting”. It involves three recall sessions spaced five minutes apart, which progressively builds a deeper understanding and recall capacity. Examining this technique we can see it integrates spacing (allowing time between recall sessions), recall (actively retrieving information), relational thinking (making connections between the recalled information), and cognitive load (efficiently managing the amount of information processed in each session).
Developing Custom Techniques
For studying procedural topics, I've developed a technique called the E.S.R. Matrix, which embodies several core learning principles. E.S.R. stands for Expanding Synaptic Recall Matrix. It is grounded in cognitive load management, spaced repetition, focused problem solving, and the solidification of conceptual relationships.
To use E.S.R.
Begin with Practice Problems: Start by solving problems until you encounter one you can't solve.
Deep Dive into Difficult Problems: Work through the challenging problem, practicing similar ones until consistent success is achieved.
Compile a Revision List: Add the types of problems you initially struggled with to a revision list.
Dedicated Revision Days: Every other day, focus solely on the problems on your revision list.
Increasing Problem Load: Gradually add more problems of the same type, increasing the total by 30% more than what you started with.
Systematic Revision Structure: On the last day, work exclusively on the problem types from your list, consolidating your learning.
Consider an algebraic example, below. In this example, some of the steps are written in green to signify they can be done in your head. Taking the extra time to write these out forces you to understand how different concepts integrate (relational thinking). When topics get more complex than basic algebra you’ll be able to diagnose mistakes more quickly, choose which mistakes to focus on, and avoid making simple arithmetic mistakes.
I based the E.S.R matrix on the principles of Cognitive Load, Revision Bias prevention, progressive practice, relational thinking, focused problem solving, and systematic revision structuring. E.S.R prevents revision bias by building confidence, it increases the amount of repetitions, helps get past failures at an optimal pace, and increases your motivation to practice.
Optimize Your Learning System
The journey to becoming a top student is not just about learning; it's about learning how to learn. This process involves understanding neuroplasticity—the brain's ability to reorganize itself—and applying this knowledge to refine your study techniques.
Embrace Neuroplasticity: Recognize that your brain's capacity to form new synaptic connections is a powerful tool in your learning arsenal. This understanding should empower you to continually adapt and improve your study methods.
Iterate and Experiment: Don't hesitate to experiment with different techniques. The key to optimization lies in iteration—trying, tweaking, and retrying methods to see what works best for you.
Customize Based on Core Principles: Use the core principles of cognitive load, spaced repetition, active recall, and relational thinking as guidelines. Modify existing techniques, like the Blurting method or the E.S.R Matrix, to better suit your personal learning style and the specific demands of the material you're studying.
Compare and Justify Changes: Regularly return to this article or your notes to compare your enhanced techniques with the original versions. Justify why your adaptations are more effective, using your growing understanding of neuroplasticity as a metric.
Continuous Learning and Growth: Remember, the plastic nature of your brain means that you can shape your cognitive abilities through dedicated effort and by forging new connections. This is a dynamic process, and your learning system should evolve as you do.
In conclusion, optimizing your learning system is not a one-time task but a continuous journey. By understanding and applying the principles of neuroplasticity, actively experimenting with different techniques, and consistently refining your approach based on feedback and results, you can develop a personalized and highly effective learning system that evolves with you.