Learning Course
- Lesson One - Pre-readingThe Power of Prereading - Part One
- The Power of Prereading - Part Two
- The Power of Prereading - Part Three
- The Power of Prereading - Part Four
- The Power of Prereading - Part Five
- Lesson Two - Single TaskingSingle Tasking - Part One
- Single Tasking - Part Two
- Single Tasking - Part Three
- Single Tasking - Part Four
- Single Tasking - Part Five
- Lesson Three - Recognition and RecallRecognition and Recall - Part One
- Recognition and Recall - Part Two
- Recognition and Recall - Part Three
- Recognition and Recall - Part Four
- Recognition and Recall - Part Five
- Lesson Four - Question LoggingQuestion Logging - Part One
- Question Logging - Part Two
- Question Logging - Part Three
- Question Logging - Part Five
- Question Logging - Part Four
- Lesson Five - The Testing EffectThe Testing Effect - Part One
- The Testing Effect - Part Two
- The Testing Effect - Part Three
- The Testing Effect - Part Four
- The Testing Effect - Part Five
- Lesson Six - Taking NotesTaking Notes - Part One
- Taking Notes - Part Two
- Taking Notes - Part Three
- Lesson Seven - Foundational LearningFoundational Learning - Part One
- Foundational Learning - Part Two
- Foundational Learning - Part Three
- Foundational Learning - Part Four
- Foundational Learning - Part Five
- Lesson eight - Deep LearningDeep Learning - Part One
- Deep Learning - Part Two
- Deep Learning - Part Three
- Deep Learning - Part Four
- Deep Learning - Part Five
- Lesson nine - High Yield LearningHigh Yield Learning - Part One
- High Yield Learning - Part Two
- High Yield Learning - Part Three
- High Yield Learning - Part Four
- High Yield Learning - Part Five
- Lesson ten - The Testing EffectThe Testing Effect - Part One
- The Testing Effect - Part Two
- The Testing Effect - Part Three
- The Testing Effect - Part Four
- The Testing Effect - Part Five
- Lesson eleven - active and passive learningActive and Passive Learning - Part One
- Active and Passive Learning - Part Two
- Active and Passive Learning - Part Three
- Active and Passive Learning - Part Four
- Active and Passive Learning - Part Five
- Lesson twelve - Study BlockingStudy Blocking - Part One
- Study Blocking - Part Two
- Study Blocking - Part Three
- Study Blocking - Part Four
- Study Blocking - Part Five
- Lesson thirteen - LinkingLinking - Part One
- Linking - Part Two
- Linking - Part Three
- Linking - Part Four
- Linking - Part Five
- Lesson fourteen - InterleavingInterleaving - Part One
- Interleaving - Part Two
- Interleaving - Part Three
- Interleaving - Part Four
- Interleaving - Part Five
- Lessons fifteen - Application QuestioningApplication Questioning - Part One
- Application Questioning - Part Two
- Copy of Application Questioning - Part Three
- Application Questioning - Part Four
- Application Questioning - Part Five
- Lesson Sixteen - Using TablesTables - Part One
- Tables - Part Two
- Tables - Part Three
- Tables - Part Four
- Tables - Part Five
Recap
Linking
Start with what you know. Link your learning to examples and concepts you already know.
When you link something new with something that you already know, your brain uses the already established neural pathway to help you retrieve this new learning. The speed at which you can remember new concepts dramatically increases.
It is when you take a concept you’re learning and use something simpler to represent it. Concept swapping is an incredibly powerful twist on linking. Learning becomes faster and more permanent when we use the information we already know to represent what we are learning.
Describing the immune cells as soldiers, the heart as a pump or the mitochondria as a powerplant are all examples of concept swapping. This allows us to apply the framework of a concept we already know well to one we are learning. This speeds up the process of learning.
Because concepts stick around.
Think about gravity or temperature. These are both concepts. On a basic level, you understand the general idea of each. You don’t need to keep going back over them to remember the whole process. When you understand a concept, it tends to stay in your memory for a very long time.
Avoid the trap of half learning concepts over and over again. Instead, invest your time in the beginning – it will save you much more in the long run. And once you’ve successfully learnt a concept, linking will ensure that you never forget it.
The answer is something we have covered many times – Use.
When you ask “So what”, you force your brain to stop and assess the usefulness of your learning.
Two things happen here:
- You decide it isn’t worth your time and move on.
- You decide it is and take a moment to learn it.
When you ask, so what, you stop yourself from wasting time learning things that just aren’t that important. But the biggest benefit comes from what you decide is worth your time. You tag the information as important. Because of this, your brain pays more attention while learning it and encodes the information more effectively into your memory.
Lesson Cards
Linking
Card 1
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Key Idea
Concept swapping is when you use something you already know to represent what you’re learning.
Card 2
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Key Idea
Begin your learning with what you know. Link your learning to examples and concepts you already understand well.
Card 3
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Key Idea
Begin your learning with what you know. Link your learning to examples and concepts you already understand well.
Card 4
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Key Idea
Use the question “so what” to help find use in your learning.