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
Deep Learning
For a beginner, it’s between 1 to 2 hours. Start with no more than two hours.
With practice, you can increase your deep learning time up to 4 hours.
Research has found that the average proficient learner cannot manage any more than four hours of deep work or deep learning. Any longer and they found themselves shifting back to superficial work; unable to keep up the intense concentration and effort required for deep learning.
This doesn’t mean you only work for 1-4 hours a day. Most of your learning doesn’t require deep learning.
Deep learning involves making a conscious effort to give your absolute focus to the learning task. It’s perfectly fine to take the gas off and complete your learning with less intensity. Just make sure you begin with your deep learning first.
When creating a foundation, don’t leave blanks. Make sure you’ve answered every single one of your questions before progressing with your learning. Learning is climbing a ladder. If you miss a rung, you won’t be able to climb higher than you already are.
Does this mean you need to answer your questions right away?
No. If anything, answering your questions immediately can be a disadvantage. The preferred method, which talk about in another lesson, is to answer your questions in blocks.
So what’s the point, then? Make sure you answer all of your questions before you move on to the next level of learning. The level that builds on top of the one you’re on now.
First. And if you can, in the morning.
Here’s why:
- Your motivation peaks in the morning.
- Your focus and willpower is highest in the morning.
- When you begin your day with the accomplishment of completing your most challenging tasks, this pushes you to keep achieving. Try it for yourself.
- Taking action creates a positive feedback loop. When you get work done, it leads to doing more work. When you sit down and avoid the work, you end up sitting down all day.
Action leads to action. The first push is the hardest, but once something gains momentum, it takes more energy to stop it.
You’re only distracted if you planned to do something else. If you fail to plan your learning, it becomes much easier for you brain to rationalise having a break.
On the other hand, if you know you should be studying right now, you will feel cognitive discomfort. There’s no rationalising your inaction.
This is why scheduling your work is so effective. It makes it much more painful to avoid our work. This pushes us to end up just getting it done.
Once you have created your deep learning habit, you will soon find that it begins to work for you.
Before long, you find yourself experiencing an uncomfortable itch that can only be scratched by completing your scheduled deep learning. This is the power of habit. At first, it is hard to begin, but later on, it’s hard not to.
Before this can happen, you need to create a habit. The most important step of creating any habit is consistency.
Lesson Cards
Deep Learning
Card 1
Click to view
Key Idea
“You can do anything you want, but not everything.” -David Allen
Card 2
Click to view
Key Idea
Begin with your deep learning. The longer you wait, the harder it becomes.
Card 3
Click to view
Key Idea
Every time you procrastinate, it becomes a little harder to begin. Knowing this can help you resist that initial impulse. Often the outcome of your day depends on resisting your first urge to procrastinate.
Card 4
Click to view
Key Idea
You don’t need to rely on willpower. Instead, remove the distractions surrounding your learning.
Card 5
Click to view
Key Idea
As you rewire your brain, it will soon begins to crave the positive habit you are trying to create. Stick with the process. Be consistent.