The simplest principle for effective learning is generation; trying to generate an answer from memory.
Named after the generation effect, this counterintuitive approach is a great help for any learner.
Even if you draw a blank, it'll help you learn once you know the answer.
Named after the generation effect, this counterintuitive approach is a great help for any learner.
Even if you draw a blank, it'll help you learn once you know the answer.
Effective learners try to first solve a problem with the information they can draw from memory.
Instead of directly looking somewhere for an answer, they first try to solve it themselves.
That's generation.
Instead of directly looking somewhere for an answer, they first try to solve it themselves.
That's generation.
You can apply generation anytime to learn better and stop forgetting.
Problems come in all shapes and sizes. In your job, it may be using a specific Excel formula. Maybe you've used it a few times before, but you've forgotten how to use it.
Problems come in all shapes and sizes. In your job, it may be using a specific Excel formula. Maybe you've used it a few times before, but you've forgotten how to use it.
[Excel example continued]
If you used generation as a learning technique, you'd spend a bit of time trying to bring the function into your mind's eye.
You'd ask yourself: What is its name? What does it do? What arguments does it take?
Even if you don't know, it'll help later.
If you used generation as a learning technique, you'd spend a bit of time trying to bring the function into your mind's eye.
You'd ask yourself: What is its name? What does it do? What arguments does it take?
Even if you don't know, it'll help later.
How is it possible that when you can't answer something that you'll remember the answer better once you learn it?
It's because you challenged yourself first, creating neural pathways in the process. Once you got the answer, there was already a space reserved to slot it into.
It's because you challenged yourself first, creating neural pathways in the process. Once you got the answer, there was already a space reserved to slot it into.
The generation effect may not seem like much. However, it's a valuable principle that easily combines with many learning techniques.
It only takes a bit of effort upfront to make what you learn stick in your memory for longer.
It only takes a bit of effort upfront to make what you learn stick in your memory for longer.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
