Active-Recall and Spaced-Repetition

(Summary from this video by Justin Sung).

DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the images used in here. They are taken from the video that Justin doodled.

Takeaways

  • Studying is not the same as learning

  • Studying is physical while learning is a cognitive process

    Active-Recall 01

  • Studying techniques that produce low learning are time consuming

  • Different techniques invoke different levels of learning

  • Memory going into long-term memory is called encoding

  • Level of encoding determines a significant amount of retention

  • Retrieving memory from long-term to working memory in order to use it for applications is called retrieval

  • Information that is in working memory instead of long term is forgotten very quickly

    Active-Recall 02

  • Active recall and spaced repetition work through adjusting the forgetting curve only through repetition

    Active-Recall 03 Active-Recall 04

  • This is only working on retrieval aspect of memory only

  • This doesn’t help with encoding

  • Encoding would reduce the knowledge decay of the forgetting curve to reduce the number of repetitive revisions and relearning sessions needed, therefore saving lots of time

    Active-Recall 05

  • Proper encoding also makes learning more enjoyable and engaging

  • Techniques that cause poor encoding and use low cognitive load are called passive techniques

  • A sign of passive learning is sleepiness

  • Techniques that cause high learning through appropriate cognitive load are called active learning techniques. There are many.

  • Low retention studying due to poor encoding is unsustainable to fix with repetition based techniques

  • Encoding involves cognitive load

  • Cognitive load feels uncomfortable and confusing

  • This is partially why so few students use encoding techniques

  • Another reason retrieval techniques like active recall and spaced repetition are so common is due to the Dunning Kruger effect where low knowledge causes high confidence

    Active-Recall 06

  • This combines with success bias where you don’t hear about the failure stories

  • This then combines with availability bias where we define legitimacy by how common we are exposed to it

  • This creates a spiral of unknowledgeable people creating videos about common techniques that are not as effective as they claim, making it more available, increasing its perceived legitimacy

  • Considering that encoding is naturally difficult, this makes encoding techniques very uncommonly talked about

Overall Picture

Active-Recall 07