56. Studying

Richard Feynman said, “Study hard what interests you the most in the most undisciplined, irreverent, and original manner possible.” I am not bold enough to tell you how to study but I hope to provide some useful insight. I was never a great student. I always got lost in the fundamentals when I did study, which was as rare as a Māui dolphin. I loved questioning things and trying to understand something deeply but that is not what school or university wants. There are several courses with extensive material that limit any form of mastery. I also had no idea what it meant to study like how to read a textbook and about techniques for memorization like spaced repetition. This is my latest thinking on studying: 

Micro Level: Engaging with the Material

First, we have to engage with the material in some form. The material could be video, audio, or text. Text is the most structured but the hardest to engage with for most people so I will focus on it. There are 4 levels of reading per Mortimer Adler.

1. Elementary reading ensures foundational comprehension.
2. Inspectional reading allows you to understand the structure and main points of a text quickly. E.g. systematic skimming.
3. Analytical reading involves a deep dive into the material for thorough understanding and critical analysis. E.g. active reading and note-taking, critical analysis.
4. Syntopical reading is about comparing and contrasting different texts on the same topic or subject to gain a broader understanding and develop new insights.

Micro Level: Transformations of Material

Next is the question of how many material transformations will make it easy to understand and fast to remember. Here each transformation creates an artifact like notes, flashcards, or mnemonics. Once a section of material is transformed into an artifact the artifact becomes the focus as it is the new material. It may require further transformations. For instance, you may copy a quote or definition to a flash card. Next, you rewrite it in your own words. Lastly, you form a question on the back of the flashcard to test your memory. 

Macro Level: Depth vs. Breadth

At the macro level, the question is for a fixed breadth or amount of materials how deep should one go? Here you have to factor in how much time you have and the quantity and difficulty of material. This will inform how you approach the micro level and the micro level will in turn inform your macro plan. The goal is to balance understanding with coverage of the materials.

If you are studying and are struggling, investigating the artifacts for ease of understanding or speed of memorability might be a place to start. It may also be that coverage and understanding are not balanced effectively. A new strategy may be needed there.