Answer: Quark.
And finally:
Question: PageMaker lost ground to …
Answer: Quark.
Can you see how much information can be removed because it is non-essential, and you are still left with the same answer each time? The only item you needed to learn and remember was Quark. You may find some of the other bits of information are important to you, and if that is the case, store them separately by using cloze deletion again and optimizing the wording.
If you try to learn all the non-essential information, your learning will slow down dramatically. Remember, in this example, the only thing you needed to learn was Quark; the rest of the data was irrelevant. It takes some time to master these techniques, but once you have practiced often enough, it will become second nature, and you will start doing it without even thinking about it.
Referring to Existing Memories
When learning, if you refer to other memories, it can enable you to store your item in a more efficient context, reduce interference, and simplify the wording. Personalizing memories is a great way to keep
them and recall them at a later date. In the following example, you will see you can save a lot of time if you relate the information to a personal reference.
Difficult:
Question: What is a soft bed that doesn’t have a back or arms called?
Answer: Divan
Simpler:
Question: What is a soft bed without backs or arms called? (like the one at Donald’s house).
Answer: Divan.
By personalizing the information using a memory of the item, you can recall much easier what the name of the bed is. Instead of having to try and remember what the piece of furniture is, you can simply recall having seen one before from your memory. When you personalize information, there is a lesser chance of interference, which can speed up your learning pace.
Prioritizing Tools
As mentioned previously, prioritizing what source you use for your knowledge dramatically speeds up the learning process. Prioritizing is determining what information is essential and what is not, which removes the excess data you don’t need. As you practice prioritizing, you will work out which is the best way for you to learn, whether it is from books or media.
Prioritize Your Information Sources: Because you learn from a wide variety of sources generally, it is vital to prioritize which sources are more useful. You need to work out how much of your time you should spend on each source, with a higher amount of time source a priority, and then work your way down. The more you practice this technique, the easier it will become to work out what is the most useful source and what can be put aside for the sake of a better source.
Knowledge Extraction: You seldom need to memorize an entire article or book, unless it is for a specific test that requires it. So you need to work out which information to extract that will improve your knowledge on the topic. You can do this by highlighting sentences, phrases, or paragraphs, or you could cut and paste to a document, so only relevant information is studied. It will take a while for you to be able to recognize how much information and how much detail your head can manage.
Setting Priorities While Learning Tools:
Remember
With the highly important information, rememorize it. This will enable you to recall it quickly when it is needed. Also, if there is any content that has changed, rememorize that as well.
Rescheduling
Schedule the next repetition date manually. This will help to store it in your encephalon.
Executing Repetition
With specifically vital information, perform the repetition before the due date of the repetition.
What Have We Learned in Simpler Form?
If you don’t understand, don’t learn.
You need to learn the information and understand it before you try to memorize it. If you are just remembering and have no clue what it means, it won’t store correctly and will be completely useless. Your ability to recall the information would be lost. So make sure you comprehend the information before you try to memorize it.
Building on the Basics
Don’t dive into a complex text without following the basic rules of learning fast. Otherwise, you could end up thinking you will never get to the end of it, and you won’t remember what you have read and learned. Start with something simple, a book you have read before, perhaps, or a novel. Save the textbooks and scientific journals for when you have practiced the techniques a bit longer.
Minimum Information Principle
If you find you forget something continuously, try to simplify it as much as you can. If this fails, follow the rules of enumerations, cloze deletions, and mnemonic techniques. Simplified information is much easier to memorize, and you will recall it more effectively because it isn’t a long sentence or phrase to remember.
Use Cloze Deletion
This technique is simple yet effective. Not only does completing a missing phrase or word help you learn, but it also speeds up the learning process dramatically. Cloze deletion is an excellent technique for those who are just beginning to practice faster learning. Like all new skills and techniques, it will take a little time to grasp the concept, but it’s one you won’t forget.
Pictures and Graphics
For those who learn visually, an image or graph can be a great way to simplify the information and enable you to learn it quickly and effectively. Sometimes standing back and looking at information in the form of an image or graph can help you see the bigger picture. You may be able to identify and understand the information a lot clearer than looking at a lot of words.
Mnemonics
There are a variety of ways to create mnemonic techniques, and you can personalize them to suit you. You could create a funny sentence or saying using the first letter of a series of items, or you could take funny pictures that relate to the things to help you recall them. Mnemonics are particularly useful for learning scientific information.
