This video, part of Plato University's "How to Learn Anything" course, focuses on technique number 10: creating associations. The instructor, Brandon Stover, explains how associations enhance learning by linking new information to pre-existing knowledge, improving memory and problem-solving skills.
The "Einstein effect" refers to a person's tendency to solve a problem in a specific way, even if a better or more appropriate method exists. The video uses the example of someone repeatedly solving a work problem the same way, despite knowing a more efficient solution. Creating associations, by providing diverse cues and perspectives (integrative complexity), makes learners more likely to explore different problem-solving approaches and avoid this rigid thinking.
According to the video, facts are explicit pieces of information, like names, dates, or locations—things readily observable through the five senses. Concepts, conversely, are broader ideas formed by associating different facts together, creating a more general understanding. The video uses the example of a book on the science of learning: facts would be specific research findings or techniques, while the concept would be the overall understanding of how learning works.
The video suggests using stories, built on interlocking causes and effects (like a plot), to integrate material and improve recall. The interconnected nature of the story creates an associative chain where remembering one part cues the recall of the next. For example, if a story has parts A, B, and C, recalling A will cue B, and B will cue C, making the entire sequence easier to remember. The emotional undertones often present in stories also enhance memory through dual coding (remembering both the verbal and emotional aspects). The video does not provide a specific example story, but uses this structure to illustrate the principle.
