This video, part of Plato University's "How to Learn Anything" course, explains the concept of "overlearning" – practicing a skill beyond mastery – and its benefits for short-term and long-term retention. The instructor, Brandon Stover, details how to apply overlearning effectively by combining it with other learning techniques like spaced repetition and proceduralization.
The video describes two core practices of overlearning:
Continuously practicing and refining the core elements of a skill: This involves repeatedly returning to the foundational aspects of the skill and practicing them until they are mastered. The example given is focusing on key phrases or word sets in language learning rather than trying to learn the entire language at once.
Advanced practice: This involves progressing to a more advanced skill that builds upon the foundational skill. The example used is that students who took calculus after algebra retained more algebra knowledge than those who only studied algebra. This is because applying the foundational skill (algebra) in a more complex context (calculus) reinforces and overlearns those core elements.
The video suggests that for language learning, you should overlearn common keywords and phrases. Instead of cramming, space out your practice sessions over days or even weeks, using active recall in each session (e.g., flashcards). Additionally, interleave your practice by using different methods—sometimes flashcards, other times speaking with a native speaker—but always focusing on those key words and phrases to embed them deeply into your memory. This combination of overlearning, spaced repetition, and interleaving in different contexts enhances long-term retention.
