About this Video

• Video Title: Day 8: How to Determine How to Learn | How to Learn Anything Course
• Channel: Plato University
• Speakers: Brandon Stover
• Duration: 00:14:54

Introduction

This video, part of Plato University's "How to Learn Anything" course, focuses on determining the best learning strategies for a chosen skill or subject. It guides viewers through identifying effective learning resources, techniques, and support systems to maximize learning efficiency.

Key Takeaways

1. Benchmarking: Analyze how others have learned the same skill to create a baseline learning strategy. This involves examining university syllabi for academic subjects or online resources and forums for professional skills.
2. Concept, Fact, and Procedure Analysis: Identify the most challenging aspects of the learning material to pinpoint learning bottlenecks. This allows for targeted resource allocation and technique selection.
3. Resource Identification: Determine the primary learning resources (books, videos, classes, mentors, etc.) needed for the chosen subject and establish a clear starting point.
4. Technique Selection: Choose appropriate learning techniques for each phase of the learning cycle (exploring, engaging, and executing), including methods like interleaving, elaboration, deliberate practice, active recall, and the Feynman Technique.
5. Goal Setting and Progress Tracking: Set specific, actionable process goals and track progress weekly to maintain momentum and adapt the learning plan as needed. Concrete plans are crucial for success.

The video cites a research study on recycling behavior. It found that a vague call to action ("recycle more") resulted in modest improvement, while a concrete plan with specific action steps (e.g., "place all cans and bottles in recycling") led to a significantly larger (nearly 100-fold) improvement in recycling that persisted for months. This illustrates that concrete plans with detailed action steps are essential for achieving goals, not just vague intentions.

The video emphasizes that a concrete plan should include specific action steps detailing what success would look like. It uses the example of recycling: instead of a general goal to recycle more, a concrete plan might specify putting all bottles and cans in the recycling bin and not the trash. For learning, this translates to identifying specific learning resources, techniques, and a schedule for practice sessions that mimic real-life application of the skill. Regularly (e.g., weekly) assessing progress and updating the action plan is also crucial.