We are living in an age of unlimited access to information. Between the internet and the public library, we can get the equivalent of a college education for little-to-no cost. But even though we have all this information, we still face the challenge of retaining the material. In Peter Hollins' book, The Science of Self-Learning, Hollins provides strategies for retaining information and overcoming the personal roadblocks of self-guided learning.
I’d like to share four helpful ideas that will help you on your journey of self-study.
1. The SQ3R Method
Hollins shares a method for improving reading comprehension known as the SQ3R method. The steps of SQ3R are: skim, question, read, recite, and review.
Skim
Learning is easier when information has context. Before reading a non-fiction book, take the time to understand the layout of the argument. You can do this by:
Reading a high-level summary
Reading online articles/discussion forums about the book
Looking at the table of contents to see chapter titles
Additionally, you can skim on a chapter-by-chapter basis. You can do this by reading the subheadings of each chapter and the introduction/conclusion before reading the whole text.
Question
Write down some questions that came up while you were skimming the information. This will help you actively engage with the author's arguments, as opposed to passively reading the text. You can ask yourself some questions such as:
What question will this chapter answer?
Where is the author's argument strong/weak?
Does this conflict with anything else I have learned previously?
Read
Search for the answers to your questions. Make annotations and highlight portions of the text.
Recite
After each sub-heading and chapter, recite what you have learned. I do this in the form of taking Cornell notes (see #2 below).
Review
Re-visit your previous questions, annotations, and chapter summaries. This will help the information stick in your long-term memory.
2. Cornell Notes
Traditional note-taking involves furiously copying every word that the professor/textbook says. This is ineffective because we don't reflect on what we are learning. Hollins shares a note-taking method known as Cornell notes. With Cornell notes, it is easier to organize, reflect on, and learn the information.
Here's how you do it
To take Cornell notes, you will divide the paper into 3 sections titled: keywords, notes, and summary. You will take your actual notes on the right-hand side of the page. Since you will have less space, try to abbreviate your notes as much as possible. On the left-hand side of the page, you will write down brief comments, questions, and keywords that the notes will answer. This will help make your information easier to remember when you review it. Lastly, you will briefly summarize the important ideas from the notes.
3. Create a learning schedule
The hardest and most intimidating part of self-guided learning is staying disciplined. Performing self-study means that you assume the role of both teacher and student. That is why creating a daily learning program is very important. This will give you an idea of when and for how long you will learn each day. Without a schedule, time slips out of our hands and we have no idea where it goes. However, when we have a schedule, each second of our time is accounted for. It is impossible to find the time so we must make time.
4. Anxiety is the biggest roadblock to learning
Studying by yourself feels like swimming in the middle of the ocean without no one there to save you if you drown. You have no idea if you are doing things correctly or where you are making mistakes. It can be easy to convince yourself that it isn't worth the discomfort and stress.
The best way to alleviate anxiety is to adopt a growth mindset. Learning is inherently difficult and uncomfortable. This highlights the timeless truth that without struggle there is no improvement. If you were learning something and it was easy, you should question whether it is really worth your time at all.
You are not doomed to failure because learning is hard. Acknowledge your anxiety, recognize that it is completely OK to feel self-doubt while struggling, and just keep practicing. After enough repetitions and experience, the current struggle will seem easy.
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