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Inspired by the incredible book Ultralearning by Scott Young, I've been sharing with you how anyone can master any topic with ultra-learning.
There, Scott proposed 9 principles to structure and learn any topic.
Although I already wrote an article series about these principles, I want to summarize each one in a single article for you :)
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Principle 1: Meta-Learning
- Structure your project.
- Learn how your knowledge is structured.
- Draw a map for the topics you need to learn to master it.
- Learn how to learn the topic.
For example, to master machine learning you first need Python, Data Analysis, Math, and Machine Learning algorithms.
Or to learn a new language you need to learn A1, A2, B1, B2, and C1 levels ( (CEFR). Check what you need to know at those levels.
Principle 2: Focus
- Create an environment to focus on learning the topic.
- Make a schedule for your study sessions.
- Use Pomodoros to defeat procrastination.
- Brief study sessions are way better than long ones.
Principle 3: Directness
- Learn by doing.
- Apply what you learned in real scenarios.
- Learn actively, not passively.
For example, if you want to learn programming sit down and code.
If you want to learn a new language speak it.
Watching courses will not make you learn the topic. It will only give the illusion that you're learning.
Principle 4: Drill
- Study your weakest point when learning. For example, for me, it was math when learning machine learning.
- Isolate this and concentrate on it.
- Drill your weakest point.
In my case, I decided to dedicate more Pomodoros to drill all the math I needed into machine learning.
Principle 5: Retrieval
- Study smarter, not harder.
- Use retrieval to recall the information you learned.
- Try flashcards, free-recall, or the question book method to recall.
This technique is one of the most effective ways of learning.
Principle 6: Feedback
- Get positive feedback about what you're doing good.
- Get negative feedback about how to improve yourself.
- Ask experts to give you feedback on what you're doing well and not so well.
When I was learning German, I spoke with native people to get feedback about my writing, and pronunciation.
I know this could be uncomfortable, but it is crucial for your learning!
Principle 7: Retention
- Once you learn it, automate it with proceduralization.
- "Save" what you learned in your long-term memory.
- Understand what and why you forget.
- Improve your encoding techniques (spacing, mnemonics, etc).
Principle 8: Intuition
- Understand how understanding works.
- Focus on examples in context.
- Use the Feynman Technique.
By trying to explain the concept to others, you gain more intuition about how understanding the topic works.
Principle 9: Experimentation
- Explore outside your comfort zone.
- Apply your knowledge in other contexts.
For example, if you are learning a new language, try talking to people of other dialects or engage in complex conversations such as science or politics.
If you know Python for data analysis, try to code an app with streamlit module to create a user interface data app.
Explore.
These are the principles to learn about any topic.
Now it's your turn to learn!
Here are some personal projects for inspiration:
What would you like to learn using Ultra-learning?
Can't decide? Here are some ideas for you:
If you liked my article, here are some ways you can help:
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Thanks for reading!
See you,
Axel