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Using flash cards to memorise almost anything

Using flash cards to memorise almost anything

I had a problem: almost everything I read I forgot over time. But now I remember the things I think are important and this is how I did it.

Peter Evjan

July 17, 2013
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  1. Using flash cards to
    memorise almost
    anything
    @peterevjan
    Illustrations & design
    by Stina Evjan
    peterevjan.com

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  2. Programmers need to learn
    new things all the time.
    So having a good study
    technique is important

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  3. My problem

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  4. My problem

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  5. My problem

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  6. How much do we really
    need to memorise?

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  7. A journalist once
    asked Einstein a question:

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  8. What’s the
    speed of light?
    A journalist once
    asked Einstein a question:

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  9. I do not carry such
    information in my
    mind since it is readily
    available in books
    What’s the
    speed of light?
    A journalist once
    asked Einstein a question:

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  10. Don’t memorise details to
    impress your friends

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  11. Memorise high-level concepts so that
    you can look up details when needed

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  12. What was wrong with
    my study technique?

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  13. I’ve been taught
    how to study here

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  14. Mass cramming

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  15. Mass cramming

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  16. Things you remember
    Mass cramming

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  17. Time
    Things you remember
    Mass cramming

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  18. Time
    Things you remember
    Mass cramming
    Exam time

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  19. Time
    Things you remember
    Mass cramming
    Exam time
    When you actually
    need the knowledge

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  20. Mass cramming is
    good for exams

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  21. Spaced repetition

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  22. Spaced repetition

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  23. Things you remember
    Spaced repetition

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  24. Time
    Things you remember
    Spaced repetition

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  25. Time
    Things you remember
    Spaced repetition
    “Who has solved
    this before?”
    “What are the pros
    and cons of this again?”
    “This reminds
    me of a pattern...”

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  26. Spaced repetition is
    good for real life

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  27. This is how I do it

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  28. This seems like a
    sensible way to ensure
    that the
    number_of_cliches
    method always returns
    zero, but will it actually
    work? To put it another
    way, can you override a
    method in a module by
    defining that method in
    the class that includes
    the module?
    Once you know that a
    mixin module effectively
    becomes a superclass
    when it is included, the
    answer is easy to come
    by: Yes. Since we know
    that the methods in a
    superclass cannot
    override the methods in
    subclasses, we can
    deduce that not module
    method
    I read and highlight

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  29. This seems like a
    sensible way to ensure
    that the
    number_of_cliches
    method always returns
    zero, but will it actually
    work? To put it another
    way, can you override a
    method in a module by
    defining that method in
    the class that includes
    the module?
    Once you know that a
    mixin module effectively
    becomes a superclass
    when it is included, the
    answer is easy to come
    by: Yes. Since we know
    that the methods in a
    superclass cannot
    override the methods in
    subclasses, we can
    deduce that not module
    method
    I read and highlight

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  30. After 1-2 chapters
    I stop reading

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  31. Once you know that a
    mixin module effectively
    becomes a superclass
    when it is included, the
    answer is easy to come
    by: Yes. Since we know
    Question
    What is the relation between
    a class and the module that it
    just mixed in?
    For every highlight, I create a flash
    card with a question

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  32. Once you know that a
    mixin module effectively
    becomes a superclass
    when it is included, the
    answer is easy to come
    by: Yes. Since we know
    Answer
    The module effectively
    becomes a superclass
    And a corresponding answer

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  33. Every day, an alarm on my phone
    reminds me to study my flash cards

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  34. I start by taking the
    top card from the pile

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  35. Question that I
    don’t know the
    answer to
    Question that
    I DON’T know
    the answer to

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  36. Question that I
    don’t know the
    answer to
    Question that
    I DON’T know
    the answer to

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  37. Question that
    I DO know
    the answer to

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  38. Question that
    I DO know
    the answer to

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  39. Then I take the next card from
    the top and repeat the process

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  40. Quiz time!
    Try to remember the
    answer to the
    following question...

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  41. Question
    What is the name of
    the learning technique
    I use?

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  42. Answer
    Spaced repetition

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  43. Paper? Really?
    No.
    I’m a programmer.
    Of course I use a tool.

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  44. http://ankisrs.net

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  45. Quiz time!
    No cheating!

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  46. Question
    What tool do I use for
    my flash cards?

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  47. Answer
    Anki

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  48. Question
    What is the name of
    the learning technique
    I use?

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  49. Answer
    Spaced repetition

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  50. Now I remember much more

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  51. Thank you!
    Illustrations & design
    by Stina Evjan
    @peterevjan
    peterevjan.com

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