Summary

In the modern era of skill polarization and exponentially changing market dynamics, the internet offers greater access to material and a more effective means to learn than ever before. Ultralearning introduces a science-backed, 9-principle strategy for leveraging this newfound wealth of material to acquire skills and knowledge in a self-directed, intense way that pushes you to your limits.

Key Takeaways

• Try an ultralearning project!
• Review the nine principles to Ultralearning

The 9 Principles to Ultralearning

1. Metalearning: Know the why/what/how before getting started (10% of time)
2. Focus: Start (2-minute rule), sustain (1 hour), optimize (match arousal with task)
3. Directness: Learn by doing and tie as close to context of desired use as possible
4. Drill: Attack rate-determining step using drilling strategies
5. Retrieval: Test yourself
6. Feedback: Seek brutally honest feedback of all three types
7. Retention: Spacing, proceduralization, over-learning, mnemonics to avoid forgetting
8. Intuition: Develop a principles-first, intuitive understanding, teach + explain
9. Experimentation: Growth mindset by experimenting with new learning methods

Notes

Why ultralearning matters

• Ultralearning: a strategy for acquiring knowledge that is both self-directed and intense
• Skill polarization: Globalization, automation causing larger gap between skilled and unskilled labor
• Internet: greater access to material, more effective means to learn than ever before

How to become an ultra-learner

• Toastmasters International
• The following principles are common strategies and backed up by science

Principle 1: Metalearning: First draw a map

• Metalearning: learning about learning
• Basically learning the routine needed to learn a certain set / group of skills
• Break down into 3 questions:
  • Why: what motivation is to learn
  • What: abilities, knowledge needed
  • How: resources, abilities, environment
• Two types of Ultralearning projects:
  • Instrumental: non-learning result (new skill, eg. public speaking)
    • Ask: will this actually help you achieve your goal? best option?
    • Reach out, meet with an expert
  • Intrinsic: projects for their own sake (eg. learning language, cooking, art)
• Learn how knowledge in field is structured
  • Concepts: understood, facts: memorized, procedures: practiced
  • Do a rough first pass
• How to learn it?
  • Courses, articles, recommendations
  • Quality of materials very important
  • Rule of thumb: 10% of time to research before actually learning

Principle 2: Focus: Cultivate concentration

• Focusing is a key to learning deeply
• Starting:
  • Become aware of procrastination, act to overcome impulse (5 minute rule)
  • Then, add scheduled time to calendar
• Sustaining:
  • Don’t worry about getting into the flow, can be difficult with learning
  • Dedicate 50-60 mins, 5 min breaks
  • Sources of distraction: environment, task, restlessness (mental)
• Optimizing:
  • Arousal: overall feeling of energy or alertness
  • Optimize ↑ to match task complexity

Principle 3: Directness: Go straight ahead

• Directness: learning being tied closely to the context you want to use it in
• Transfer: using knowledge from one situation in a different situation
• Always have a “doing” goal: although more challenging, much more effective
• Push boundaries, be uncomfortable

Principle 4: Drill: Attack your weakest point

• Rate-determining step: the slowest step in the learning process of a complex skill
• Find what you’re weakest at, develop drills
• Drilling strategies:
  • Time slicing: Practice one section, time segment of overall skill (eg. layups)
  • Cognitive components: Only one mental aspect of skill (eg. just wrist flick)
  • Copycat: Copy parts of skill you don’t want to drill (eg. only drawing nose)
  • Magnifying glass: Spend more time on one component (eg. researching)
  • Prerequisite chaining: Start too hard and work backwards, learning prerequisites

Principle 5: Retrieval: Test ability to learn

• Retrieval is better than review: test yourself before just reviewing the learning material
• Flash cards: term with paired definition
• Free recall: write down everything you can remember on a piece of paper
• Question book: keep notes on questions rather than answers, use to quiz

Principle 6: Feedback: Don’t dodge punches

• Feedback is most effective when it’s brutally honest, utilized, not discounted
• 3 types of feedback:
  • Outcome feedback: how you’re doing overall, easiest to get (eg. sales results)
  • Informational feedback: tells you what you are doing wrong, no fix (eg. foreign convo)
  • Corrective feedback: what’s wrong and how to fix
• Compare different methods of feedback
• Go for rapid, short term feedback and get used to not having it affect ego

Principle 7: Retention: Don’t fill a leaky bucket

• Forgetting curve: tend to forget things quickly after learning (exponential decay)
• Strategies to increase retention:
• Spacing: spread out short learning sessions
  • SRS: popular method
• Proceduralization: really hone in, proceduralize core sub-skills in skill
  • Leverage brain’s preference for procedural > declarative memories
• Over-learning: practice skills beyond point of adequate performance (eg. calculus)
• Mnemonics: memorize by associating with other form of vivid imagery (words, images)

Principle 8: Intuition: Dig deep, then build up

• Develop a principles-first understanding rather than looking at superficial features
• Dig deeper, go hands-on before considering a subject as understood
• Go through slowly and generate your own explanation for how it works

Principle 9: Experimentation: Explore outside

• Experiment with new methods of learning
• Experiment with technique, style
• Growth mindset: see yourself as someone with ability to improve
• Start at the extremes and tailor back after

First ultralearning project

• Do your research: start narrow and be thorough to avoid wasted effort
• Primary resources to use: books, etc.
• Benchmark: set expectations for progress
• Direct practice activities: use skill
• Backup materials, drills:
• Schedule your time: prioritize, motivate
• Maintain (regular practice to avoid decay) or master skill?
• High-intensity ultralearning vs low-intensity habits (eg. doing for job)

An unconventional eduction

• Intrinsic vs extrinsic motivation
• Establish positive feedback (make it fun)