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 In this chapter, the author mainly highlighted the skills of “Reflecting”, “Retrieve”, and “Testing”.

   A reflection is a form of practice as it helps to retrieve knowledge easily. When we review our previous work, we think a lot, and that is where the brain works to connect information together. This early memory training enables us to identify our weaknesses, visualise new experiences and mentally rehearse any corrections in future. 

   Next is the act of retrieval. Retrieval is the act of obtaining something from somewhere. In other words, retrieval practice requires effort, and the more effort we put in to retrieve something, the more likely the information will last longer in our memory. When repeated in spaced-out sessions, retrieval practice ensures that the recalling requires more cognitive effort instead of being a mindless recitation or regurgitation of what we have learnt. This is crucial as it trains the brain to act before our mind has time to think. 

   Moving on, scientists practised the testing effect in the lab and proved some hypotheses. First, it is undeniable that mass studying or cramming leads to higher scores for immediate testing, but this technique adversely results in faster forgetting. Hence, it is suggested that multiple retrieval practice sessions be conducted, especially when spaced out, which results in better results. This could be explained by the forgetting curve. We usually forget 70% of what we learn regularly; only 30% of information is retained and slowly goes off if there is no further retention. The testing effect interrupts the forgetting curve. Some forgetting occurs between tests when retrieval practice is carried out with spaced repetition. However, it leads to substantial long-term retention as more effort is required to retrieve the information. 

   Furthermore, giving feedback can also strengthen retention. Evidence proved that delaying feedback produces better long-term learning than immediate feedback. The reason behind this is simple. As mentioned above, the more cognitive effort required for retrieval, the greater the retention results. Recalling is an excellent approach to enhancing learning, but it must be done correctly by including spaced repetition.

So, what are the takeaways from this chapter? Are you still a bit blurry about the highlights in this chapter? No worries, I have summarised them below:

Effortful retrieval ensures more substantial learning and retention.

Delaying subsequent retrieval practice strengthens retention more than immediate testing because it requires more effort.

Testing does not need to be initiated or forced by an instructor. 

Self-awareness and self-motivation to test ourselves allow us to better grasp our progress and spot the gaps and misconceptions to correct them. 

Corrective feedback enhances learning and smoothens the reflection process.

If you wish to know more about this book, stay tuned for the next chapter!

This is a summary of the book MAKE IT STICK by Henry L. Roediger III, Mark A. McDaniel, and Peter C Brown. Below are some of my thoughts and inspirations about Chapter 1: Learning is Misunderstood. If you are looking forward to searching for an alternative to understanding the book's contents, feel free to read through this blog! I wish my summaries may help a little or more for you guys. 

    There are a few learning aspects in this chapter. First, learning requires memory to retain what we learn and to use it later. Secondly, we should keep on learning and remembering as learning is a lifelong learning process. Previous knowledge obtained helps a lot to understand a certain topic and it comes in handy for learning. Next, learning is an acquired skill, and the most effective strategies are often counterintuitive.

    The first claim made in this book is to reject the mass practice and rereading text. These methods may seem effective in quantity, but they do not guarantee the quality of knowledge obtained. Just as mentioned above, most effective strategies may seem unreasonable, while common methods practised by us may not be seriously useful too.

    Next, this book suggests retrieval practice as a strategy for learning. We will dive into this topic later. Retrieval practice is generally known as recalling facts or concepts from memory. An example of this method is flashcards. Quizzes after reading or understanding a text help to identify weaknesses regarding that particular topic. Hence, we are clearer about what we should focus more on in future classes or during revision. This is especially crucial as active retrieval by testing strengthens memory and interrupts forgetting. Spaced repetition is applied here together with retrieval practice. When a little forgetting happens, learning is harder, but the effects are longer-lasting. More details about retrieval practice will be discussed in Chapter 2.

    Moving on, we are encouraged to solve problems before being taught the solutions to a certain topic. As an illustration, try to solve a few mathematics or physics questions the night before the lecture. It is reasonable if you are unable to solve all, but at least you tried. It leads to better learning the next day in class as knowledge is now easily absorbed and understood. Thus, prior knowledge is also required in learning. We elaborate on what we understand in our own words. Next, put new knowledge together into a larger context. Now, you may extract new ideas and organize them into a mental model and connect them to prior knowledge.

    A few empirical research was conducted contrary to lore and intuition. Cognitive psychologists have been working to discover new strategies. Cognitive psychology is the basic science of understanding how the mind works, and conducting empirical research into how people perceive, remember and think. The research found that rereading textbooks is time-consuming but less effective as it does not result in durable memory. Instead, learning is stronger when it matters, when the abstract is made concrete and personal. Relating information to our surroundings creates a linkage and hence results in sustainable knowledge. Besides that, early evidence also proved that repetition by itself does not lead to long-term memory. People tend to have the illusion of mastery, which is poor metacognition. A simple example is that we often have the perception of ‘I thought I know, I thought I understand’. In reality, it does not seem to be what we have expected. Such thoughts are dangerous as we are weak in what we are confident with.

    As a short recap, memory plays an important role in learning. Active retrieval, spaced practice and testing as tools of learning will be further discussed in the next few chapters. You may be a bit confused about some of the claims suggested above as they may be new to you. No worries, you may clear your doubts as you read the next few chapters. These are just a mere brief about the books.

If you wish to know more about this book, stay tuned for the next chapter!

    A problem arises, we burn ourselves out, tensed by the heavy workload, be it academic or family issues. These complications could cause a big headache when we are too busy with our lives. We feel lost and helpless. Nevertheless, guided imagery is a great approach, or the best antidote whenever we are faced with difficulties. 

    As for me, guided imagery is one of the most practical, simple and cheap medicine for treating stress. After a whole long day of school and social life, we feel tired. However, incomplete stacks of homework cause a dilemma where we need to reduce allocated time for relaxation. By applying the guided imagery technique, whenever you feel tense, close your eyes and meditate. Don’t think of any stress-related issues. Focus on a single spot in front of a black screen. This is where you need to be highly focused. Try not to be distracted by disturbances. Next, think positively. Research suggests that positive thoughts bring positive results. This is also known as the Law of Attraction. A 5-minute meditation is enough to rejuvenate ourselves. All we have to do is temporarily forget the troublesome issues and think positively. 

    Trust me, this technique not only boosts productivity but also generates new ideas which are crucial in solving our problems.

    Self-fulfilment or money? This is one of the frequently enquired questions among students who are determining their career pathway. Would you choose a career of your interest or one which generates passive income but is not your cup of tea? From my standpoint, I choose both, but more preferably, self-fulfilment. 

    Genuinely speaking, money cannot buy us happiness. We should follow our hearts when choosing our future career, considering the prospects of that particular job. After all, this is a life-long career, where we should think and contemplate conscientiously. Tony Robbins said that success without fulfilment is the ultimate failure. Indeed, who would be delighted to do a job when they dislike it? Are you really happy with what you are working at? Is there any self-gratification in choosing a career that generates nothing but just money? I believe that self-fulfilment should be our priority when choosing a career, as we must choose what we are interested in. Being an engineer does bring about a fruitful income, but you may not be as happy as this was not your interest at first. On the other hand, another person who worked at a low-income level may be more contented than us. He or she is doing what he likes, and he is grateful enough for his current situation. 

    Above all, I reckon that self-fulfilment is crucial in deciding on a career, meanwhile, we should also choose a career that generates reasonable income as a balance between self-satisfaction and prosperity ensures a brighter future.    

Have you ever felt these before? 

Overwhelmed with numerous deadlines 

Lack of time 

I know what I wanted to do, but I do not know where to start 

If your answer is YES to most of the questions, congratulations! This post is the remedy for procrastinators. FYI, this post is mostly a paraphrase based on a YOUTUBE video by a famous YouTuber, Ali Abdaal (How I manage My Time - 10 Time Management Tips). I was always amazed by his high-quality youtube videos, and this time management video was one of my favourites. So I have decided to make a short reflection based on my understanding of the few tips. I believe that this post today may not be the perfect approach for all, but at least it may help a bit or more. Let's get started! 

We own all of our time 

In this video, Ali mentioned that “at any given moment you are doing what you most want to be doing”. Indeed, we are the ones who are always in control of our own time. The core of this tip is to make time for yourself. Everyone is given an equal amount of 24 hours a day. However, excellent time managers can complete many tasks per day. Meanwhile, the procrastinators managed to finish a few tasks only, given that they have sufficient time to accomplish more. The reason behind this is just simple. Time managers know how to make time. When you allocate time for a task, you can focus as you are currently doing what you wish to do. In other words, you are not easily distracted. I find myself immersed in a task when I am doing so as this is what I want to do at that moment. My mind won't flutter around. Hence, this results in highly effective work, especially for students. 

“Hell Yeah or No” 

This tip was suggested by the book by the name, written by Derek Sivers. It proposed that we should be brave to say 'NO'. People often find it hard to say 'NO' to various invitations, be it celebrations, gaming or sports. Hesitancy and timidness are the cause of a lack of time. We aren't really satisfied when we are not savouring what we are doing. Thus, don't be afraid to reject invitations where you find them less beneficial. Accept what you like or wish to do, and reject those where you are uninterested. Always remember that you only live once. Why should you be involved in something which can't bring you happiness? 

The Daily Highlight 

“If there are nine rabbits on the ground, if you want to catch one, just focus on one.” – Jack Ma. Undeniably, we can get things done by prioritising one major task. It needs a lot of effort to be a perfectionist, to complete many tasks excellently every day. You tend to burn out and feel exhausted. Sooner or later, you will lose motivation. Instead of that, decide on one major task which is crucial and needs to be accomplished without further delay. Set the urgent task as your daily highlight. Next, focus on the core task. You may only proceed to the other activities. This ends up with us completing the task on time and effectively, rather than multitasking without a satisfying end result. 

Use a to-do list 

To-do lists are highly recommended by most studygrammers due to their massive assistance. Get rid of the mindset of purchasing a stunning to-do list. We want to keep things simple. People often freak out when they have too many things in their minds. A to-do list comes in handy where you can scribble and jot down anything which comes into your mind. Then, arrange them in order. This is where you decide your daily highlight. It provides a sense of accomplishment when you get to strike off each box. On top of that, a to-do list reduces stress where we do not need to always recall back the tasks we wish to do. It also increases motivation as we are more energized to get things done and to strike off that box. 

Time blocking 

Time blocking is the method to divide our day into smaller chunks. It is simple, yet effective. First, schedule your daily highlight into the calendar. You have the first block dedicated to completing it. Next, fill up time gaps with other tasks. At the end of the day, review the task you couldn't finish. Allocate some time on the next day to complete them. Time blocking requires practice as you may be unable to follow a schedule strictly. However, at least it trains you to be disciplined in managing your time. You are clear about what to do at each moment. 

Parkinson's Law 

Parkinson's law refers to 'work expands to fill the time that we allocate to it'. This is where we can leverage artificial deadlines. Basically, people are encouraged to complete assignments as early as possible. Try not to do things late and avoid working the graveyard shift. Nonetheless, when there are a lot of tasks, it is reasonable to delay your work. You are allowed to finish your task just in time for the deadlines even though you are capable of completing it early. This is true as you can now make more time for relaxation or family events. It may seem a bit controversial with the typical mentality of getting things done early, but applicable procrastination is still reasonable, provided you can handle stress and unexpected emergencies wisely. 

Protected time 

This method comes along with the time-blocking tip. While allocating time blocks to each task, space out extra time. This 'protected time' is where you can continue your uncompleted tasks. For instance, you had dedicated two hours to writing your assignment essay. Meanwhile, you underestimated the time as you need more time to research materials. Thus, you ended up completing only about 50% of your essay. The protected time (perhaps an hour) can be applied to complete the next half part of the essay. Consequently, you are still able to achieve your mission. 

Delegation 

Smart people know how to delegate time based on priorities. Before starting a task or project, try to think of the dollar value of time. How much does this task worth per hour? Is it worth the effort to do something low-valued? To elaborate on this, whenever you wish to plan some task, spend some time considering the outcomes. For example, if you are less proficient in handling a minor task which requires little effort, you may consider leaving the task to the professionals. We are more confident doing what we are talented in. Choosing the right person for the right job really escalates productivity in life. 

Automated scheduling 

The automated scheduling system is like booking an appointment. The use of AI in this system allows it to select the best time for a task such as scheduling a meeting. It is effortless. All you have to do is to key in your wishlist and leave the rest to your little helper. This process reduces the effort to think and make an informed decision. 

The choice to be satisfied 

We tried our best to complete all tasks on the to-do list, but we failed. It is totally fine not to achieve all events on our wishlist. Instead of being pressured and guilty of the drawbacks, you can choose to accept them. It may not be perfect, but at least you managed to complete most of the tasks. That's satisfying enough as you met most of your targets. Mental health is especially important. Why should you destruct yourself for some minor disappointment? 

And that's the end of the post. This post may not be perfect as it is my first blogging experience. However, I hoped that it helped you a bit or more to be clear in time management. Feel free to comment down below on how these tips apply to you! Suggestions to improve my post are most welcome! 

A great thumbs up to Ali Abdaal for his practical tips. Attached below is his YouTube link regarding this post: