## Introduction - Mastering new concepts can be difficult and time-consuming, and remembering what has been learned can sometimes feel impossible [(00:00:07)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5J4TMVNMZU&t=7s). - The author, Parker Setticase, spent 11 semesters in graduate school, earning three master's degrees in theological studies, systematic theology, and the philosophy of religion, and learned tips and tricks to help learn new concepts and master them [(00:00:10)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5J4TMVNMZU&t=10s). - The author recently read Cal Newport's book "How to Become a Straight A Student" and found that it uses some of the same tools that they used to be successful in graduate school [(00:00:44)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5J4TMVNMZU&t=44s). - The book is based on interviews with straight-A students and provides specific study habits that can be applied to learning and mastering new concepts [(00:01:46)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5J4TMVNMZU&t=106s). - The author highly recommends the book, but suggests reading it critically and taking the useful information while disregarding the rest [(00:02:02)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5J4TMVNMZU&t=122s). - The video is sponsored by Short Form, which provides detailed book summaries, interactive exercises, and smart insights to help readers apply the ideas they learn [(00:02:15)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5J4TMVNMZU&t=135s). - Short Form can be used to learn a book at different levels, from a 10-minute overview to a full guide, and can help readers build connections between ideas [(00:02:44)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5J4TMVNMZU&t=164s). - The author used Short Form to make the video and found it helpful in refreshing their understanding of Cal Newport's book [(00:02:51)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5J4TMVNMZU&t=171s). ## Quiz and Recall Method - The quiz and recall method is an effective way to imprint concepts, whether in philosophy or calculus, by reviewing and then trying to explain them in one's own words, and it can be applied to both technical and non-technical course material [(00:03:51)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5J4TMVNMZU&t=231s). - This method involves creating a study guide or practice quiz with questions derived from the material, and then using [[Testing effect | active recall]] to try and answer those questions without looking at any notes [(00:04:52)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5J4TMVNMZU&t=292s). - The quiz and recall method is a technique that requires active production of the material, rather than just passively reviewing it, and it can be used to master new concepts and topics [(00:04:02)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5J4TMVNMZU&t=242s). - Simply reading over material does not work, and students need to make an extra effort to get it into their heads by actively recalling and producing the information [(00:04:34)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5J4TMVNMZU&t=274s). - The quiz and recall method can be used in conjunction with other study methods, such as using notebooks to store information, to help recall that information for years to come [(00:03:47)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5J4TMVNMZU&t=227s). ## Outlining Essays and Compendiums - Outlining essays is another effective method for acquiring new concepts, and it can be used in conjunction with the quiz and recall method to help master new topics [(00:03:34)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5J4TMVNMZU&t=214s). - Using compendiums and [[Commonplace book | commonplace books]] to store information can help recall that information for years to come, and can be used in conjunction with the quiz and recall method and outlining essays [(00:03:44)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5J4TMVNMZU&t=224s). - Creating a compendium of class notes is essential for storing and reflecting on new concepts learned, especially when trying to master a subject or become an expert in it [(00:06:12)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5J4TMVNMZU&t=372s). - A compendium is a collection of concise but detailed information about a particular topic, meant to be comprehensive in scope and systematically presented, which can be stored in a notebook [(00:06:38)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5J4TMVNMZU&t=398s). - Using [[Testing effect | active recall]] to answer questions and prompts in the compendium can help master new concepts and retain the information learned [(00:07:24)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5J4TMVNMZU&t=444s). - Copying questions and prompts into the compendium and using active recall to answer them can help remember concepts learned and prevent forgetting [(00:07:37)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5J4TMVNMZU&t=457s). - For those not in school, creating a compendium and using active recall can still be applied by making own prompts and questions to test knowledge and understanding [(00:09:08)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5J4TMVNMZU&t=548s). - Keeping a record of active recall in a compendium can help review and remember old concepts, preventing loss of previously gained knowledge [(00:08:54)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5J4TMVNMZU&t=534s). - The example of an ontology midterm study guide shows how active recall and a compendium can be used to master complex concepts, such as abstract objects and platonism [(00:07:11)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5J4TMVNMZU&t=431s). ## Active Recall and Compendiums - Mastering new concepts requires active listening, taking good notes, and creating questions for self-testing, which can be achieved by listening to a podcast multiple times and abstracting notes to create [[Testing effect | active recall]] prompts [(00:09:12)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5J4TMVNMZU&t=552s). - Creating a time gap between generating prompts and answering them helps in recalling information more effectively, making it a valuable tip for mastering concepts [(00:09:45)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5J4TMVNMZU&t=585s). - Writing down active recall sessions serves as an objective test of knowledge, allowing for identification of areas that need improvement, and provides an additional record of information that can be used later [(00:10:00)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5J4TMVNMZU&t=600s). - Practicing active recall orally, either by talking to oneself or teaching someone else, is another effective method for metabolizing information and making it one's own [(00:10:22)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5J4TMVNMZU&t=622s). - Teaching someone else about what you're learning is a great way to metabolize information, whether it's through talking to a spouse, friend, or any other captive audience [(00:10:46)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5J4TMVNMZU&t=646s). - Creating a quiz for oneself and practicing active recall, either by oneself or with someone else, is a highly recommended tip for mastering new concepts [(00:11:01)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5J4TMVNMZU&t=661s). ## Outlining Essays and Commonplace Books - Making outlines for essays and recording them in a manuscript [[Commonplace book | commonplace book]] is an effective way to learn and master new concepts, especially when writing longer papers or essays [(00:11:14)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5J4TMVNMZU&t=674s). - Writing an essay about a new concept or topic is one of the best ways to help learn and master that information, and creating a quick outline before starting to write is a valuable step in this process [(00:11:37)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5J4TMVNMZU&t=697s). - Writing essays in grad school was a valuable experience, and creating outlines helped to clarify thoughts, arguments, and sub-arguments, ensuring the form of the argument was valid and the premises were true, making it a sound argument [(00:12:14)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5J4TMVNMZU&t=734s). - Commonplace books are collections of well-known or personally meaningful textual excerpts organized under individual thematic headings, and they can be used to store quotations and thoughts about those quotations [(00:13:25)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5J4TMVNMZU&t=805s). - A commonplace book is different from a catch-all journal, which is a place to store ideas, favorite quotes, song lyrics, and task lists, whereas a commonplace book is specifically for storing quotations [(00:13:46)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5J4TMVNMZU&t=826s). - Writing out quotations by hand in a manuscript commonplace book helps to get the quotes deep into one's mind and allows for easy recall, making it a good way to store valuable information [(00:14:20)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5J4TMVNMZU&t=860s). - Outlining papers and writing manuscripts in a dedicated notebook is highly recommended, as it allows students to retain the information and quotations they've worked hard to gather, which can serve them for the rest of their life [(00:14:45)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5J4TMVNMZU&t=885s). ## Commonplace Books - Earl Havens, a [[Commonplace book | commonplace book]] thinker and historian, defines a commonplace book as a collection of textual excerpts organized under individual thematic headings, which can be used for a particular purpose [(00:13:22)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5J4TMVNMZU&t=802s). - Writing essays can be a valuable process for mastering new concepts, as it allows individuals to create a record of their thoughts and information that can be referenced in the future [(00:15:15)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5J4TMVNMZU&t=915s). - Creating a written record of thoughts and information can help individuals clarify their thoughts, learn new concepts, master new information, and remember what they have learned [(00:15:47)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5J4TMVNMZU&t=947s). - This process can be applied in various ways, such as starting a blog, becoming more active on [[Reddit]], or writing thoughts out in a notebook before contributing to online forums or blogs [(00:15:39)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5J4TMVNMZU&t=939s). ## Conclusion - Outlining essays is one of two tips for mastering new information, the other being the quiz and recall method [(00:16:01)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5J4TMVNMZU&t=961s). - Mastering new concepts and information requires active engagement and practice, such as writing essays and creating a written record of thoughts and information [(00:15:57)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5J4TMVNMZU&t=957s). ## Sources - [website](https://youtube.com/watch?v=R5J4TMVNMZU&si=VFF0D9Z2y70_qQDb)