Book Review

Question 1

What is an illusion of knowing?

Answer 1

Most people think that if they repeatedly drill the same information (repetition), then they gain that knowledge. In reality, that knowledge is only stored in short-term memory, and is difficult to apply in practical life.

This gives rise to an “illusion of knowing”. Otherwise known as a “familiarity trap”.

Question 2

“Shooting an azimuth” describes what activity?

Answer 2

Shooting an azimuth describes how explorers re-orient themselves by frequently climbing heights, looking for a pre-sighted object, and then readjusting their path and compass to make sure that they’re on the right path.

This phrase is a metaphor for periodically quizzing yourself to check your mastery of material, allowing you to correct course if you discover that you’ve missed some key points.

Question 3

How do you ensure durable retention of knowledge?

Answer 3

You need to practice retrieval. Effortful retrieval is highly desirable, as it increases the durability of your memory.

Question 4

What’s a great way to increase the effort required to retrieve some knowledge?

Answer 4

Delay subsequent retrievals of that knowledge, i.e. do spaced retrieval.

Question 5

Why is corrective feedback (from tests or quizzes) helpful?

Answer 5

Corrective feedback helps you correct the errors in your understanding, ensuring that you don’t retrieve erroneous information.

Question 6

What is another phrase for the effect that massed practice, or cramming, has on your knowledge?

Answer 6

Massed practice, or cramming, only creates “momentary strength”.

Question 7

How much time should you leave between study intervals?

Answer 7

You should space out your practice of material so that you give enough time for some forgetting to occur.

Question 8

What is a Leitner Box?

Answer 8

A Leitner box is a way to sort the things you review into different categories of familiarity. The less familiar things go into a “box” in which you review more frequently.

Question 9

What is it called when you study multiple subjects together at once?

Answer 9

Interleaving

Question 10

What is discrimination and how does it apply to applying knowledge?

Answer 10

Discrimination is the ability to identify different types of problems and apply relevant knowledge to solving them.

This improves the versatility with which you can apply the learning in new settings at a later date.

Question 11

What is an example of varied practice?

Answer 11

Varied practice is the art of mixing up how you review or practice what you’e learned. One example is to shuffle your flashcards, or mentally review books in reverse order.

Question 12

What are types of reflection questions?

Answer 12

Reviewing what you’ve learned from experience. What happened? What did I do? How did it work out?

Question 13

What is a type of elaboration question?

Answer 13

Connecting new knowledge to what you already know. What would I do differently next time?

Question 14

What is generation?

Answer 14

Generation is the processing of coming up with the answer to a question on your own. Or rephrasing key ideas in your own words.

Question 15

What are the three stages of learning?

Answer 15

1: Encoding - creating the first memory traces
2. Consolidation - strengthening memory representations into long-term memory
3. Retrieval - updates your memory and allows you to connect new knowledge to existing memories

Question 16

What is a tactic that you can use to improve your ability to retrieve key knowledge?

Answer 16

Use cues that help you reactivate your memories.

Question 17

Because of the vast capacity of long-term memory, what is key to the ability to locate and recall what you need to know, when you need to know it?

Answer 17

Repeatedly accessing the information that you want to recall.

Question 18

How does effortful retrieval help memory?

Answer 18

It helps to make that memory pliable, which assists in your ability to reconsolidate your memories, which helps you connect that memory to new knowledge.

It also helps you connect these memories into mental models that help you better contextual what you know in a cohesive whole.

Question 19

What do psychologists call it when you monitor your own thinking?

Answer 19

Metacognition

Question 20

People have an inherent desire to resolve the uncertainty and ambiguity in their lives, and as a result what does this cause?

Answer 20

A hunger for narrative.

Question 21

What is it called when people erroneously recall exaggerated accounts from memory?

Answer 21

Imagination inflation

Question 22

How can you affect people’s memories of the past?

Answer 22

People’s memories can be affected by suggestion. They can also be affected by social influence, which means that peers recollecting on past events can influence the memories of other people who were part of those events.

Question 23

What is peer instruction?

Answer 23

Peer instruction is the process of learning material before a class, and then discussing that material in groups during class, which leads to better retention.

Question 24

Why is corrective feedback important?

Answer 24

Corrective feedback is critical to ensuring that you are storing correct memories - you need others to give feedback on your interpretation of material.

Question 25

What are visuals or events that you can construct to help you trigger memories?

Answer 25

Cues.

Question 26

What is another term for the “false consensus effect”?

Answer 26

The curse of knowledge. That is, you expect others to know material as well as you do, or believe certain things in the same way that you do.

Question 27

How does hindsight bias negatively affect your ability to retain knowledge?

Answer 27

Hindsight bias means that after an event has occured, you find the reasons for its occurrence obvious. This prevents you from deeply reflecting on that event (why did it happen?).

Question 28

What is the only intelligence framework verified by empirical research?

Answer 28

Robert Sternberg’s 3 models of intellgence: creative, practical, analytical.

Question 29

What is practical intelligence?

Answer 29

The ability to adapt to everyday life - street smarts.

Question 30

What is creative intelligence?

Answer 30

The ability to synthesize and apply existing knowledge to new or unfamiliar situations.

Question 31

What is analytical intelligence?

Answer 31

The ability to complete problem-solving tasks.

Question 32

What does a good test seek to discover?

Answer 32

It seeks to discover your weaknesses and point out where you need to improve, rather than just justify your strengths.

What do I need to learn in order to improve?

Question 33

What are 3 steps you can take to test yourself?

Answer 33

Step 1: Take a practice test. It shows you where you Coe up short.

Step 2: Dedicate yourself to becoming more competent, using methods of reflection, spacing, retrieval, practice, and elaboration.

Step 3: Test yourself again, paying attention to what you’ve corrected and what you haven’t corrected.

Question 34

How can you use examples to help you learn more effectively?

Answer 34

Think of 2 examples that illustrate the same concept. Try to point out the similarities and differences between these examples in their illustration of the concept. This will help your ability to apply and discriminate.

Question 35

What are visual metaphors that you can use to help create a mental framework for concepts that you want to easily remember?

Answer 35

The physical structure within these metaphors will help you remember the connections between different components of an abstract idea.

A tree, with its roots, branches, and trunk.

A river.

A village, with streets, stores, and offices,