Maximize Your Study Potential with Active Recall and Notion
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Chapter 1: The Power of Active Recall
Unlocking the true potential of your study sessions can dramatically change your academic success, and I’m excited to share a little-known technique that can elevate your learning experience — using Notion for active recall.
Imagine achieving better grades with less time and effort than you thought possible. This isn’t just wishful thinking; it’s entirely achievable.
Active recall is not merely a trendy term; it’s a well-researched, evidence-backed method that can transform how you absorb information. According to a 2009 journal study by Karpicke et al., most students tend to reread their notes or textbooks, yet relatively few engage in self-testing or retrieval practice, which is the essence of active recall.
Many students rely on passive methods like highlighting or rereading, but the real breakthrough comes when you challenge your brain to retrieve information. The surprising fact is that so few individuals recognize this effective strategy. Just think of the edge you could have once you master it!
What is Active Recall and Why Should You Adopt It?
In essence, active recall involves actively retrieving information from memory rather than passively consuming it. The overwhelming evidence supporting its effectiveness is compelling. A review by Dunlosky et al. (2013) assessed various learning methods and concluded the following:
- High-value techniques: practice testing and distributed practice (the strategies employed by top students).
- Low-value techniques: summarization, highlighting, mnemonic devices, imagery for text learning, and rereading (the methods most people tend to use).
Research indicates that practices such as self-testing and spaced repetition are far more effective, whereas passive approaches yield minimal benefits. In fact, repeated testing is crucial for long-term retention, while simply studying the material again doesn’t produce significant advantages.
Implementing Active Recall with Notion
Now, let’s dive into the exciting part — how to employ active recall using Notion. At its core, active recall is about answering questions. You can create these questions yourself or source them from practice exams, past tests, or by collaborating with peers to exchange potential questions.
To facilitate this process, you might use flashcards with a question on one side and the answer on the other, or leverage an online tool like Anki (which I’ll discuss in an upcoming newsletter). Personally, I find Notion to be an exceptional tool for active recall.
You might be thinking, "Sure, I get it; you love Notion." And you’re correct! Notion is a versatile platform that I utilize in numerous ways, but it particularly shines for active recall.
Why is Notion Ideal for Active Recall?
I’ll soon post videos on my YouTube channel covering the basics of using Notion, so if you’re unsure about how to get started, don’t worry — I’ve got you covered! For active recall specifically, you don’t need extensive knowledge of Notion; I’ll guide you through the essentials.
Let’s create some questions from scratch to illustrate the process. I’ll reference the Drake and Fabozzi textbook, starting on page 13 (page 29 in the PDF).
Instead of relying on passive techniques like reading or summarizing, many students enter exams with what’s called the "illusion of competence." This occurs when they reread material, leading them to believe they understand it well enough, only to underperform when faced with complex exam questions.
Familiarity with the content is insufficient; what you need is a deep understanding that can be actively recalled.
To create effective study questions, I’ll extract material from the Drake and Fabozzi text. Here’s an excerpt for reference:
"A country's financial system comprises entities that assist in channeling funds from investors to those who require them. Imagine needing to finance a home purchase by gathering multiple lenders — it would be quite challenging and require meticulous planning to track loan agreements and repayments..."
Using Notion's toggle function is particularly beneficial here, allowing you to:
- Conceal answers so you can test yourself first.
- Include sub-questions under a main question, creating multiple layers of information.
To utilize the toggle feature in Notion, begin a line with ">" followed by a space, indicating that you want to create a toggle. After hitting space, Notion will format it accordingly, and you can start entering your question.
For example, your first question could be, "What comprises a country’s financial system?" Type this in, then hit Enter to access the toggle section where you can write the answer derived from the text.
Continue adding study questions in this manner, creating a comprehensive question-and-answer set.
How to Utilize Notion After Setting Up Your Questions
After crafting your questions, you’ve already engaged with the material more meaningfully. The next step is to use active recall for long-term retention.
First, click to hide the answers using the toggles. The only visible items will be the questions. Later that day or the following day, return to Notion and quiz yourself. Speak your answers aloud if possible, and then reveal the answers to check your responses. If you’re correct, mark it with a check; if not, use an "X" to denote it as incorrect.
Once you’ve completed this for all questions, that’s your study session for the day! The following day, focus solely on the questions you missed. Repeat this daily until you can correctly answer all previously incorrect questions, marking this as the end of your initial study phase.
Some people find it helpful to require two consecutive correct answers before considering a question fully learned. Remember, this process should be repeated for all material you need to master.
Although it may seem daunting, you’ll be amazed at how quickly you can progress and how the creation of questions enhances your review process.
This approach is genuinely transformative.
Congratulations on reaching the end of this guide! You now possess a new and effective study strategy. Prepare your Notion page and start inputting your questions and answers for your next exam. Best of luck!
If anything is unclear, please feel free to reach out, and I’ll do my best to assist.
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