Quiz: What Do You Know About Learning?

By Leo Babauta

So we’re almost 3 weeks into our 30-Day Learning Challenge, and I’ve shared a number of methods about effective learning … let’s do a quick, low-stakes quiz to help cement the info.

This isn’t to show how little you’ve learned … it’s to do three important things:

  1. Help you see what you’ve forgotten.
  2. Help you not forget what you’ve already learned.
  3. See where you can implement these ideas in your learning sessions.

It won’t take long, so let’s dive in. Please be sure to force yourself to answer each question, and not just read on to the answers.

Question 1

Is it better to re-read information until you’ve remembered it, or to quiz yourself and force yourself to recall?

If you know the answer, why is it true? If you don’t know the answer, see this article/video.

Implementation question 1: How are you using this key method in your learning sessions?

Question 2

If someone learning guitar were to try to learn a new song, and wanted to remember it for a long time … would it be better to spend a whole day to really learn the song, or to learn it in smaller chunks spaced out through the course of a month?

If you know the answer, why is it true? If you don’t know the answer, see this article.

Implementation question 2: How are you using this key method in your learning sessions?

Question 3

If you’re learning a variety of topics within your subject of study — say, a number of types of math problems, or a bunch of different skills — is it better to study one type of problem or skill until you master it before moving on to the next, or should you mix up your practice?

If you know the answer, why is it true? If you don’t know the answer, see this article.

Implementation question 3: How are you using this key method in your learning sessions?

Question 4

Is it a waste of time to quiz yourself before you even learn something? Should you attempt math problems, for example, before you’ve learned how to solve them?

If you know the answer, why is it true? If you don’t know the answer, see this article.

Implementation question 4: How are you using this key method in your learning sessions?

Question 5

Is there any value in making your learning more difficult, or is it better to make your learning a series of easy successes?

If you know the answer, why is it true? If you don’t know the answer, see this article.

Implementation question 5: How are you using this key method in your learning sessions?

OK, that’s it! Please be honest with yourself: