hackermailman 3 months ago

The Feynman Technique. This is basically the gist of it https://mattyford.com/blog/2014/1/23/the-feynman-technique-m...

For example a text I worked through with exercises to determine the cache performance of code snippets, ie: the total number of reads, the miss rate, ect. When I first did that chapter I'd just work through the exercises and move on. Then I'd forget everything a month later. The second time I explained the answer to myself like I was giving a lecture, after working through each exercise for example explaining spatial/temporal locality, stride-1 reference patterns that will be prefetched by the cpu, ect. That was about 2 years ago and I still remember that chapter. So slower at first, but you remember all the concepts which means you don't have to go back and re-do the material again which for me is 'faster learning'.

usgroup 3 months ago

Yup... make it from scratch, or use it in a non trivial project, or try and do some original research with it.

All three above will get you asking questions and seeing the thing from angles you wouldn’t have thought about otherwise. It’ll also connect your knowledge to existing knowledge which is ultimately what will make it stick around.

I spend a LOT of time learning new things . I’m perpetually perplexed and live in a constant state of confusion about a large part of my current thoughts, and the way described above is how I perpetually integrate the new stuff effectively.

dubyabee2 3 months ago

It depends on the subject or skill. My suggestion is to look at meta-learning that is the subject of Tim Ferriss 4-hour Chef..It's the first few chapters and the rest of the book is an application of it. I am not advocating, just a suggestion.

expopinions 3 months ago

Get enough sleep. Every single day. Drink enough water. 2-3L. Make progress every day, even if it's just a little. Don't put too much pressure on yourself. Just make the most of your down time - on the toilet, in bed before you fall asleep, waiting in line for your coffee, on the bus. Try to always have some reading material on you. Find a way to enjoy it. Teach others. Share your knowledge. Teaching is a great way to find holes in your own understanding. Helping others is a great motivator. Vary your sources. Ask friends and experts. Read the news. Subscribe to mailing lists and blogs. Follow interesting people/groups/organizations in the tech world on Twitter or Facebook or Google Plus. Read books. Be opportunistic. Always look out for new opportunities to learn. Help friends with their projects. Have a community. Don't be afraid if you don't fit in, or if you think you're not as smart as everyone else. Or be afraid, but don't let that stop you from asking questions and picking brains and listening. Be enthusiastic, curious, and humble.

Now, I know everyone is different - but I don't personally think you can keep up with your self-education purely out of a sense of duty. You must love it. So I think the most important thing is to find a way to love it.