Study More Efficiently With These 2 Basic Steps
By Justin Sung
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AI Summary of "Study More Efficiently With These 2 Basic Steps"
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Fundamentals of Effective Encoding
📌 Encoding techniques are inherently difficult because they involve cognitive load, which naturally feels uncomfortable or confusing; if it feels easy, you are likely doing it incorrectly.
⏳ Developing the skill for effective encoding takes time, often ranging from a few days to about one to two months for most people, similar to training a muscle.
🧠 The core principle is that encoding only happens when there is a clear organizational structure in the brain, meaning you know how information fits together, not just what the information is.
Achieving Higher Orders of Learning
🔝 Effective encoding requires jumping immediately to higher orders of learning (like applying, analyzing, and evaluating) rather than lingering on lower levels (remembering and understanding).
🧩 Analyzing involves comparing and contrasting multiple ideas to see their relationships, which is a critical step beyond simple understanding.
⚖️ Evaluating is a deeper level where you judge the relationships, explicitly determining which connections are the most important in the grand scheme.
Relating Information to the Bigger Picture
🖼️ The key to correct encoding is always trying to relate new information to each other and to the bigger picture by creating an actual organizational system.
🚫 Avoid committing information to notes immediately upon consumption; this forces isolated consumption, which hinders organization; instead, figure out the organization first.
🧠 Focusing on higher-order thinking (analysis/evaluation) early on prompts the brain to automatically fill in the lower-order memorization and understanding needed along the way, leading to faster, better-organized encoding.
Training Cognitive Load Tolerance
📉 Students often rely on linear note-taking (like wordy linear formats) to reduce cognitive load immediately, which prevents actual encoding and creates future repetition work.
🧘 Practice holding onto information longer before writing notes down, gradually increasing the amount of information you can process while asking how it relates to the big picture.
📈 Developing higher cognitive load tolerance is a fundamental skill required for more advanced encoding techniques like chunking and mind mapping.
Key Points & Insights
➡️ If overwhelmed by analysis, step down the focus initially to application ("How can I apply this?"), as this is significantly better than rote memorization.
➡️ If you find yourself relying heavily on repetition, recognize that this method becomes unsustainable as information complexity increases.
➡️ Strive for high retention rates (aiming for 90%+ retention over several weeks) by prioritizing organized, holistic encoding over simple consumption and memorization.
📸 Video summarized with SummaryTube.com on Nov 02, 2025, 08:59 UTC
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📜Transcript
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📄Video Description
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Learn about how to maximise encoding efficiency.
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=== Notes ===
Sorry for the long video but this is important. Maybe one of the most important study skills videos I've made. Active recall and spaced repetition are effective techniques, but relying on them is not going to work out for the majority of students. If your problems aren't with retrieval then it's an uphill battle that you will lose eventually.
If you search for "study skills" or "how to study faster" or listen to the advice of many study gurus, they will put active recall and spaced repetition on a pedestal. As someone who has gone through all of that, and worked with thousands of students in real practice, I can tell you that this is not even half of the full story. I hope you learn something new and see things differently.
With the "PROBLEM with active recall and spaced repetition" video made and now this one about the very fundamentals of encoding, the next videos will focus on going through examples and specific techniques. In those future videos, I will just refer to these 2 videos instead of explaining everything all over again.
Watch the PROBLEM with active recall and spaced repetition video here:
https://youtu.be/--Hu2w0s72Y
If you enjoyed what I had to give or found it valuable, a subscribe would be sincerely appreciated.
=== About Dr Justin Sung ===
Dr. Justin Sung is a world-renowned expert in self-regulated learning, certified teacher, research author, and former medical doctor. He has guest lectured on learning skills at Monash University for Master’s and PhD students in Education and Medicine. Over the past decade, he has empowered tens of thousands of learners worldwide to dramatically improve their academic performance, learning efficiency, and motivation.
Instagram: https://instagram.com/drjustinsung
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@drjustinsung
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drjustinsung
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-sung/
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Full video URL: youtube.com/watch?v=VcT8puLpNKA
Duration: 41:30
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AI Summary of "Study More Efficiently With These 2 Basic Steps"
Get instant insights and key takeaways from this YouTube video by Justin Sung.
Fundamentals of Effective Encoding
📌 Encoding techniques are inherently difficult because they involve cognitive load, which naturally feels uncomfortable or confusing; if it feels easy, you are likely doing it incorrectly.
⏳ Developing the skill for effective encoding takes time, often ranging from a few days to about one to two months for most people, similar to training a muscle.
🧠 The core principle is that encoding only happens when there is a clear organizational structure in the brain, meaning you know how information fits together, not just what the information is.
Achieving Higher Orders of Learning
🔝 Effective encoding requires jumping immediately to higher orders of learning (like applying, analyzing, and evaluating) rather than lingering on lower levels (remembering and understanding).
🧩 Analyzing involves comparing and contrasting multiple ideas to see their relationships, which is a critical step beyond simple understanding.
⚖️ Evaluating is a deeper level where you judge the relationships, explicitly determining which connections are the most important in the grand scheme.
Relating Information to the Bigger Picture
🖼️ The key to correct encoding is always trying to relate new information to each other and to the bigger picture by creating an actual organizational system.
🚫 Avoid committing information to notes immediately upon consumption; this forces isolated consumption, which hinders organization; instead, figure out the organization first.
🧠 Focusing on higher-order thinking (analysis/evaluation) early on prompts the brain to automatically fill in the lower-order memorization and understanding needed along the way, leading to faster, better-organized encoding.
Training Cognitive Load Tolerance
📉 Students often rely on linear note-taking (like wordy linear formats) to reduce cognitive load immediately, which prevents actual encoding and creates future repetition work.
🧘 Practice holding onto information longer before writing notes down, gradually increasing the amount of information you can process while asking how it relates to the big picture.
📈 Developing higher cognitive load tolerance is a fundamental skill required for more advanced encoding techniques like chunking and mind mapping.
Key Points & Insights
➡️ If overwhelmed by analysis, step down the focus initially to application ("How can I apply this?"), as this is significantly better than rote memorization.
➡️ If you find yourself relying heavily on repetition, recognize that this method becomes unsustainable as information complexity increases.
➡️ Strive for high retention rates (aiming for 90%+ retention over several weeks) by prioritizing organized, holistic encoding over simple consumption and memorization.
📸 Video summarized with SummaryTube.com on Nov 02, 2025, 08:59 UTC
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