How To Remember Everything You Read

It’s a two-part process

Types of Information (P.A.C.E.R.)

Procedural - A set of instructions or processes followed to achieve a specific outcome. This is the “how” to do something.
Analogous - Information that is related to something you already have prior knowledge about. Analogy can form without any prior knowledge.
1. Example he gives: an avid swimmer is learning about muscle contraction and thinks “the muscle contraction cycle reminds me a lot of a swimming technique I use”.
Conceptual - Compared to Procedural information (the “how” to do), this is the “what” to do. Science subjects usually fall under conceptual knowledge.
Evidence - Information that makes conceptual information more concrete. Evidence is often detailed and concrete information
Reference - All the nitty-gritty, specific information that don’t really change your conceptual understanding.

When consuming material for learning, be thinking about these types, is this material:

A set of instructions or processes to be followed to achieve a specific outcome?

PROCESS: Practice

Practice what you read as soon as possible. If you can’t immediately practice what you read:
Move on to something else.
Stop consuming information, and wait until you have time to practice it.
Do not just try to memorize this type of information non-stop without practicing.

Information that is related to something you already have prior knowledge about?

PROCESS: Critique

Once an analogy is established, critique it to determine how good the analogy actually is. Ask:
- How are these things related?
- How are they different?
- In what situation does this analogy not make sense anymore?
- Is there a better analogy, or can we modify or extend the current analogy?

Facts and explanations, theories and principles, relationships between concepts, applications of concepts?

PROCESS: Mapping

Conceptual + Procedural = Problem solving and knowledge application
Non-linear, network based information.
Purpose is to re-create the network of knowledge that the expert has.
Mapping forces us to not only think about each fact and concept, but also how they connect to each other to form a bigger picture.
As you’re reading, start to map the information so you understand it better. Do this as you are reading.
Conceptual information can be used to create analogies.

Mind map of an expert, interconnected concepts Beginner, un-connected concepts

PROCESS: Store & Rehearse

Evidence type information can be used as examples to prove a conceptual point.
Store & Rehearse
“Store” means that you just collect that information and note it down somewhere.
“Rehearse” means to ask:
- How to use the information?
- How to apply the information?
- What type of conceptual information is this an example of?
This type of information should be documented (stored) as soon as it’s identified.
Do not waste time overly taking notes for Evidence type information because it will come at the cost of the Procedural, Analogous, and Conceptual processes.

PROCESS: Store & Rehearse

Not particularly important.
Doesn’t fall under any of the other types of information.
Information we might need to know later.
Examples:
- The exact value of a mathematical concept
- A specific gene involved in a particular mutation
- The name of a specific molecule of disease
- A list of attributes used to define a variable for coding.
Used for direct fact recall, such as when using flashcards combined with spaced repetition active recall strategy. Go through your flashcards regularly to help solidify this information.
Don’t waste too much time for this type of information.

Am I trying to make new information simpler to understand?
Am I grouping the information together?
Am I thinking about how what I’m learning relates to the big picture?
Am I recalling things I’ve learned from memory? If the answer to any of these questions is no, try to make it a yes.