Update evergreen notes on the learning process

2021-05-02-23-05-42.org

@@ -3,15 +3,20 @@
 :END:
 #+title: The basics of memory
 #+date: "2021-05-02 23:05:42 +08:00"
-#+date_modified: "2021-05-21 23:44:01 +08:00"
+#+date_modified: "2021-06-05 22:33:17 +08:00"
 #+language: en
 
 
-# TODO: working and long-term memory
 As for this note, we'll talk about the basics of memory neuroscientifically.
 
+
+
+
+# TODO: Practices on improving memory
+* Basic anatomy of the brain
+
 Remebering from our basic biology lessons, we know that the brain contains *neurons that store information*.
-These information can be connected together with *synapses that represents a web of thoughts* from the process of [[roam:Chunking]].
+These information can be connected together with *synapses that represents a web of thoughts* from the process of [[id:1e135aee-0464-4756-9f55-bbf12afe8254][Chunking]].
 It shows why [[id:9f1f35dd-7cf9-4f47-a9a9-b647e5daa2af][We are more associative than structured]];
 indeed, we are very skilled in linking and jumping between ideas.
 You may have moments of suddenly remembering that you forgot to bring something while in the middle of your nap or a Eureka! moment where you suddenly understand why the quadratic formula makes sense.
@@ -19,3 +24,22 @@ You may have moments of suddenly remembering that you forgot to bring something
 The memory can be compared to the muscles as it strengthens the more you use and decays the more you neglect.
 In order for this to work, however, you need to set some time for the neural structure to harden first.
 This is why cramming doesn't work and [[id:063dfd73-dbf5-437b-b6f1-d7aeca196f31][Spaced repetition]] is often considered a better method.
+
+
+
+
+* Working and long-term memory
+
+Our brain has a lot of ideas and random thought that pass by each day, it also has a large space of information we can store to accommodate.
+While we can categorize many parts of the memory, we'll focus with the two main parts:
+
+- *The working memory contains all of the immediate information we have for the task at hand.*
+  This is our mental scratchpad or our working desk containing all of the tools and materials needed for the project.
+
+- *The long-term memory contains all of the information we know.*
+  This is like our notebook, formally linking all of the information with each other.
+  Continuing with the working desk analogy, this is our warehouse of our tools and materials.
+
+With time, our memory consolidates, becoming more familiar with the concept.
+This is when we get out of our beginner phase to a semi-expert.
+When we retrieve a memory, it can be strengthened and even altered forming false memories.

2021-05-14-12-15-54.org

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 :END:
 #+title: Information is only acquired when you try to make sense of it
 #+date: "2021-05-14 12:15:54 +08:00"
-#+date_modified: "2021-05-17 08:56:27 +08:00"
+#+date_modified: "2021-06-11 11:05:00 +08:00"
 #+language: en
 
 
@@ -15,7 +15,9 @@ It will never start unless you experiment.
 One of the simplest way to start is to sit down, [[id:b318dc2b-5fa1-48ff-9d33-6fbbdee46a2f][Write down the simplest possible example]], and work your way through those examples.
 
 This is also applied when we collect knowledge: collecting books, downloading eBooks, bookmarking articles, and archiving resources.
-When we never used them, it is just the same as window shopping for that wanted thing except we bought it and just an arm's length away when we want to use it.
+[[id:6b0e6b75-410f-42a3-8921-bcc4589b2d2a][Collecting information only feels like progress]].
+We never used them.
+It is just the same as window shopping for that wanted thing except we bought it and just an arm's length away when we want to use it.
 
 That doesn't mean we should understand every bit of information coming our way.
 In the end, [[id:864a9242-eb10-44ad-81b7-c237276523e5][We know more compared to what we understood]].

2021-05-17-08-47-37.org

@@ -3,15 +3,15 @@
 :END:
 #+title: We know more compared to what we understood
 #+date: "2021-05-17 08:47:37 +08:00"
-#+date_modified: "2021-05-17 08:59:18 +08:00"
+#+date_modified: "2021-05-31 18:55:53 +08:00"
 #+language: en
 
 
-# TODO: Improve note
 While [[id:114b7874-6a20-49c8-be2c-46970c7110dc][Information is only acquired when you try to make sense of it]], we just know more compared to what we understood.
 It doesn't mean it's a bad thing as [[id:c0e4fb0e-68f2-4db4-8c3e-f5a7845738c3][Understanding comes first from memory]].
 The amount of things is too great that deserve our limited attention.
 
-- we can still make sense since we are more associative than structured
-- the skill of referencing through can help starting to understand
-- note-taking can help increase
+We can still make sense of the things we know since [[id:9f1f35dd-7cf9-4f47-a9a9-b647e5daa2af][We are more associative than structured]].
+Our associative thinking along with our intuition is enough to make sense of things, we can always know the details later.
+This is where we [[id:9a11ef31-b2a7-43a9-a7a9-48f191838c6e][Prefer referencing over remembering]].
+But for the little things, it helps to write down what we've remember.

2021-05-20-20-20-19.org

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 :END:
 #+title: Involuntary attention switch is good for preventing tunnel vision
 #+date: "2021-05-20 20:20:19 +08:00"
-#+date_modified: "2021-05-20 20:23:31 +08:00"
+#+date_modified: "2021-06-05 11:13:27 +08:00"
 #+language: en
 
 
@@ -14,4 +14,4 @@ This is why interleaving can sometimes be helpful in exploring uncharted territo
 - we sometimes slip into this involuntarily, this ADHD-like tendency to switch our attention is good for getting new perspective even when we don't want to
 - the more time we spent on the environment that we're comfortable with, the more chance we'll be entrenched in an idea
 - for example, constantly shopping for a better tool or checking for the hip new programming language is still a good practice to get a new perspective for improving your workflow or your programming ideas
-- doesn't mean lack of commitment, you still have to strive to improve your own (see [[roam:Every copy of the techniques is personalized]])
+- doesn't mean lack of commitment, you still have to strive to improve your own (see [[id:d885e93b-f919-4338-a6b9-3438538e18c0][Every copy of the techniques is personalized]])

2021-05-21-19-26-06.org

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 :END:
 #+title: Pitfalls and illusions of competence
 #+date: "2021-05-21 19:26:06 +08:00"
-#+date_modified: "2021-05-21 20:00:56 +08:00"
+#+date_modified: "2021-05-22 11:47:23 +08:00"
 #+language: en
 
 
@@ -12,14 +12,14 @@ This could cost you either time or forming bad habits that require unlearning la
 
 The following is an exhaustive list of things to look out for.
 
-- the presence of the material itself can fool the student thinking they already know the material
-  + solution: close the material and practice self-testing
-- overlearning: tackling the material for complete mastery for the nth time
-  + solution: simply move on once you already know the basics of the concept
-  + Remember [[roam:Most of the work is done from some effort]]
-- being invested in an idea that you cannot see other solutions
-  + solution: do some occasional workshopping with related concepts or tools
-  + this is the reason why most of the discoveries are made either by young people or those who haven't formally trained or studied for the original field
-- working with solutions can be a trap if you focus solely on the steps
-  + solution: give time to focus on the bigger picture
-  + inversely, understanding without the memorization is still bad, [[id:c0e4fb0e-68f2-4db4-8c3e-f5a7845738c3][Understanding comes first from memory]]
+- The presence of the material itself can fool the student thinking they already know the material.
+  + Solution: close the material and practice self-testing.
+- Overlearning: tackling the material for complete mastery for the nth time
+  + Solution: simply move on once you already know the basics of the concept.
+  + Remember [[id:df20e58b-6d38-4ace-8468-413bc708c772][Most of the work is done from smaller amount of effort]].
+- Being invested in an idea that you cannot see other solutions.
+  + Solution: do some occasional workshopping with related concepts or tools.
+  + This is the reason why most of the discoveries are made either by young people or those who haven't formally trained or studied for the original field.
+- Working with solutions can be a trap if you focus solely on the steps.
+  + Solution: give time to focus on the bigger picture.
+  + Inversely, understanding without the memorization is still bad as [[id:c0e4fb0e-68f2-4db4-8c3e-f5a7845738c3][Understanding comes first from memory]].

2021-05-22-11-16-25.org

@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+:PROPERTIES:
+:ID:       df20e58b-6d38-4ace-8468-413bc708c772
+:END:
+#+title: Most of the work is done from smaller amount of effort
+#+date: "2021-05-22 11:16:25 +08:00"
+#+date_modified: "2021-05-22 11:17:30 +08:00"
+#+language: en
+
+
+- a principle applicable in many places:
+  + learning 20% of a skill is enough to get started e.g., illustration, programming, music production
+  + most of the contributions in an open-source project is usually done by a small group
+- this is why it is important to [[roam:Start small and improve later]]
+- this is why some may prefer simpler tools and methods because a lot of what they want is already done
+- getting the final 20% would require more effort and when done incorrectly, you could go into some trouble
+  + bikeshedding
+  + in learning, you could be overlearning
+  + in development, you could optimize to the point of
+  + you may have done configuring your editor in a matter of days reaching the ideal workflow

2021-06-11-10-57-09.org

@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+:PROPERTIES:
+:ID:       6b0e6b75-410f-42a3-8921-bcc4589b2d2a
+:END:
+#+title: Collecting information only feels like progress
+#+date: "2021-06-11 10:57:09 +08:00"
+#+date_modified: "2021-06-11 11:04:44 +08:00"
+#+language: en
+
+
+We are tricking ourselves, falling into one of the [[id:9dc7cb08-3aea-4f66-80ac-49a14b4b7642][Pitfalls and illusions of competence]] with the presence of the material making us feel like we already know the subject.
+The keyword here is *feels like progress*.
+The most important thing you should know when finding yourself with this tendency is information is only stored, not consumed.
+[[id:114b7874-6a20-49c8-be2c-46970c7110dc][Information is only acquired when you try to make sense of it]].
+
+Nonetheless, it is still useful if we can control our resource-collecting tendencies.
+One of the simplest ways to reduce this is to [[id:810dc8b6-db64-4c80-a0aa-f9e6d5fa4acf][Create an inbox to store your thoughts]].
+Or rather, an inbox of resources that you'll have to filter later.