❌ Myth: Consuming more information = better learning. ✅ Reality: Retention is more important than speed. 🎯 Focus on: How well you retain and use information, not just how much you consume.

2️⃣ The Biggest Learning Mistake

(R) – Quick Facts & Details📌 These are names, dates, formulas, or technical details you might need later. 🧠 Digestion Tip: Use flashcards or spaced repetition for quick recall.﻿

8️⃣ Understanding Reference Knowledge

✅ Retention & application > Consumption. 📌 Use structured methods like PACER to categorize & digest information effectively. ⏳ Consistency is key—the more you apply, the better you retain.

🔟 Final Takeaway: Learning is a Process, Not a Race

(A) – Connecting to What You know 🔄 Relating new information to something familiar (e.g., comparing electrical circuits to water flow). 🤔 Digestion Tip: Critique the analogy—ask yourself how well it applies and where it fails.

5️⃣ Understanding Analogous Knowledge

(E) – Supporting Information🔍 Includes statistics, research studies, and historical data that back up concepts. ﻿🔄 Digestion Tip: Store & rehearse this information periodically to improve recall.﻿

7️⃣ Understanding Evidence-Based Knowledge

⚠️ Neglecting digestion leads to forgetting up to 90% of what you consume. 📌 Learning isn’t about remembering everything, but retaining what’s useful. 🛠️ Action Step: Prioritize processing & applying knowledge instead of just collecting it.

3️⃣ Why Digestion is the Key to Retention

(p) - "How-To" Learning 🔧 This is step-by-step knowledge, like coding, clinical techniques, or playing an instrument. ✅ Digestion Tip: Practice immediately after learning to reinforce it.

4️⃣ Understanding Procedural Knowledge

✔️ Consumption Period: The phase where you read, watch, or listen to new information. ✔️ Digestion Period: The phase where you process, retain, and apply what you’ve learned. ⚠️ Most people focus only on consuming, but true learning happens during digestion.

1️⃣ The Two Stages of Effective Learning

(C) – Theories & Principles📚 These are big ideas, like Newton’s laws, programming paradigms, or economic theories. 🗺️ Digestion Tip: Use mind maps to visualize connections between concepts.

6️⃣ Understanding Conceptual Knowledge

❌ Problem: Consuming too much without processing leads to mental overload. ⚖️ Balance Tip: For every hour of learning, spend at least 30 minutes reviewing, summarizing, or applying.

9️⃣ Avoiding Overconsumption & Information Overload

In this video, I will teach you how to forget less and remember more of what you read, study or learn. 

Join my Learning Drops newsletter (free): https://bit.ly/4cxLDeu
Every week, I distil what really works for improving results, memory, depth of understanding, and knowledge application from over a decade of coaching into bite-sized emails.

Learner Type Quiz (free) - Figure out your learning strengths and weaknesses: https://bit.ly/4cz41Ud

Learning System Diagnostic (free) - See how the way you learn compares to top learners: https://bit.ly/3AuvZ6r

The research behind efficient learning [Summary] (free): https://icanstudy.com/report-on-learning

Watch my TEDx talk on learning to learn (top 1% viewed in 2022): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQXMl4GycD0 

=== Paid Training Program ===

Join my step-by-step learning skills program to improve your results: https://bit.ly/3YHLj9S

(Designed for busy students and professionals aiming to achieve top results without endless studying. 77% of our students cover the same amount of study material in 30% less time within 1 month.)

=== Timestamps ===
0:00 Intro
0:27 Stages of reading
4:38 PACER System
5:53 Procedural
9:30 Analogous
15:18 Conceptual
19:32 Evidence
22:27 Reference
25:12 Putting it all together

=== 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/
X: https://x.com/drjustinsung

productivity

Productivity

personaldevelopment

Personal Development

education

Learning & Education

videos

Videos

Justin Sung is a former medical doctor, full-time learning coach and consultant, top 1% TEDx speaker, education author, and social entrepreneur. He has an MBChB and BMedSci (Hons - First Class) from the University of Auckland, and an MEd from Monash University. He is invited to hold workshops and lectures at Monash University and the University of Auckland, as well as for various organisations around the world.

He is the co-founder and Head of Learning at iCanStudy. iCanStudy developed the world's first cognitive retraining program focused on enhancing self-regulated higher-order learning and deep processing. Over the past decade, he has worked with over 10,000 learners from ages 10 to 80+ in over 120 countries. In the 7 years prior, Justin worked in the non-profit education and mentoring space for disadvantaged students.

Justin sees himself as a research-practice bridge, helping to connect dedicated learners and educators with critical applications of the research.
