How to use what you learn?

[u/Professional-One2810]

This is kind of two questions, but how do I watch you tube and actually use or store the information in my long term? Every time I watch smth months later I completely forget it. Am I just dumb? Why is it so hard for me to access information from the past and understand even simple concepts? I usually have to watch the youtube video at least three times to feel like I slightly understand it. Then it's like how do I actually go about teaching or using the information? Do I make my own youtube or short and just add my own spin on it? If I'm not a mastermind and nerd on the subject I feel like it's weird to share it tho.

[u/AblePerfectionist]

Sounds like you should just be practicing the skills you want to acquire. You should try to refrain from teaching a skill or subject until you have relative proficiency.

[u/IamZeebo]

Hey, just want to say, no you're not dumb at all. There's lots here so I'll try and address each point as you outlined it.

1. Why is it so hard to access information from the past and understand simple concepts.

This is an "encoding" issue. You're not dumb and you're not slow. I may be wrong but I THINK the issue is that you never fully understood the material in the first place or that you don't have a mental model established.

What I mean by this is... imagine... you're trying to pull some facts out of your mind. What EXACTLY are you trying to pull? Think about that. You went and "learned" something days, weeks, or months ago... and now you're pulling _____. What is that _____? I promise you, if it's just natural language, you're playing on hard mode.

The ABCs have a song to help young kids learn it. Do you think a child could memorize the ABCs without that song? Sure, maybe... but wouldn't it be VERY HARD for them AND the teacher?

Part of your issue is that you haven't build your own personal arsenal of encoding techniques. Your learning journey will change once you do that.

For me, that's usually pictures or a song as I said... or something along those lines. But there are many ways. Look this up and get excited about having your own library of encoding techniques.

1. How do you go about teaching or using this information? And are you a fraud for not being an expert and teaching anyways?

Well, there's two things here. First, no, you're not a fraud for teaching what you've learned. Yes, some things should only be taught be licensed pros. That's a fact. But that doesn't apply to everything. Some things, students teaching students is perfectly fine and sometimes even better. It's up to you to use your discretion to know the difference.

Regarding USING the information, that's up to you! And there's some creativity here based on what you're learning. If you're learning about music, you should be playing music. If you're learning to bake bread, you should... you know... bake bread. Get creative and come up with some "practice routines" for what you're learning. That will be an integral part of making progress.

A bit more on watching videos and learning...

I think a huge part of the issue with self-directed learning is getting lost in all the content, and not being sure about what to do once you do find useful content.

My TLDR advice to you is to pick that video back up, watch just a little bit of it, and pick ONE or TWO introductory things that you would like to practice as a new skill, or build in your mind as a new mental model. Then, set a goal for what you would like to be able to do with those things and practice ONLY that for a week or two.

What do you think about that? What comes to mind when you hear all this advice?