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Spaced repetition memory system (2024)

notes.andymatuschak.org

21–30 of 47 posts

Re: Spaced repetition memory system (2024)

#21
post #19

I've tried spaced repetition systems several times. The problem that I always discover is that I don't really have stuff that's worth memorizing. Things that are actually important I remember without trying and for the rest of the things, doing daily card reviews starts to feel like a pointless chore after a while.

I'm in a similar position of never having found a use where memorising lots of facts would be useful. The main use I keep seeing is vocabulary building when learning a language. I'm sure people are using the system for learning other stuff too though? Seeing this did make me wonder how I might be able to get better at memorising important parts of iso/iec standards at work, but I can't see how that maps to flashcards

In what context do you find yourself wanting to recall a specific part of an iso/iec standard? Distill that context into a short description and put it on the question side of the flashcard. The answer side then has the corresponding information you want to memorize.

But of course it's possible that you almost never need the same information twice, in which case committing it to memory wouldn't be particularly useful.

Re: Spaced repetition memory system (2024)

#22
post #19

I've tried spaced repetition systems several times. The problem that I always discover is that I don't really have stuff that's worth memorizing. Things that are actually important I remember without trying and for the rest of the things, doing daily card reviews starts to feel like a pointless chore after a while.

I'm in a similar position of never having found a use where memorising lots of facts would be useful. The main use I keep seeing is vocabulary building when learning a language. I'm sure people are using the system for learning other stuff too though? Seeing this did make me wonder how I might be able to get better at memorising important parts of iso/iec standards at work, but I can't see how that maps to flashcards

I have used Anki to memorize cube numbers and roots, recipes, and music theory. If you're interested in other ideas, you can browse public decks here: https://ankiweb.net/shared/decks.

Re: Spaced repetition memory system (2024)

#24
post #6

Is there a good space repetition app on Android that you recommend? That only does space repetition?

To mirror the sibling comment: https://apps.ankiweb.net/ is * Open Source * Cross-platform * $0 except on iOS * Popular enough to have a community and ecosystem around it

Shameless plug: you can use org-anki[1] to manage Anki cards from your org-mode notes.

[1] https://github.com/eyeinsky/org-anki

Re: Spaced repetition memory system (2024)

#25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Insanely expensive. 18$ usd per month?? I’m going to guess it’s also an Electron monstrosity

It’s amazing how many people try to make an inferior clone of Anki and profit off of it. The only people who ever fall for it are ones with low computer literacy.

The majority of the population has low computer literacy

Re: Spaced repetition memory system (2024)

#26

it's good for cramming up stuff, say to pass exams. but for long term deep think this did not work well for me.

It's been a huge help for me learning Spanish verb conjugations, which in turn has helped my Spanish in general.

A lot of it down to the effort this guy has put into making the deck. https://www.asiteaboutnothing.net/w_ultimate_spanish_conjuga...

Re: Spaced repetition memory system (2024)

#27

Dropping a product recommendation -- my favorite spaced repetition + notetaking + learning app: https://www.remnote.com/ I'm not affiliated, just a big booster. For those familiar with Anki it follows the same conventions. It has an excellent system for managing cards. Adding cards is as easy as writing a bullet point: [front of card] == [back of card]. They got the ergonomics right and clearly know the space very we…

I used this throughout my computer science degree, and it worked a charm. Now I rely on it as a solid personal knowledgebase.

Re: Spaced repetition memory system (2024)

#28
I use a variation of an SRS for storing notes about what I've read (as well as using a regular SRS for regular SRS stuff). I chunk notes I've made from books I've read (things like Psycho-Cybernetics, 7 Habits, Iron John, etc), and review 3-4 a day, and having read them I'll clip anything that's particularly salient into "daily review" and then push back the notes for however many days, weeks, months, I think. This has worked well for me over the last 15 years or so I've been doing it.

Re: Spaced repetition memory system (2024)

#29
post #19

I've tried spaced repetition systems several times. The problem that I always discover is that I don't really have stuff that's worth memorizing. Things that are actually important I remember without trying and for the rest of the things, doing daily card reviews starts to feel like a pointless chore after a while.

I use Anki more as a serendipity engine than for memorization: Whenever[1] I have an interesting observation or thought, I'll write a couple of sentences about it and file two copies: One in Obsidian, with links to any adjacent/relevant notes (if any), and another in Anki as a Close deletion.

Anki is set up with a long review cycle (1 day, 1 week, 1 month, then automated) and I sit down to do my reviews about once a week. In that process, I usually end up having new ideas to make notes about based on either the randomized order the notes show up in or spotting a connection between the review note and something I've been working on lately.

[1] In practice, I let many/most of these go unrecorded - I probably average about one new note per day, but in bursts.

Re: Spaced repetition memory system (2024)

#30
post #19

I've tried spaced repetition systems several times. The problem that I always discover is that I don't really have stuff that's worth memorizing. Things that are actually important I remember without trying and for the rest of the things, doing daily card reviews starts to feel like a pointless chore after a while.

I'm in a similar position of never having found a use where memorising lots of facts would be useful. The main use I keep seeing is vocabulary building when learning a language. I'm sure people are using the system for learning other stuff too though? Seeing this did make me wonder how I might be able to get better at memorising important parts of iso/iec standards at work, but I can't see how that maps to flashcards

Here's Michael Nielsen on using spaced repetition for math:

https://cognitivemedium.com/srs-mathematics

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