Long-Term Learning

Nowadays, it's not just what you learn, it's also about how you learn it.

Ideally, we should be learning by doing as the retention rate is better. However, there are times when we simply need to remember a lot of things in the shortest amount of time. And this is done by rote memorization. I still remember cramming for exams using index cards, memorizing facts and formulas to get me through. Do I still remember them now? Of course, not.

How about learning languages? Well, there's an app for that. A lots of apps, actually. For vocabulary memorization, you can't go wrong with Memrise. For grammar, sentence structure, syntax, context, etc., get Duolingo as a supplement.

For everything else, you can make use of flashcard-based learning systems like Quizlet, SuperMemo or Anki. If you're not sure which one to use, try Quizlet first. Lots of study sets to choose from (or create your own), and usage is pretty straightforward. Select a study set, answer one question for every term, repeat until you get everything right.

For long-term learning, you might want to look into SuperMemo and Anki for their spaced-repetition algorithms. Spaced repetition makes use of an individual's forgetting curve - resurfacing a question just when you're about to forget it for maximum recall.

SuperMemo has been around for a loong time, and its algorithm now on its 17th iteration (SM-17). SuperMemo is not free though. It ranges from $10 to $60 depending on which version (algorithm) you get. Anki, on the other hand, is open-source and free. That said, I believe it implements the older SM-2 algorithm with a few enhancements. Quizlet now has SR as part of Plus offering, but that's $15 per year.

I'd say try out the free apps first and upgrade if you think you need something more.