Active Recall Questions are a Superpower
Last updated:- Active recall == "Questions that force you to think"
- This is Pull-based Learning
- Learning by Reading is Suboptimal
- Have an AI prepare recall questions
Active recall == "Questions that force you to think"
Active recall questions do not necessarily need an answer. Their objective, is rather:
To prime you to read more carefully (when asked before you read some content)
To solidify your understanding of something (when asked after you read some content)
This is Pull-based Learning
Push-based: Explain first, then show examples.
Pull-based: Show examples first, and then explain.
Active recall is a technique for pull-based learning (trigger a need first, then explain).
Learning by Reading is Suboptimal
Especially when you are reading something slightly boring or long-winded.
If your brain makes no effort, you'll learn nothing.
Have an AI prepare recall questions
AIs are ideal to produce these.
Before reading some content (e.g. a book chapter): "Write me 5 active recall questions on the following content. These questions are not supposed to be answered, but serve to pique my interest and curiosity so that my reading of the content is more directed."
After reading some content: "Write me 5 active recall questions based on the following content. Ask one at a time and make comments on my answers, be they correct, incorrect, or partly correct. Ask me whether we should move on after I answer each."