[rhizome31]

Go back and forth between theory and practice. If it's something practical like programing or music that means applying the techniques to make something. If it's something you can't really practice like history, that means explaining what I've learned to people. Also use a variety of material about the same subject (book + online articles + videos). Taking notes after having completed a piece of material is a form of practice. Taking notes while consuming material should be avoided, focus on the material and try to really understand it. Of course all of this is iterative.

[openknot]

>"Taking notes while consuming material should be avoided, focus on the material and try to really understand it."

This is a good habit. A technique I have been using in previous weeks is to initially do a superficial read (inspired by Mortimer Adler's "How to Read a Book"), not worrying if I understand every piece of information, highlighting along the way. The goal is to understand the overall structure and broad arguments of the text.

Since highlighting is ineffective for learning [0], these act as markers to focus on for creating flashcards as learning material upon a second, more in-depth read.

[0] Research paper [PDF]: https://pcl.sitehost.iu.edu/rgoldsto/courses/dunloskyimprovi...

[parenthesis]

> If it's something practical like programing or music that means applying the techniques to make something.

When a child learns a new word, they may go around gratuitously using it for a while.

When you learn a new concept or technique, gratuitously apply it in every way you can think of. Having done that, you will be able to use it appropriately when the need arises.

For example, in music, if I learn or discover a new kind of chord substitution, I will gratuitously apply it to a bunch of chord progressions. Then I'm left (hopefully) able to apply it when that sound is what I want, or when it solves a voice leading problem.