Economic Cybernetics Department
ERI of Business, Economics and Management of SumDU

Don’t read, act: 6 principles of active learning

🤯 Do you spend hours taking notes, but your knowledge quickly fades away? The problem is not with you, but with the method! The brain does not memorise when it passively consumes information, but when it actively works with it.

Here are 6 key principles of Active Learning that will turn your brain into an effective ‘memory trainer’ 💪🧠:

1. Active Recall is the most effective technique! 🔁

Essence: Instead of rereading, try to recall the material without prompts.

Action: After the lecture, close your notes and write 5-7 sentences about what you remember. The effort spent on recalling creates strong neural connections.

2. Flashcards – ingenious simplicity 🗃️

Essence: Use digital (Quizlet, Notion) or paper flashcards for constant testing.

Action: On one side is the question (for example, ‘What is p-value?’), on the other is the answer. This forces the brain to ‘pull’ knowledge from deep memory.

3. ‘Clean sheet’ ✍️

Essence: After studying a topic, try to recreate and structure it yourself on a clean sheet (Mind Map, logical diagram).

Action: Set a timer for 10 minutes. Write down everything you remember about the Monte Carlo method or the system of equations. What you couldn’t explain is your growth point.

4. Explain it to a friend (Feynman technique) 🗣️

Essence: If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it yourself.

Action: Tell your classmate how a particular algorithm or econometric model works, as if you were explaining it to a child. Switching to ‘meaning-making’ mode consolidates your knowledge.

5. Question notes 🤔

Essence: Turn the headings and key points of your notes into questions.

Action: Instead of ‘Regression equation,’ write: ‘What is the basic regression equation and what is it for?’ Your brain will automatically search for the answer, improving retention.

6. Group learning 🧑‍🤝‍🧑

Essence: Discuss the material and solutions to problems with your study partners.

Action: Hold 20-minute ‘debriefings’ once a week, explaining your logic to each other. This helps you see the problem from different angles (the ‘mirror neuron’ effect).

🌟 Remember: your knowledge is not what you read, but what you do! Start interacting with the material, and success will not be long in coming.

Information prepared based on materials from GENIUS.SPACE: https://t.me/genius_space/1009