Summary of Marty Lobdell - Study Less Study Smart

00:00:00 - 00:55:00

Marty Lobdell discusses the importance of studying less and studying smarter. He provides tips on how to study effectively, including breaking up studying into manageable chunks, using study lamps, and being active while studying. He also explains the concept of rote memorization and how it is not the most effective way to learn.

• 00:00:00 Marty Lobdell discusses the findings of a study that showed that typical college freshmen can effectively learn material from a book or notes after spending about 25 to 30 minutes studying each night. He points out that telling people to study more often does not always work, and that some people may actually perform worse after increasing their study time.
• 00:05:00 Marty Lobdell discusses the principle of reinforcement and how it affects human behavior. He advises students to break up their studying into short, 5-minute intervals to help prevent state-dependent memory loss. Lobdell also recommends rewarding oneself after completing a chunk of studying in order to keep motivation high.
• 00:10:00 Marty Lobdell discusses how living in a dormitory environment can help students to better focus on studying, as they are constantly surrounded by distractions. He also points out that many students study in places other than their bedrooms or their home libraries, such as in the dining room, kitchen, or living room.
• 00:15:00 Marty Lobdell encourages students to study less and study smarter by using study lamps, breaking studying up into manageable chunks, and being active while studying. He also recommends not studying in the living area and suggests using music, movies, and TV to break up studying time.
• 00:20:00 Marty Lobdell discusses the concept of rote memorization, or saying things over and over, and how it is not the most efficient or effective way to learn. He goes on to explain that in order to learn efficiently, you first have to decide what you are learning, and determine if it is a fact or a concept. If it is a concept, you need to understand how it works in terms of the body, and make it meaningful to you. Marty gives an example of ontogeny recapitulating phylogeny, and how if you do not understand it, it will be difficult to remember and retain.
• 00:25:00 In this video, Marty Lobdell discusses the concept of ontogeny recapitulating phylogeny, or the idea that the development of an organism reflects the evolutionary development of that organism's ancestors. Lobdell explains that this is easier to remember if the student takes the time to understand the meaning behind the concepts, and demonstrates this by reading a series of words that include multiple vowels and then asking the audience to rate the value of the words on a 5-point scale. One group of students is instructed to think about the words purely in terms of their linguistic meaning, while the other group is instructed to think about the words in terms of their application or use. Both groups of students are then able to correctly guess the number of vowels in the words.
• 00:30:00 In this video, Marty Lobdell discusses the importance of studying less, and how it can help students remember information better. He also provides examples of how studying with others can help students remember information more effectively.
• 00:35:00 In this video, Marty Lobdell discusses the importance of studying less and studying smarter. He points out that most students don't learn effectively because they don't sleep enough or take notes correctly after class. This simple habit can make a big difference in one's performance.
• 00:40:00 In this video, Marty Lobdell discusses the importance of active recitation when studying. He explains that when students are actively reciting the information, they are more likely to remember it. Lobdell also provides a simple guide for how to do a survey while studying, and discusses the importance of using textbooks in this way.
• 00:45:00 Marty Lobdell suggests that by studying less and instead relying on questioning, one is more likely to find the information they're looking for. He demonstrates this by demonstrating how he can find Boston and London even though they are printed on a placard in a very brief demonstration. Lobdell goes on to talk about how one can use mnemonics--specifically acronyms and coined sayings--to remember facts more quickly. He then provides an example of how using mnemonics can help one remember the names of colors.
• 00:50:00 Marty Lobdell discusses how the brain is often tricked into remembering things incorrectly because of the similarity between two things. He recommends using acronyms and coined phrases to help students remember information more effectively.
• 00:55:00 In this video, Marty Lobdell discusses the four types of calories: carbs, fats, protein, and alcohol. He explains that all of these calories have a unique effect on the body, with carbohydrates being the most important in terms of providing energy. He also explains that different foods contain different types of calories, and that it is important to remember these types of information in order to maintain a healthy diet. The video ends with a brief discussion of eggnog and how it is composed of both fat and alcohol.