Write “this” before and after studying."Pre-map & post-map" that deepens learning is amazing

Even if I study hard, I can't remember it easily ... Such people may be able to improve their comprehension and memory simply by writing "something" before and after studying.

This time, the author actually talks about "Pre-Map & Post-Map" that "Self-study Master" Reading Monkey explains in the best-selling "55 Techniques for Those Who Never Want to Give Up on" Learning "". I will introduce in detail while telling you the impressions that I have incorporated into my studies.

Why is it "not fixed" even though I intended to study?

I can't remember it no matter how many times I study ... One of the reasons for this is "how to make notes".

Tony Buzan, who has influenced educational settings around the world as a mind map inventor, said that the most common note-taking technique, "bullets," impairs brain function and adversely affects memory and comprehension. Say to give.

Because it is difficult to see the whole connection and the relationship between things in bullet points. Mr. Buzan says that "making it relevant" is what makes the brain function.

Also, according to Issei Nishioka (Representative of Calpe Diem Co., Ltd., an education-related business), who has many books on study methods for the University of Tokyo students, the University of Tokyo students do not have high "memory" but high "association ability". That's right.

For example, when remembering the year in which a historical event occurred, you do not just try to memorize it, but remember it by associating it with related events. When studying, it's better to clarify the connection than just to list the information.

Creating "pre-map & post-map" before and after learning is effective

The "pre-map & post-map" advocated by Mr. Reading Monkey is effective in clarifying the relationship between information.

This is a combination of the knowledge that "writing out the information that can be memorized promotes memory and understanding" and the illustration method called "concept map". In other words, it is a technique to improve the quality of study by "output of knowledge" x "illustration".

Originally, the concept map is written by the following procedure.

1. Put the theme
2. Write out words and concepts related to the theme in a hierarchical manner
3. Connect keywords with arrows and lines to visualize their relevance
4. Put the word "link label" that expresses the relationship on the line or arrow

It is similar to a "mind map" in that it connects keywords with lines, but the features of the concept map are that there are few rules for writing and that there is a "link label" that shows the relationship between keywords. According to the reading monkey, this procedure of "connecting with lines and thinking about relationships" is what brings out deeper memories.

"Pre-Map & Post-Map", which is a development of such a concept map, has a unique way of learning. Let's take a closer look in the next section.

Procedure of study method by "pre-map & post-map"

According to Mr. Reading Monkey, the study method using "Pre Map & Post Map" is done by the following procedure.

1. Write a pre-map “without reference” before learning Write down the words and concepts you can think of about the theme you are studying without looking at the teaching materials.
2. Write a pre-map with “reference” before learning Pick up and write keywords while looking at the table of contents of the teaching materials
3. Write a postmap “without reference” after learning Write out the knowledge gained by studying without looking at the teaching materials
4. Write a postmap with “reference” after learning While looking back at the teaching materials, pick up and write the missing keywords

In other words, before and after learning, you take two steps: "Create a map without looking at the teaching materials → Create a map while looking at the teaching materials".

Regarding the reason for outputting without looking at materials and teaching materials at "no reference", Mr. Reading Monkey says, "Learning is not about stuffing new knowledge, but about connecting knowledge that you already know with new knowledge." Is called.

Output once before studying, and then output again after studying. By doing so, you can visualize the information in your head and incorporate new knowledge.

I wrote "Pre Map & Post Map" and studied

This time, I chose Chapter 1 of a book on environmental issues as a teaching material. I will tell you the pattern of practice in order.

1. Premap (no reference)

First, I wrote down the three keywords that I first came up with about environmental issues in a triangular shape. The reason for making it a triangle is because the reading monkey explained, "If you place a figure such as a triangle or a quadrangle, it will be easier to write the other keywords."

With this triangle as the theme, I will write the keywords that I can think of under it. Connect each with an arrow and write a link label between them.

It was quite difficult to think of link labels, but according to Mr. Reading Monkey, the "process of putting relevance into words" is important, so I managed to define it.

This pre-map is completed.

Since I didn't have much prior knowledge, there were only a few vague words. Although it is small, you can measure the current level of understanding.

2. Pre-map (with reference)

While reading only the table of contents of the book, increase the keywords. The writing method itself is the same as 1.

Even words I had never heard were connected with link labels while imagining them. Here is the completed one.

Since there are still many unknown words, I found it difficult to put a link label on it, but I feel that I have somehow understood the connection just by looking at the table of contents.

3. Post map (no reference)

After reading the book, I closed the book and made a map while extracting the keywords that remained in my head. And such a map is completed.

I wrote it right after I read the book, but I couldn't find any words. It's easy to see that reading it once doesn't make it memorable.

4. Post map (with reference)

Finally, while rereading the book, I will pick up the words I missed earlier. You can write the map from the beginning again, but this time, I added words by fleshing it out to the post map of 3. This map is completed.

It seems that the information has increased considerably and the map has been prepared. However, there are still many words that are not clearly related, and it is not a map that can grasp the whole connection at a glance. The reason is clear. It's because the level of understanding is still low.

By putting it on the map many times in the future, it seems that my mind will be organized and it will lead to an essential understanding.

"Pre-Map & Post-Map" prevented information from being missed!

At first, I felt it was difficult to grasp the point, but as I moved my hands, I got a response that deepened my understanding. By reading a book, I realized that even if I could get "understood", I wouldn't "get it as knowledge". Also, because it requires a lot of headache compared to taking notes in bullet points, it has led to a significant reduction in information omissions.

I often use mind maps, but when the range of study content is too wide or there is more than one theme, I feel that "pre-map & post-map" is more suitable.

Even if the concept becomes disjointed at the beginning of writing, it will be unified in later steps. Therefore, it is recommended for studying "it is easy to lose track of what to start with", such as when studying a whole book, learning knowledge from scratch, or studying subjects with many technical terms. I think it's a technique.

On the other hand, when the theme or category is simple, or when you take notes about something with a clear flow such as a lecture or speech, it may be more appropriate to use a mind map that allows you to connect more and more with lines without considering link labels. Maybe.

*** Pre-map and post-map that lets you use your head to the full. It was a study method that would definitely help. Please give it a try.

(Reference) Reading Monkey (2020), "55 Techniques for Those Who Never Give Up on Learning", Diamond, Inc. YouTube ｜ The Power of a Mind to Map: Tony Buzan at TEDxSquareMile Oriental Economy Online ｜ "Memory of Tokyo University students" is surprisingly easy to manage Lucidchart ｜ What is a concept map (concept map)? IHMC ｜ Joseph D. Novak

[Writer Profile] Momoko Hirano At university, she majored in French literature, focusing on the hearts of people in the story. Partly due to the influence of his grandmother, who ran a publishing company, he is a large reader who reads a wide range of books such as pure literature, psychology, and business books. Currently he is studying mental care and counseling. He continues to improve his life through the practice of the Bullet Journal.