←back to thread

How University Students Use Claude

(www.anthropic.com)
395 points pseudolus | 6 comments | 09 Apr 25 15:41 UTC | HN request time: 0.542s | source | bottom
Show context
pugio ◴[09 Apr 25 19:39 UTC] No.43636789[source]▶
I've used AI for one of the best studying experiences I've had in a long time:

1. Dump the whole textbook into Gemini, along with various syllabi/learning goals.

2. (Carefully) Prompt it to create Anki flashcards to meet each goal.

3. Use Anki (duh).

4. Dump the day's flashcards into a ChatGPT session, turn on voice mode, and ask it to quiz me.

Then I can go about my day answering questions. The best part is that if I don't understand something, or am having a hard time retaining some information, I can immediately ask it to explain - I can start a whole side tangent conversation deepening my understanding of the knowledge unit in the card, and then go right back to quizzing on the next card when I'm ready.

It feels like a learning superpower.

replies(2): >>43639232 #>>43640551 #
1. azemetre ◴[10 Apr 25 04:12 UTC] No.43640551[source]▶
Flash cards are some of the least effective ways to learn FYI and retain info.
replies(4): >>43640728 #>>43642153 #>>43646683 #>>43649830 #
2. ramblerman ◴[10 Apr 25 04:52 UTC] No.43640728[source]▶
I'll bite. Would you care to back that up somehow? Or at least elaborate.

Spaced repetition as it's more commonly known has been quite studied, and is anecdotally very popular on HN and reddit. Albeit more for some subject than others

replies(1): >>43649802 #
3. rcxdude ◴[10 Apr 25 09:13 UTC] No.43642153[source]▶
I've always viewed them as a good option if you just have a set of facts you need to lodge into your brain (especially with spaced repetition), not so good if you need to develop understanding.
4. tmpz22 ◴[10 Apr 25 18:19 UTC] No.43646683[source]▶
My family member is a third year med student (US) near the top of their class and makes heavy heavy use of Anki (which is crowdsourced in the Med School community to create very very comprehensive decks).
5. azemetre ◴[11 Apr 25 02:06 UTC] No.43649802[source]▶
Give me another day and I'll respond in full; but my thesis is taken from the book "Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning" which was written by a group of neuro- and cognitive scientists on what are the most effective ways to learn.

The one chapter that stood out very clear, especially in a college setting, was how inefficient flash cards were compare to other methods like taking a practice exam instead.

There are a lot of executive summaries on the book and I've posted comments in support of their science backed methods as well.

It's also something I'm personally testing myself this year regarding programming since I've had great success doing their methods in other facets of my life.

6. bdangubic ◴[11 Apr 25 02:11 UTC] No.43649830[source]▶
I used flashcards with my daughter since she was 1.5 years old. she is 12 now and religiously uses flashcards for all learning. and I’d size her up against anyone using any other technique for learning whatsoever