ERRR #035. Andy Matuschak and George Zonnios on Spaced Repetition Software

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Today we’re speaking with two guests, Andy Matschak and George Zonnios about the topic of spaced repetition software. This podcast starts with a brief summary of what spaced repetition software actually is, then we jump into a detailed discussion with Andy and George about how SRS utilises maths, tech and science to facilitate durable learning. Andy, George, and Ollie share the ins and outs of their own personal experiences using spaced repetition software, as well as their exploration of its use in the classroom and more broadly.

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Andy Matuschak is a software engineer, designer, and researcher. He’s spent time working for Apple, Khan Adademny, and is now engaged in several projects and initiatives, one of which, Quantum Country, we discuss in this episode. Andy’s article, ‘why books don’t work’ asserts that the way that we engage with traditional media such as books and lectures often doesn’t lead to durable memories, and this article is the stimulus for our discussion today.

George Zonnios is a schoolteacher, software designer and passionate advocate for bringing spaced repetition to mainstream learning. During his teaching career he's been highly focussed upon utilising effective learning strategies in the classroom, and this has resulted in him designing and building two spaced repetition software platforms, Vulcan Tutor, and Dendro.

Links/resources mentioned in the show

• From Ollie
  • Overview of Anki
• From Andy
  • Quantum Country
  • Andy and Michael's recent article How can we develop transformative tools for thought?
  • Gwern's writing on Spaced Repetition (If you're so good, why aren't you rich?)
  • Curiosities from the history of tech
    • Vannevar Bush's As We May Think, in which during 1945 he predicted the worldwide web, wikis, databases, digital cameras.
    • Douglas Engelbart
    • Alan Kay's ‘A personal computer for children of all ages‘, 1972 – Went to Churchill in 1970, saw the first LCDs, drew an iPad on the plane flight home!
  • More modern tech
    • Bret Victor – One of Andy's biggest influences
    • Michael Nielsen – Andy's colleague/collaborator/cofounder on Quantum Country
• From George
  • Dendro
  • George's Blog
  • 20 rules for formulating knowledge (guide to creating flashcards)
  • Piotr Wozniak
  • Daniel Willingham's book Why Don't Students Like School?
  • Book: Make it Stick, includes spaced repetition and interleaving
  • See the work of Robert and Elizabeth Bjork, including the Craig Barton podcast with them.

Listen to all past episodes of the ERRR podcast here.