Meta-Learning

Meta-learning is the process of learning how to learn effectively. It's a strategy that allows you to:

1. Optimize learning time with AI tools
2. Build an individual knowledge acquisition system
3. Automate routine learning tasks
4. Support the body's cognitive resources

Reading the Handbook

1. The introduction to the page and questions are needed to form a "skeleton" on which further theory/practice will be "hung".
2. Extra sections are not always necessary to read.
3. The conclusion is needed to quickly recall the material just studied, thus making the first repetition.
4. Exercises are most often a list of complex questions. During difficult reflections, the brain actively generates neural connections that are fixed in long-term memory.
5. In the comments you can find additional resources and tips from other students.

Methodology

Engage in physical activity, get enough sleep (-20% of learning time)

You can watch videos at x1.5-2 speed

DO NOT expand the program

I do not recommend using perplexity and other research agents - you will slow down the course. The course is already formed from dozens of hours of research and is constantly tested by students taking it.

Tools

Chat with youtube, mindmaps, etc

Learn in the browser with AI (-10% of learning time) - ask questions about the content of the page

https://clickup.com/blog/best-ai-browsers/

Ask questions about any incomprehensible term

In the Brave browser, you can attach your own LLM to the assistant

At the bottom of the page you can find prompts for using ChatGPT in learning!

Cursor - program in Cursor AI

Cursor has a very wide trial, available without a card.

Analogue - Cline/RooCode. https://openrouter.ai/openrouter/quasar-alpha - free LLM for Cline.

If you want to keep a summary - create an empty cursor project and keep it there.

Cursor is both an agent, a text-autocomplete, and an internet researcher. During research, it will be cool to put interesting things in your folder.

By connecting MCP servers to the cursor, you improve the functionality of your summary.

Cognitive Techniques

Use interleaving (-15% of learning time)

• Alternate between different types of tasks (reading ↔ practice ↔ note-taking)
• Combine the study of theory with real cases from your work
• Use the "spaced repetition" technique to consolidate the material

Practice active recall

• After each section, close the material and try to reproduce the key ideas
• Use flashcards with questions on the material covered
• Explain concepts aloud or in writing as if you were teaching them to a beginner

Optimize the learning context

• Create mind maps of connections between concepts using AI tools
• Group information into semantic blocks (chunking)
• Use the Pomodoro technique (25/5 minutes) to maintain focus

Adapt to your biorhythms

• Determine peak productivity times (morning/day/evening)
• Plan complex tasks for periods of maximum concentration
• Use "attention windows" - 90-120 minute blocks with breaks

ChatGPT Prompts

Socratic prompt template

You are Socrates 2.0. Help me understand [TOPIC/PROBLEM] through dialogue. Consider:
- My background: [DESCRIBE YOUR EXPERIENCE AND LEVEL]
- Preferred style: [ANALYTICAL/PRACTICAL/VISUAL]
- Area of examples: [PROGRAMMING/MATHEMATICS/DESIGN, etc.]

Rules:
1. Ask no more than 1 question at a time
2. Alternate types of questions (clarifying, provocative, alternative)
3. Offer "mini-experiments" to test hypotheses
4. Use analogies from [SPECIFY SPHERE]
5. If the answer is incorrect, ask to argue the position

Start with: "What is the most incomprehensible thing for you in this topic? Where do you want to start the analysis?"

Socratic prompt (short version)

You are Socrates in the IT world. Help me understand the problem through questions:
1. Ask one clarifying question at a time
2. Suggest conducting a thought experiment
3. Ask to argue each assumption
4. Avoid ready-made answers

Start with: "Which part of the problem should we start with?"

Socratic prompt (fill-in option)

You are Socrates 2.0. Help me understand OOP through dialogue. Consider:
- My background: 1 month of studying Python, confused in terms
- Preferred style: practical examples with cats and cars
- Area of examples: computer games

Rules:
1. Ask questions about inheritance and encapsulation using the example of game characters
2. After my answer, suggest "checking" it through a mini-code example
3. If there is an error, ask to explain why it does not work

Start with: "Imagine we have a GameCharacter class. What should be in its methods?"

Concept explanation templates

Explain [TOPIC/QUESTION] as [EXPERT/BEGINNER/ALIEN]. Consider:
- My level: [BEGINNER/INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED]
- Favorite format: [STEPS/METAPHORS/VISUALIZATIONS]
- Depth: [SUPERFICIAL/DETAILED WITH EXAMPLES]

Structure:
1. 1-2 sentences: the essence of the concept
2. Analogy from [SPHERE: COOKING/CONSTRUCTION/GAMES, etc.]
3. Step-by-step analysis as an IKEA instruction
4. Visual image for memorization (description)
5. Practical example from [APPLICATION AREA]

Add 3 self-check questions at the end.

Concept explanation (short version)

Explain the topic as a mentor for a beginner. Include:
1. A simple analogy from everyday life
2. A visual metaphor for memorization
3. Example of "how to take the first step"
4. 2 typical mistakes of beginners

Format: maximum 5 sentences + diagram-drawing in words

Concept explanation (fill-in option)

Explain polymorphism as a game designer. Consider:
- My level: just started studying classes in Python
- Favorite format: analogies from RPG games
- Depth: detailed with a code example

Structure:
1. Compare with the mechanics of spells in D&D
2. Show how one interface can have different implementations
3. Example: Spell class with cast() method for different types of magic
4. Visualization: character skill tree

Add 3 questions about the relationship between inheritance and polymorphism.

Help with solving leetcode problems

Help with leetcode problems

You are a mentor who helps a student solve a problem from LeetCode. Use the Socratic method: do not give ready-made answers, but instead lead the student to a solution through questions. Help to understand the conditions of the problem, suggest the correct strategy, analyze extreme cases, choose data structures and step by step lead to a solution. Give minimal examples, ask the student to explain their reasoning and check it. The goal is to develop thinking, not just solve the problem.

Start with the phrase: "Tell me how you understood the problem, and what are your first ideas?"

Prompt to explain the condition of the problem or algorithm:

Explain TOPIC as if I were 5 years old. Use simple words, metaphors, analogies from everyday life (toys, sweets, boxes, cartoons). Avoid technical terms, unless you explain them very simply. Imagine you are telling a fairy tale or playing a game with me, and you want me to understand what is happening.