Hacker News Reader

Comment by moosey | Hacker News Reader

I've seen this in studies before, and it is taught in the class "Learning How to Learn". Ever since I took this class, I have kept extensive hand written notes that I then turn into Cloze Anki cards. This takes forever, though. Handwriting is very slow.

To resolve this, I am currently taking time off from new classes to learn Gregg Shorthand. Soon, I'll be able to handwrite faster than I can type, and will get the same brain engagement that I know arises from handwriting. It is my hope that I can eventually write at the rate that I think, which is a major boon to the creative process of writing and storytelling.

View on HN

Why are you so sure that shorthand will provide the same engagement as handwriting, and not closer to that of typing? It seems plausible to me that the difference could mostly be explained by all the superfluous effort of handwriting.

Because writing in cursive/freehand both require planning, planning which is not required by typing. In fact, I will argue that Gregg requires more mental planning and activity than writing in freehand, due to a number of factors about how it is written.

I think the process of taking notes and compressing information is very helpful for retention. Unfortunately I lost the ability to keep track of long ideas while writing - I am not a fast writer. I chose to record lectures instead and pay direct attention to what’s being said. Later I go over the recordings and transcribe everything. It helps a lot, but it also takes a lot more time.

What are you using to learn Gregg Shorthand?

First, I learned how to use Anki & the Image Occlusion add-on (which is fantastic and y'all should donate to the creator if you use it).

Then I went onto http://gregg.angelfishy.net/anunit01.shtml and I created anki cards out of all of the words and images in the anniversary edition.

I'm currently working through that deck, and have about a month or two to go before I've at least seen how it all works, and then I'll have to start journaling & writing regularly to produce fluency.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com