Polym is an audio application built to enable users to engage in active learning wherever they may be. The goal of active learning is to improve the retention and recall of the courses. The content is focused on foundational knowledge that is applicable to a wide range of professionals and generally engaged learners. A few of the subjects are: logic, logical fallacies, cognitive biases, statistics, probability, scientific research, algorithms, macroeconomics, microeconomics, history, and more.
The general structure of our learning strategy is to have users listen to a short form course, which is typically 20-40 minutes. Then, a few weeks later they will listen to a term-only version of the course, only reviewing the key concepts of the course with definitions and 1-2 examples (if applicable). The term-only versions of the courses are usually 5-10 minutes in length. Then, a few weeks after that, users will be prompted to review various forms of audio flashcards. There will be various versions of “audio flashcard” courses. Meaning there will be different examples applied in different sets of the flashcards so ideas can be recalled in a variety of instances. Additionally, the learning method interleaving will be utilized in the flashcard sets in order to strengthen our users ability to relate them to associated concepts.
The primary learning strategies we employ to help facilitate long-term memorization of material are: retrieval practice, spaced repetition, and interleaving. Retrieval practice is the act of practicing recalling information, this can take many forms, but we particularly focus on the flashcard method. Spaced repetition is separating your study sessions over time as research shows this enhances memorization. Lastly, interleaving involves practicing concepts alongside related materials from other fields to enhance understanding and provide greater context for their application.
