Toby Levins' Important Important Notable Key Important That Deepens Understanding: A Step-by-Step Guide
This guide will walk you through the process of applying Toby Levins’ Important Important Notable Key Important That Deepens Understanding (let's call it TLII for brevity) to a subject matter of your choice. TLII is a framework designed to help you identify core concepts and prioritize information for a deeper understanding. This guide assumes no prior knowledge of TLII and provides a clear, actionable approach.
Prerequisites:
- A Subject Matter: Choose a topic you want to understand better. This could be anything from a historical event to a scientific theory, a software program, or even a personal relationship. The more defined your subject matter is, the easier the process will be.
- Basic Research Skills: You should be comfortable searching for information online, reading articles, and potentially watching videos related to your subject matter.
- An Open Mind: TLII requires you to challenge your existing assumptions and be open to new perspectives.
- Time and Patience: Deep understanding takes time. Don't rush the process.
- Notebook or Digital Document: For taking notes, brainstorming, and organizing your thoughts. A digital document (like Google Docs, Microsoft Word, or a note-taking app) is recommended for easy editing and organization.
- Pen/Pencil (if using a notebook): For writing down your thoughts and ideas.
- Access to Information Resources: Internet access, books, articles, videos, etc.
- Optional: Mind Mapping Software: (e.g., XMind, MindManager, FreeMind) – Can be helpful for visualizing relationships between concepts.
- Feeling Overwhelmed? Break down the subject matter into smaller, more manageable chunks. Focus on one aspect at a time.
- Struggling to Identify "Notable" Elements? Look for elements that are frequently mentioned, debated, or have a significant impact.
- Difficulty Uncovering "Key" Concepts? Ask yourself "Why is this important?" and "What underlying principles are at play?"
- Information Overload? Prioritize information from reliable sources and focus on the most relevant aspects.
- Lack of Motivation? Choose a subject matter that genuinely interests you.
Tools:
Numbered Steps:
1. Define Your Subject Matter Precisely: Start by clearly defining the scope of your subject matter. Avoid overly broad topics initially. For example, instead of "World War II," consider "The Battle of Stalingrad." This specificity will make the process more manageable. Write down your defined subject matter at the top of your notebook or document.
2. Initial Brainstorming: The "Important" Phase (First Importance): Without doing any research, brainstorm everything you already know or think you know about the subject matter. Write down all your initial thoughts, assumptions, and questions. Don't filter yourself; just let the ideas flow. This step reveals your current understanding and highlights areas needing further exploration. Label this section "Initial Thoughts - Important."
3. Initial Research: Gathering Information: Now, conduct some preliminary research on your subject matter. Use reliable sources like academic journals, reputable websites, documentaries, and books. Focus on gathering a broad overview of the topic. Don't get bogged down in details yet. Aim to understand the key events, figures, concepts, and terminology.
4. Refined Brainstorming: The "Important" Phase (Second Importance): After your initial research, revisit your "Initial Thoughts - Important" section. Based on your new knowledge, revise and expand your list. Correct any inaccuracies, add new information, and refine your questions. This section now represents a more informed perspective on what seems "Important" to the subject.
5. Identify "Notable" Elements: Review your "Important" list. Now, identify the elements that seem particularly "Notable." These are the aspects that stand out, the ones that seem to have a significant impact or are frequently mentioned in your research. Highlight or mark these items in your list. They should be more than just generally important; they should be distinctively noticeable.
6. Uncover the "Key" Concepts: From your "Notable" elements, identify the underlying "Key" concepts. What fundamental principles or ideas are driving these notable aspects? These are the core ideas that are essential to understanding the subject matter. Write these "Key" concepts separately, perhaps in a dedicated section labeled "Key Concepts." This step requires critical thinking and abstraction. For example, if you're studying the Battle of Stalingrad, a "Key" concept might be "The strategic importance of the Volga River" or "The impact of harsh winter conditions on warfare."
7. Deep Dive into the "Important" (Third Importance): Now that you have identified your "Key" concepts, delve deeper into these specific areas. Conduct more focused research on each "Key" concept. Explore their origins, impact, and relationship to other concepts within the subject matter. This is where you start to build a more nuanced and comprehensive understanding.
8. Connect the Dots: The "That Deepens Understanding" Phase: This is the crucial step where you synthesize all the information you've gathered. How do the "Key" concepts relate to each other? How do they explain the "Notable" elements and the "Important" aspects of your subject matter? Look for patterns, connections, and causal relationships. Create a visual representation (like a mind map) or write a summary explaining how these elements fit together to create a deeper understanding of the subject. This summary should articulate the core narrative or explanation of your subject matter based on your analysis.
9. Iterate and Refine: TLII is an iterative process. As you learn more, you may need to revisit earlier steps and refine your understanding. New information may emerge that challenges your initial assumptions or reveals new connections between concepts. Be prepared to adjust your framework as you learn.
Troubleshooting Tips:
Short Summary:
Toby Levins' Important Important Notable Key Important That Deepens Understanding (TLII) is a framework for achieving a deeper understanding of any subject matter. It involves a structured process of brainstorming, research, and critical analysis to identify "Important" aspects, highlight "Notable" elements, uncover "Key" concepts, and connect them in a way "That Deepens Understanding." By iteratively refining your understanding, TLII helps you move beyond superficial knowledge and develop a more comprehensive and nuanced perspective. This process involves defining the subject, initial brainstorming, research, identifying notable elements, uncovering key concepts, a deeper dive, connecting the dots, and iteration. Applying TLII requires time, patience, and a willingness to challenge your existing assumptions. The result is a significantly improved understanding of the chosen subject.
