The 3+5 Laws of Learning

“The goal is to create a correct habit that can be produced instinctively under great pressure,” said John Wooden, the man who introduced the 8 Laws of Learning. But why am I calling them the 3+5 laws of learning? Here’s the catch: the 8 laws are explanation, demonstration, imitation, repetition, repetition, repetition, repetition, and repetition.

As much as I love the wordplay here, I’d like to disagree with Wooden’s perspective on learning. He believed that skills are refined only through continuous application. As a basketball coach, he applied this principle to mastering the sport: every dribble, pass, and shot made each player better. Similarly, Wooden argued that learners must actively engage, repeat, and refine their skills to achieve mastery—even in the context of learning and development.

But I disagree, at least to some extent.

Isn’t repetition boring?

While Wooden believed that learners improve by continuously practicing their skills until they reach a desired confidence level, I see things differently. Repetition can be boring and might demotivate a learner if they fail to achieve their goal. Not only that, but it can also lead to frustration, making the learner feel like a failure. This mindset can significantly impact their overall performance.

With me so far?

Even though repetitive practice helps build long-term muscle memory, I think it works better when students are studying for memory-based exams—not when employees undergo behavioral training.

8 Laws of Learning: Yay or nay?

We’re living in 2025. Employees learn new skills every other day through eLearning mode. Look around, we’re surrounded by resources. So why aren’t we making the best of it?

I’ve found a middle ground with Wooden’s theory. eLearning modules often include game-based learning, quizzes, challenges, and interactive gameplay. Learners can play multiple rounds to reinforce key concepts. Move from an easier level to a challenging one and instead of repetition find something new every time. And guess what? If they don’t understand something, they can simply replay it. This is where repetition works—it’s a win-win for everyone.

We can reinforce skill development through repeated practice, but we must keep things interesting with gamification, instructor-led training, comics, explainer videos, image-based quizzes, and interactive challenges. Thankfully, we offer all these features in our eLearning modules.

Do you agree with Wooden’s theory, or do you still need convincing to come to my end regarding the theory?