Learning has no recipe!

Imagine you knew a secret formula to learn anything. Wouldn't it be easier for you to learn anything?

For me, it would've been a boon. I discovered some of it recently and hence thought of sharing it with you. We'll not discuss "learning" much, but mostly "how to learn?" and we'll start with how the brain loves learning.

Behaviour is belief-driven and learning is also change in behaviour. and it seems safe to say learning is also driven by belief! i.e. emotions are a prerequisite for learning, also it demands you to be true to yourself.

Coming to our brain, which is one of the most complex structural and functional systems we humans have access to. still, it has some patterns because it loves patterns.

The brain loves, what it likes! so make it like what you want it to love. Isn't it this simple? It's what people call conditioning the thoughts.

It's simple and that's why I'm writing something on it.

??????

Back on "How to learn?"

Here is a question for you. If you get some random things you're unaware of, what will you do? Probably, try to find patterns even if it's chaos. then you'll form an assumption. Maybe, you'll test the assumption too. and it's how learning happens, by categorising/classifying it.

#

Learning the major concepts at first (in sequence, on the timeline of its development) and examples along with major concepts, later on, seems to be a good strategy for learning. so, remember to deconstruct the fundamentals (and discover patterns) before you construct something around it for yourself. also, if you feel like you don't have something as a pattern then there's a high chance you're missing something important.

When learning, the name of all the associated/complementary topics must be present in front. Idea is, whenever we feel like "what was the last thing I did?", it should be in front. It's a must if you're trying something with a lot of sub-topics. It's to make sure the brain sees the patterns easily!

“Everyone thinks you need to ‘practice, practice, practice’ when learning something new. Instead, we found that resting, early and often, maybe just as critical to learning as practice.”

- Leonardo G. Cohen, M.D

Here, what I sense the author meant is,

Practice + Rest + Reflection (cycle repeats) >>> Practice + Practice + Practice

#

In simpler terms,

1) Know the fundamentals in the most exhaustive ways

2) Build concepts around it

3) Know "what out of all concepts are related/connected to each other?" and "what can never be connected?"

also, learning in a sequence such that learning further becomes easier seems the only way for accelerated learning.

##

You can learn some specific things without any effort, but learning isn't a spectator game! It's more like eating for yourself, the things you need to grow in an amount that you can digest either without or by doing a workout (as learning has a lot to do with body movements ??)

In simpler terms, body activity (+) interaction = better/durable learning

###

For humans, social interaction/activities, if positive then catalyses learning.

Like, friends can a tool for learning, a gathering can be an environment for learning.

####

The first step towards learning is readiness (because learning is also driven by belief!) and excitement, curiosity, effortfulness follow the trail. motivation, dedication, consistency, repetition etc also come in the way.

It demands focus or fewer distractions too!

Focus is forgetting other things (i.e. with minimum distractions) and doing only a few things actively. It comes with CLARITY on "what to do?" and "what not to do?" and it's really hard to be regular if not focused. so, knowing "what/how not/to do?" is primary If you want to remain focused.

It's a fact that there's no learning without remembering it. still, I'm interested to know what are the other ways to know learning has happened?

One way I know is, that learners should demonstrate their understandings after they learn. In other ways, learners can teach to demonstrate their learning!

So, to be sure that learning has occurred or to self-learn happens, make self-correction & teaching the sole purpose of learning. It'll addict you towards learning. It's like the final touch to protect what you've learnt, without which there is a risk of forgetting.

After all, learning is knowing the limits and pushing (or welcoming any new information) it.

PS: If you're an output-oriented learner, I'll say you to have a deadline. It'll make sure you don't only feel progress but actually progress.

If you're a slow learner, don't try to apply it every time you try learning. First, habituate yourself by learning 1/4th of the total this way for a month.

Suggested reading: https://www.dashe.com/blog/learning/five-brain-facts-learn/