Learning to Learn

Many people mistakenly believe that the more intelligent we are, the better we are at learning. Throughout grade school, high school and college, our goal is to gain more information — often through memorization — so we can get the highest grade. We are told that grades indicate how much we’ve learned and, therefore, how intelligent we are.

Not true.

There are multiple areas of intelligence and many ways to learn. Retaining what you learn and using that knowledge in a practical way is more important than memorization or grades. A high IQ may help you memorize more easily or with some areas of theoretical learning, but learning is more than that. It’s a dynamic and continuous process. We don’t stop learning after high school or college. Every day is a learning opportunity.

New research shows that learners are not born, they are made. If you are eager to learn, you are a learner, and you can get better at it!

As for the relationship between your IQ and your ability to learn: A study by Marcel Veenman found that people who analyze their thinking are more likely to learn more effectively than someone who has a higher IQ. Focusing on why and how we understand has proven to be 15% more effective than innate intelligence.

So, now that we know learning is a skill that you can improve, here are strategies you can use to sharpen your ability to learn:

1. Focus on the task at hand. No more multitasking.

This may sound simple, but today, when there’s never enough time to complete everything on your “to do” list, multitaskers are envied. In reality, multitasking makes learning more difficult. In switching from one task to another, we use up valuable energy and effort. We learn more slowly, are less efficient and less productive. Focus on one task at a time, and you will better understand what you learn.

2. Organize and structure your goals.

Vague aspirations tend to be less effective than specific and structured end goals. When learning, set a clear and specific target. For example, “Learn Japanese” is too vague. Be precise with a goal such as, “Be able to order food in a Japanese restaurant and carry on a conversation with the waitperson.”

Setting specific learning goals helps you master them and avoid doubts in the process. You’re less likely to worry that you aren’t doing it right, or that you need to do more to achieve your goal.

Breaking down lofty goals and setting clear objectives along the way can also help you stay committed as you see progress being made.

3. Practice and learn in more than one way.

“Practice makes perfect.” That’s more than a saying. It’s been proven that, when we learn something new and practice it, parts of our brains change. If we stop practicing, these new structures in our brain tend to dissolve — especially if we haven’t practiced long enough to make the changes a permanent part of our brain structure.

How do you learn best? By reading? Hearing? Watching a video? What about “all of the above?” It helps to learn something in more than one way … because we’re creating more interconnections between neurons in our brain. The more connections we can make from one type of learning to another, the more likely we are to remember. In addition, the interconnections are more likely to become permanent. Your senses can all work together to help internalize what you’re learning – you can write it down, listen to it in a podcast, watch a video, or even relate what you have learned to a friend. Each of these helps deepen your understanding of the material so you can use your knowledge more effectively.

4. Pause and practice metacognition.

If you are too intense and focused on studying something, you may forget to pause, take a breath and think about what you are learning. Metacognition is the art of thinking about thinking. It is pausing and making sure you understand what you are learning. This skill comes more easily to experts. When they encounter a new concept, they look at everything that surrounds their newfound knowledge. They also look at the topic in more than one way. They ask themselves, “Do I know enough about this subject? Do I understand it enough to be able to teach it to someone else?”

It’s often a good idea to take a step back from a problem you need to solve. Sometimes just stopping to think will give you enough calm to allow your thoughts to flow more freely so that you can come up with a solution.

You’ve heard the phrase “sleep on it.” There is a theory that sleep allows you to organize the concepts you know. There’s another benefit to sleep: If in your search for a solution, you tend to panic and put too much pressure on yourself, sleep allows you to get rid of these feelings so you can calmly reach an answer. When you’re calm, you can take the time to deliberate and reflect, which will help you reach a deeper understanding of what you’re trying to learn.

5. Practical experience can enrich your knowledge.

“The best way of learning about anything is by doing.” – Richard Branson

We’ve talked about the different types of intelligence and how different strengths can affect the way we learn. You need to find the learning style that fits you best. If, like many people, you learn best by doing, take advantage of practical experience. Reading, attending lectures and taking notes are all well and good, but to deepen your understanding of a topic and use your knowledge most effectively, practical experience can be the best way to improve your overall comprehension.

The willingness to learn is at the core of your personal development and growth. It is a skill that you can master to improve every aspect of your life. Managers and employers who find the right training and development programs for their employees are taking an important step to help their employees do their best.

https://hbr.org/2018/05/learning-is-a-learned-behavior-heres-how-to-get-better-at-it