Unlock Hyper-Speed Learning: Unleashing Your Mind in the Era of AI

In the race to stay relevant in the 21st century, your greatest ally is your ability to learn and adapt. But how do we shift from a casual pace of learning to a hyper-speed one? How can we leverage the power of AI to boost our learning?

Becoming a Lifelong Learner

The first step in this journey is to become a lifelong learner. According to the Journal of European Industrial Training, lifelong learning is a “voluntary and self-motivated pursuit of knowledge” [1]. This is your commitment to continuously learn and grow, regardless of your age or career status.

Actionable Tip: Set learning goals for yourself. Whether it's to learn a new skill, deepen your knowledge in a specific area, or broaden your understanding of various subjects, having clear objectives will guide your learning journey. Here are some examples:?

• Learning Goal for a Professional in Tech: "I want to become proficient in Python programming within six months to enhance my data analysis skills. I will complete an online Python course and practice coding for at least an hour every weekday."
• Learning Goal for a Manager: "I aim to improve my leadership skills by learning and implementing one new leadership strategy each month. I will read leadership books, attend relevant workshops, and seek feedback from my team to gauge progress and effectiveness."

Using AI as Your Learning Ally

AI is not only changing the world; it is also reshaping how humans learn. AI is used by learning systems like Coursera to offer a customized learning experience. They keep tabs on your development, pinpoint your weak points, and modify the content to address them [2].

Actionable Tip: Incorporate AI-powered learning platforms into your routine. They give you a faster and more effective way to learn while also maximizing your learning capacity.

Find an example below:

Let's say you want to learn Spanish. You can incorporate an AI-powered language learning program into your everyday routine, such as Duolingo, Babbel, or Rosetta Stone. These apps personalize your learning process by using AI and machine learning algorithms to adjust it to your pace, learning style, and progress.?Here's a sample routine:

• Morning Routine: Start your day with a 15-minute language learning session on your chosen app. This could be while you're having your morning coffee or commuting to work.
• Lunch Break: Use a few minutes of your lunch break to review what you learned in the morning. Many of these apps have review features that use spaced repetition algorithms to help reinforce what you've learned.
• Evening Routine: Before going to bed, spend another 15 minutes on the app. You could explore new lessons or continue reviewing previous ones.

Harnessing Your Brain's Adaptability

The remarkable ability of our brains to reorganize and adapt in response to new experiences and learning is known as neuroplasticity [3]. The ability to adapt is essential for hyper-speed learning.

Actionable Tip: Practice active learning techniques. Try spaced repetition (reviewing information at increasing intervals over time), interleaved practice (mixing different but related topics or skills in a single study session), and elaborative interrogation (asking how and why questions about the material). These techniques stimulate your brain's adaptability and facilitate faster learning [4]. Here are some examples:

• Spaced repetition: For instance, if you're learning new vocabulary words, you might review them one hour after the initial learning, then one day later, then three days later, and so on.
• Interleaved practices: For example: if you're learning to play the guitar, instead of spending an entire practice session on just one song or scale, you could spend some time on a new song, then switch to practicing scales, and then maybe work on chord transitions.
• Elaborative interrogation: For example if you study the french revolution, instead of just memorizing facts and dates, you would ask yourself questions like Why did the French Revolution start? Or Why did Napoleon rise to power?

Turning Knowledge into Action

Learning isn't just about acquiring knowledge; it's about turning that knowledge into action. As James Clear points out in his book "Atomic Habits," small, consistent changes can lead to significant results over time [5].

Actionable Tip: For every new skill or piece of knowledge you acquire, find a way to apply it immediately. Whether it's implementing a new strategy at work, trying out a new programming language, or applying a new workout routine, the quicker you put your knowledge into practice, the more likely you are to retain and build upon it.?

• Let's say you've just learned how to do basic yoga stretches from an online tutorial. You can immediately apply this new skill by starting your day with a 10-minute yoga routine the very next morning.

References

[1] Hoare, C. (2006). Handbook of Adult Development and Learning: A Handbook of Theory, Research, and Practice. Journal of European Industrial Training.

[2] Khan Academy (2021). How Khan Academy is using Machine Learning to Assess Student Mastery.

[3] Doidge, N. (2007). The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Front?

[4] Dunlosky, J., Rawson, K. A., Marsh, E. J., Nathan, M. J., & Willingham, D. T. (2013). Improving Students’ Learning With Effective Learning Techniques: Promising Directions From Cognitive and Educational Psychology. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 14(1), 4–58.

[5] Clear, J. (2018). Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones.

[6] Gino, F., & Staats, B. R. (2015). Why Organizations Don’t Learn. Harvard Business Review.