Learning How To Learn

One thing I have always found curious from all my years going to school is that they very rarely go over methods on how to learn. But really – How do we learn? What are the best ways to learn? And are these stupid questions?

Learning seems like common sense: we do it everyday. When in school we are told to study if we want to learn and do well in school – “Just go read, and absorb as much material as you can.” If what we want to learn is a skill, whether it be problem solving in arithmetic or throwing a baseball, then we are told “Practice makes perfect. Just keep trying until you get it.”

It took me a long time to figure out that there is actually more to learning than just reading or practicing. In fact, there is a whole mental disposition that is cohesive to thorough, quick, and even entertaining ways to learn. Here are some ideas that have guided me in the process of becoming a better learner.

A Love for Knowledge

This world is fascinating; I am constantly bewildered at its depth, beauty and level of complexities. These is a desire to learn, a desire to understand reality and to always seek the truth over delusion.

The problem is schools very rarely teach you to love knowledge. Instead, education becomes a chore, a mindless routine from 8am-3pm every Monday-Friday. In school they don’t train us to be thinkers or seekers of knowledge but regurgitators. We are taught to consumer facts and certain interpretations of history and then spit them out on our tests. There is no critical thinking at all – just consumption – the same way you consumer a Big Mac. Most teachers only care about getting the numbers to meet national standards and not about the actually passion that comes from the sharing and growth of knowledge.

This is really where our education system lacks. It is not in its lack of funding, or TV, the media, or American’s general lack of intelligence – no, it is none of this at all – it is the subtle and lifelong conditioning that becoming smart is always a tedious and burdensome process.

How often can you recall getting those one or two special teachers? We all have our favorites. The ones who captivate our minds, leave us at the edge of our desks, make us laugh and cry, and truly instill a longing satisfaction for knowledge. Why can’t every professor make things so easy, so fun, and enlightening?

The key principle to all effective teaching is quite simple: associate good feelings with your material; this way, your students will become self-motivated to do well and expand their minds.

But we aren’t so lucky to always be blessed with these kinds of teachers. Instead, teachers are more concerned with discipline and obedience. They actually believe the best way to learn is at the crack of a conquering whip and not the crack of a warm smile.

Fortunate for us – it is never too late to become a good learner, and it is never too late to become “smart.” At times, we need to step up and be our own teachers. Nowadays, this is easier than ever before.

The Well of Knowledge

I would say that I have learned more despite school rather than because of it. With technology – and especially the rise of the internet – there is no excuse for ignorance on a topic that is of interest to you. All the resources to begin your investigation are at your disposal. The internet has a wide range of media (audio, video, reading material, sometimes even games and college lectures) on just about anything there is to learn (music, photography, math, science, cooking, fashion, etc. – the list is virtually endless).

Despite the ever-growing depth of the internet, it is only the beginning of your path to knowledge. Most areas have their own local libraries even though many citizens do not ever take enough advantage of these institutions as they rightfully should. I know my local library has much more than just books too, but DVDs, CDs, computers, and other media.

Some of the reasons that your library is still a worthy alternative to the internet is that a lot of older books (including classics that may be difficult to find on the internet) are available to read, and sometimes it is fun to just walk down the aisles, browsing at your own leisure, and accidentally discovering a treat. In this way a library can introduce you to material that you otherwise wouldn’t be able to find on the internet let alone have the idea to even search for it.

Modeling the Experts

Up until this point I have mostly focused on ways to go about expanding one’s “book smarts” or, rather, knowledge about theories, facts, interpretations, or philosophies. But this is only half of learning. The other side is about learning skills and techniques, whether it be sports, hobbies, art, music, or even how to be better in social and business situations.

Now this is not to say that some of these practices cannot be aided by reading, viewing or listening material (they ALL certainly can be), but that isn’t going to complete the learning process for many of these skills.

Instead, I suggest to get familiar with the practice of modeling those who are already successful at what you want to do. This does not meaning ripping off or copying, but utilizing a wide range of influences to improve your own approach and strategy.

This is usually within the context of the “outside world” and not something you would spend time in your room studying and trying to absorb (though you can most certainly spend time alone reflecting on the lessons you learn).

Learn to pay extra careful attention when around those who are already experts in an area you want to succeed in. If you have the chance, ask questions about how they got started, what was the process like getting from Point A to Point B.

Your job as a student is to understand the groundwork and the path from getting from where you are now to the successful state you want to be in after. Ask yourself: How long might this take me? What are the future obstacles? Am I going to make the commitment to do what needs to be done?

The best way to model others is to break down the learning process into individual steps. Learn to dissect the details of honing your skills but also have the ability to zoom out and see the bigger whole when necessary. If you are able to hold both the details and the bigger picture in your mind simultaneously then all you have left to do is to act upon your ideas.

Be aware that your strategy must always be flexible and ready to change. It is not necessarily true that what works for someone will work for you, but it is most often true that you can learn at least a piece of the puzzle from various sources.

Every Moment is a Learning Opportunity

A true lover of knowledge knows there is no such thing as a useless moment. Instead, he or she realizes that every moment can be seized and there is something to learn from everybody. Even people who are not experts in a field will be able to offer you refreshingly new perspectives. In the end everyone, young and old, can be your teacher – as long as you are smart enough to be the student.

Be curious. Ask questions to everyone. It is a great way to be social, show interest in others and at the same time learn something new. Everyone has their own unique experiences and background; this is not something to be taken lightly – there is a wealth of knowledge in ever individual. Even the preschooler can show you something about yourself that you either never paid thought to before or have forgotten in your midst of maturity. Sometimes, I even prefer to talk to children who are often much more imaginative and interesting than the often more stubborn adult (who often takes more “cracking into” before unveiling a facet of wisdom).

Final Words