Studying and Learning (Hints and Tips)
Every day we are learning. Whether we are taking a qualification, studying a new client or assimilating the information in a report, learning is import. With the time constraints put upon us by business and personal lives the way we learn can be the differnence between make or break.
The Pyramid of Learning
Learning is a complex process. We all have different preferred ways of taking information in. We each respond differently to different teachers, teaching methods, books etc.. However, there is one basic truth, the realisation of which makes a major difference to effective learning. This is that INTEREST is of paramount importance. If you have children, you may have had the experience of being told at a Parent/Teacher evening, that your child just does not seem interested in some lessons and that he/she does not pay attention in those lessons. My usual response is to ask the teacher what he/she is going to do about it. I try to explain that it is his/her job to provide the interest, since without the interest the child is not going to learn! I should point out that in my experience this view will not make you very popular at Parent/Teacher evenings!
For adults it is reasonable to assume that the interest levels should come wholly from within. You are not trying to learn things that have no relevance to you; you are trying to learn things you have chosen, for whatever reason, to learn! The interest level forms the foundation for a successful learning outcome:
If the interest level is good then your attention will be well and truly grabbed. If your interest is then maintained, so will your attention be. This will give you the maximum opportunity to understand the material thoroughly – you will be making your own links and connections. This will mean that you have have learned it well which enables you to remember the material. Recall is simply a matter of activating those links and connections!
Learning to learn may sound scary – or you might think that you don’t need it but learning to learn effectively can benefit us all. Just think of the time that it will save – least the benefits of being able to master information overload, pass that qualification or to just improve your work-life balance. Our Advanced Thinking and Learning Workshop is perfect for everyone in business today. It covers Mind Mapping, Speed Reading and Memory Techniques. Its available in Manchester and London for individuals and in-house for organisations with groups or teams to train. Find out more here.
Tags: Learning and Studying
