Understanding the process that can help you learn anything effectively is critical in this competitive world. Knowing how to learn effectively can give you a competitive edge. And as a result, you will find personal satisfaction and help better the world around you. Remember why you’re reading this article and please read with an open mind, ready to get more from this article than what is written. Enjoy!
Why Would You Want To Learn Anything Effectively?
Learning productivity is important for several reasons. Here is a list of reasons why you would want to learn anything effectively:
Better Problem-Solving Skills:
Effective learning can help you develop critical thinking skills, which can be useful in various areas of your life.
Personal Development:
Every time you learn something new and well, you broaden your perspective, enhance your creativity and give yourself a better chance to achieve your goals.
Career Advancement:
Effective learning can boost your performance in your job. Learning productivity will set you apart from your colleagues, make it easier for you to get promoted to a better position, etc.
Time-Saving:
Learning effectively allows you to acquire knowledge and develop your skills more efficiently, giving you more time to focus on other important aspects of your life.
Effective Learning Techniques
Here is a list of effective learning techniques to use [if you want to get any of the above benefits]. I have used several of these learning techniques myself. So, I know that they work.
- Set clear goals: Define what you want to learn, why it’s important to you, and how you will measure your progress. Your brain prioritizes things that are meaningful to you.
- Break the subject down: you can learn any complex subject by breaking it down into smaller understandable pieces.
- Seek feedback: Ask for feedback from people you trust, those who will give you sincere and honest feedback. It might be a teacher, a tutor, or a friend. Remember, you need to be ready for any type of feedback because not every single one of them will be “positive”. The best feedback should be the one that helps you identify your weaknesses and/or your strengths. Therefore, you need to be humble. And finally, remember that feedback is supposed to help you move forward, not to stop you.
- Review regularly and practice often: Reviewing what you learn allows you to retain more of it because “Memories weaken over time”, and regular practice gives you experience. Moreover, when you practice or experiment with something you want to know well, you will discover knowledge that is not written.
The key here is that you will always learn faster and remember things that mean a lot to you. Meaningful activities or meaningful learning sessions stay with us. So, find what interests you, break it into smaller topics, practice again and again while learning from your mistakes, and seek improvement through honest feedback.
How To Learn Efficiently
To learn efficiently, you need to know the following:
- What is the key information you are looking for: When you know what you lack, it becomes easier to identify the key information you are looking for to complete your understanding of something. Once you get what you need, don’t waste your time reading other things; move forward with the next thing you want to know. For instance, one day, I wanted to know how to make a QR code on Canva, so I Googled it. The result was a numbered list. I read the part that I didn’t know of and exited Google right away. As a result, I was able to make the QR code before it was time to go to the meeting!
- How deeply you want to know this subject or topic: Sometimes, you may want to deepen your knowledge of something; if this is the case, you may need to read as much as you can about the subject. More on that later.
- What are some credible sources you can use to get the information you need: When it comes to learning, sources matter. You need to know where to get credible information, and then use them as your primary sources.
4 Tips On How To Learn Anything Deeply
- Be committed: Deep learning requires commitment because it’s a long journey! Some subjects are so vast that it takes a lifetime to master them. Are you ready to invest time and money trying to learn something deeply? I hope so.
- Use several sources: When you listen to or read different opinions people have on a given subject, it helps you understand the different aspects of the subject. Consider using at least 5 sources to learn about anything you want to know deeply.
- Observe and experiment: To really know something, you need to have personal experiences with it. You need to use it in ways that others have never done before. Look around to see what people are using this thing for or how they are using it. And finally, take notes.
- Look for what’s missing: Now that you know what several people think about the subject or topic, and you have been observing and experimenting, you can start forming your opinions on the subject by looking for what is missing. You will know that you really know something when you can make and bring your own unbiased opinion about it to the table.
How To Learn Effectively And Productively
To learn effectively and productively, you need to know why you want to know, how this knowledge is going to be beneficial to you, and how much you want to know. And then you can apply the principles mentioned above.
In conclusion, to learn effectively, you need to break what you want to learn into small and understandable elements and seek improvement by asking for feedback. To learn efficiently, you have to be committed, learn from several different sources, get your own experience with what you’ve learned, and find what’s missing to form your own opinion on the subject. Lastly, effective learning and efficient learning can help you in every aspect of your life.
What other practical learning techniques have you used that are not mentioned in this article? Please feel free to share in the comment below. Was this article useful? If yes, share it with a friend.
