The art of effective learning strategies to master anything new
Repeat after me: when it comes to effective learning strategies, repetition is crucial.
Exposure, on the other hand, is necessary but insufficient. Though helpful, exposure must be repeated and repeated at intervals. So at the risk of overstating, effective learning starts with reps.
From Outliers, Gladwell posits 10,000 hours to greatness. Greatness, of course, may or may not be your goal. Maybe you just want to learn something new. Or maybe you simply want to be more effective. In any case, time invested is critical. You know this intuitively, but researchers suggest that doing something more than once improves your knowledge of it.
So repeat to learn. Because repetition is the nature of practice, and practice is the art of learning.
With anything new, your results may be poor. This is expected. Keep going. Do your best until you can do better.
To do better, reflect. What works? What doesn’t? Get feedback if you can. From the Theory of Cognitive Development, Vygotsky claims that children learn best through scaffolding. Simply, when a more knowledgable other temporarily helps a child complete a task just beyond their skillset, the assistance speeds development. So applied to you: how can you create a scaffold? Find support whether from a knowledgable other or…
…through a schema. A schema is a categorical building block of knowledge. To build knowledge, you either add to an existing block or you create a new one. Young children, for example, first learn “dog;” then big vs. little; then doberman, spaniel, and wolf. To illustrate, my nearly two-year-old daughter calls our 50lbs hound “dog,” and our 15lbs Chihuahua “cat.” See above: do your best until you can do better.
Why this matters: frankly, I need the review. In fact, this blog post is an example. There’s strategy, schema, and scaffolding, but – for the sake of speed – some parts are more sophisticated than others. The crude bits are my zones of deepest learning.
Final thoughts:
- If you want to accelerate your learning, practice publicly. See Steve Martin’s Born Standing Up for inspiration. I’m doing that, also.
- After a while, it’s not enough to perform. You need measurable feedback. Quality feedback starts with a goal.
- For extra support, leverage known schemata.
- Sophistication is a combination of tiny bits. Both great and mediocre scrambled eggs include eggs, butter, and salt. Add heat and time and the potential depth of knowledge is multifaceted and exponential.
What do you want to learn? Where do you want to go? Let me know. Accountability is another trick of the art.
A book that changed my relationship to alcohol: Regarding Cocktails (From Legendary Bartender, Sasha Petraske)
I don’t drink much anymore. Honestly, I can’t stomach beer and I’m unwilling to risk a poor night of sleep to booze. It’s costlier at 40 then it was at 20 (not to mention the growing body of research showing that alcohol is unequivocally bad for your health). Nonetheless, I count this book among one of my favorite kitchen resources. Though a humble bartender’s bible, it elevates alcohol to an art.
You might not know his name, but Sasha created some of the most famous cocktails. My wife and I love the paper plane. Named after the 2008 M.I.A. song, the drink is elegant, simple, and smooth. But be careful: it’ll take your feet off the ground.
In total, Regarding Cocktails is a masterpiece. On the rare occasion when I do drink, I like to check with Sasha first. He shares everything from the proper glass, to the cut of the ice cube, to the style of garnish, and how – when finished – the ingredients should blend in the glass.
One way to stop drinking or to slow it is to drink better quality.
No matter what you do, please drink responsibly.
A resource I use daily: Simple Modern Summit Water Bottle
Instead of alcohol, I drink 80 oz of water daily. I do this, for one, because hydration boosts endurance, prevents cramps, and aids muscle recovery when I’m exercising. I do this, also, to aid mental clarity, focus, and reduce fatigue during creative sessions.
The Simple Modern Summit Water Bottle is my go to. The vacuum-insulated stainless steel thermos keeps your drinks cold for hours. Crafted from BPA-free, durable materials, this reusable bottle is the ultimate companion for an active lifestyle.
Please drink responsibly.
