Understanding Learning
Disclaimer: I am writing this article on the topic of “learning” purely for fun. I stumbled upon this topic while searching for solutions to my own issues with learning. I wanted to make my superficial learnings more concrete, so I decided to put them in the form of an article. This is just a personal project, and I am not an expert in the field of education or learning. However, I am passionate about the topic and hope to share some of my own insights and experiences with others who may be interested in learning more about learning.
It is often said that we don’t really “learn” in school, at least not in a way that truly sticks with us and becomes a part of our long-term knowledge and understanding. Instead, the focus is often on exams and grades, which can lead to a culture of cramming and memorization rather than true understanding. This is especially common in Indian households, where the pressure to excel academically can be intense. As a result, students like me feel like they are just going through the motions, memorizing information for a test and then forgetting it as soon as the exam is over. This is frustrating and disheartening, and it has made it difficult for me to develop a true love of learning.
This experience of feeling like I was just going through the motions in university and not really learning made me want to explore more deeply what learning is all about. I started to ask myself questions like What is the most effective way to learn? How can I retain information for the long term? Is it possible to learn without feeling stressed or overwhelmed? As I began to dig into these questions, I discovered that there is a wealth of research and knowledge on the science of learning and how to optimize it. I also learned that there are many different approaches to learning, and what works for one person may not work for another. This realization was both exciting and empowering, as it meant I could take back control of my own learning and find the methods and strategies that worked best for me.
So here’s my learning about learning:
Focused Mode & Diffused Mode of thinking:
There are two main modes of thinking that are essential for learning: Focused thinking and Diffused Thinking. Focused thinking is when we concentrate our mental energy on a specific task or problem. This mode of thinking is important because it allows us to analyze and solve problems in a logical and systematic way.
On the other hand, diffused thinking is when our minds are more relaxed and open to new ideas. This mode of thinking is important because it allows us to make connections between seemingly unrelated ideas and come up with creative solutions.
Both modes of thinking are important in different contexts, and the ability to switch between them is an important skill to have. Different thinking allows us to approach problems and tasks in different ways. Focused thinking is helpful when we need to analyze and understand complex information, while diffused thinking is helpful when we need to generate new ideas and think creatively. By alternating between these two modes of thinking, we can approach learning in a more flexible and effective way.
I also learned about metacognition, or the ability to think about one’s own thinking, which is an important aspect of learning as it allows us to monitor and adjust our own learning process.
Studying methods to avoid:
There are several study techniques that should be avoided if we want to be effective in our studies.
- Passive Reading — This is where we simply read through the material without actively engaging with it, it is not an effective way to learn.
- Procrastination — The act of delaying or postponing tasks or activities negatively impacts our learning and overall behavior. Procrastination leads to increased stress and anxiety, well as lower quality work and poor performance on tasks or exams. It can also be a habit that is difficult to break as it can be fueled by negative emotions such as fear or anxiety, or by a lack of motivation or focus.
- One of the negative impacts of procrastination on learning is that it can lead to last-minute cramming or rushed work, which can result in a lack of understanding and retention of the material. Procrastination can also lead to missed opportunities or deadlines, which can have consequences in school or work.
- Procrastination while learning programming can be delaying the start of a programming project or assignment until the last minute, despite having ample time to complete it. We might put off reading the assignment instructions or start to work on the code until the deadline is imminent. As such, we find ourselves rushed and stressed as we try to complete the project in a short amount of time, and the quality of work might suffer as well.
- Repeatedly solving problems of the same type — Working on the same problem types of problems you already know will give us a false sense of confidence, and will not help us learn new concepts or skills.
- Lack of sleep — It hinders our ability to learn and retain information, it is equally important to get enough rest.
- Relying too much on highlights — It is tempting to rely too much on highlights and notes. Still, it is important to read the textbook and other resources before starting to highlight or take notes, as it helps to provide context and a deeper understanding of the material.
Effective Study Techniques:
Effective study techniques can help us learn and retain information more effectively.
Recall — This is one of the most effective techniques, where you try to recall the information from memory without looking at your notes or textbook. This helps strengthen the connections between neurons, when you recall information from memory, it activates the neural pathways in your brain that are associated with that information. This process helps to strengthen the connections between neurons, which can improve our ability to remember and use the information in the future.
Identifying gaps in your knowledge: When you struggle to recall information, it can indicate that you have not fully learned or understood the material. This can be a valuable opportunity to identify gaps in our knowledge and to focus on those areas in our learning.
Spaced Repetition — This involves reviewing the material at increasing intervals, such as reviewing something you learn yesterday, then again in a few days, and then again a week later. This helps to reinforce the material in your memory and can be done through tools like flashcards.
Chunking — Chunking is a learning technique that involves breaking larger pieces of information into smaller, more manageable chunks, which can make it easier to learn and remember, as the brain is better able to process and retain smaller pieces of information. Chunking can be done in a variety of ways, such as breaking up a long passage into shorter paragraphs, organizing information into lists or bullet points, or creating diagrams or flowcharts to visually represent the information.
One of the key benefits of chunking is that it allows us to focus on one piece of information at a time, rather than trying to process a large amount of information all at once. This can make it easier to understand and retain the material as the brain is better able to process and retain smaller pieces of information. Chunking also helps us identify the main points or key concepts within the material, which can be helpful for studying and reviewing.
A simple example of using chunking in real life might be organizing a grocery list into categories, such as medicinal, dairy, meat, kitchen, bathroom essentials, etc. This allows us to focus on one category at a time as we shop, rather than trying to remember everything on the list all at once. It can also make it easier to find items in the store, as we can look for them in the appropriate category rather than trying to remember where each individual item is located.
Taking breaks — Taking periodic breaks is also important, as it allows our brain to rest and can help you retain the material longer.
Eating your frogs first — Eating your “frogs” first, or tackling the most difficult tasks first, can also be an effective technique, as it allows you to get the most challenging tasks out of the way and can give you a sense of accomplishment.
Deliberate Practice — Deliberate practice is a focused and structured approach to learning that involves setting specific goals, getting feedback on the progress, and continuously seeking to improve. It allows us to target specific areas for improvement and focus on those areas in a structured way. This can help us make more rapid progress and can lead to better learning outcomes. Spending more time on the things you find more difficult is how an average mind becomes a great mind.
Interleaving — Interleaving is also a learning technique that involves mixing up the material you are studying, rather than focusing on one topic at a time. This can include alternating between different subjects, or within a single subject, working on problems or exercises of different types rather than focusing on just one type. Interleaving helps to challenge the brain and can lead to better retention and transfer of knowledge.
One of the benefits of interleaving is that it helps us to prevent overlearning, or the tendency to perform well on problems that are similar to ones you have seen before but struggle with new or unfamiliar problems. By regularly switching between different types of problems or topics we are more likely to encounter new or unfamiliar material. Interleaving can also help us to prevent boredom and keep us engaged in our studies.
While learning programming we can use interleaving by alternating between working on different types of coding problems or projects. For example, we might spend one day working on a project that involves creating a simple website, and then the next day we can switch to working on a problem involving sorting data or working with APIs.
Pomodoro Technique — Time management method that involves working in 25-minute intervals followed by a host burnout.
Proper sleep — Sleep plays a crucial role in learning and memory consolidation. When we sleep, our brains are busy processing and consolidating the information we have learned during the day. This process helps to strengthen the connections between neurons, which can improve our ability to remember and use the information we have learned. In addition to that during sleep, our brains are able to remove toxins and waste products that can build up during the day. This process, known as brain cleaning helps to keep the brain healthy and functioning properly.
People who get enough sleep tend to perform better on tests and have better overall cognitive function than those who don’t get enough sleep.
In addition to its role in memory consolidation, sleep is also important for overall brain health. Lack of sleep has been linked to a range of negative outcomes, including impairments in cognitive function, mood disturbances, and an increased risk of developing certain diseases. Getting enough sleep is essential for maintaining overall physical and mental well-being, and it is an important factor in effective learning.
Use explanatory questioning and simple analogies — Using explanatory questioning and simple analogies can be effective techniques for learning new information. Explanatory questioning involves asking questions about the material we are studying in order to better understand and remember it. This can include asking ourselves questions like how would I explain this to a ten-year-old? Asking questions can help us think critically about the material and can help us identify where we need further clarification or practice.
An analogy is a comparison between two things that are similar in some way, and using analogies can help us understand complex concepts by relating them to something we are already familiar with. For example, if we are trying to understand the concept of photosynthesis, we might use the analogy of a plant that is like a factory that takes in sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to produce energy. This analogy can help us understand the process of photosynthesis in a more relatable way.
Focus — Focus is an important aspect of learning because it helps us to concentrate and fully engage with the material we are studying. When we focus, our minds are able to absorb and retain information more effectively, which leads to a better understanding of the subject.
For example, if we are trying to learn a new language and we are constantly getting distracted by our phone or other things on the internet or some other distractions, it will be much harder for us to make progress. On the other hand, if we are able to focus and eliminate distractions while we are studying, we will be able to learn the language much more efficiently.
Another example is when you are studying for an exam. If we try to study for the exam while listening to the TV watching TV or chatting with friends, we are more likely to not retain as much information as we would if we were able to focus solely on the material we are studying.
Memory:
There are two different types of memory in the brain: short-term memory and long-term memory.
Short term memory
This is also known as working memory, which is the type of memory that we use to hold and process information for a short period of time, usually just a few seconds to a few minutes. Short-term memory is important for processing and manipulating information such as when we are reading or following instructions. For example, if we are trying to remember a phone number that someone just gave us, we would use our short-term memory to hold that information until we write it down or dial the number.
Long term memory
Long-term memory is the type of memory that we use to store information for longer periods of time, often for many years or even a lifetime. Long-term memory can be thought of as a storage house, which is important for storing and retrieving information that we use on a regular basis, such as our personal history, vocabulary, and skills. For example, if we learned how to ride a bike when we were a child, we would use our long-term memory to recall the steps and skills needed to ride a bike whenever we want to ride one as an adult.
Biologically, short-term memory is thought to involve the prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus. And long-term memory is thought to involve the strengthening of connections between neurons, or nerve cells, in the brain.
Information can be transferred from short-term to long-term memory through a process called consolidation, which involves repeating and rehearsing the information over time. This can be achieved through techniques such as spacing out study sessions, practicing recalling information from memory, and using mnemonic devices to help remember lists or sequences of information. Engaging in activities that challenge and stimulate the brain, such as puzzles and learning new skills, can also help improve memory and learning.
Illusions of Competence:
Illusions of competence refer to the tendency to overestimate one’s own abilities or knowledge.
For example:
Believing that we understand a concept or topic after only briefly reading about it or watching a video, without fully grasping the details or nuances.
Thinking that we are proficient in a particular skill or subject after only a short period of practice or exposure, without fully understanding the complexity of the task or the skill required.
Thinking that we are immune to making mistakes or errors, leads to a lack of caution or care in our studying or practice.
For example, while learning data science we might believe that we understand a statistical concept or method after only briefly reading about it, without fully grasping the details or nuances. This might lead us to use the wrong method or approach in the analysis, resulting in incorrect or misleading results.
Similarly, a data scientist might think that they are proficient in a particular programming language or tool only after a short period of practice, leading to overconfidence and a lack of effort in their analysis.
It is important to be aware of these illusions of competence and to actively seek out opportunities to test and evaluate your knowledge and skills to ensure that we are accurately assessing our abilities.
Learning is never Linear
We have to understand that learning is not a linear process as we expect it to be. It will take time and a lot of consistency to fully understand and master new concepts and skills. There will be a lot of phases where things that made sense before seem confusing and it may feel like you are not making progress. However, it is important to keep going and to be persistent in the learning journey.
To summarize, learning is a continuous process and not a one-time event, and it can take different amounts of time for different people and for different subjects. Some concepts or skills may be more challenging to learn than others, and it can take longer to understand and master them. But with effort and dedication, we can achieve our learning goals.
“If you are not willing to learn, no one can help you. If you are determined to learn, no one can stop you.” — Zig Ziglar
Happy learning.
I recommend checking this one out: http://www.learning-knowledge.com/testing.html
Credits:
https://in.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn
https://www.instructables.com/Learning-How-to-Learn
https://medium.com/learn-love-code/learnings-from-learning-how-to-learn-19d149920dc4
http://www.learning-knowledge.com/testing.html
https://www.studentdoctor.net/2018/07/31/spaced-repetition/
https://prezi.com/ieviovqlpiwo/memory-power-for-everyone/?html5=0
