How We Learn

Today, we’re going to delve a little deeper into the science and process of learning. Since we read in February that we continue to learn throughout our lives, what better topic to follow intellectual growth than how exactly it is that we learn?

Particularly as we all age, it’s important to study what allows us to keep those juices flowing so that we can keep learning throughout our lives. Because learning is not an isolated, one-time event. We learn through a series of experiences, activities, and events. We can set out to learn intentionally by taking a course or seeking a mentor, or we can learn unintentionally, usually due to the consequences of our actions.

First, we’ll explore the ways in which we learn best, then we’ll look at some specific tactics for making your learning more efficient, effective, and even fun!

Spaced Practice – The concept is simple, and it’s easy to implement, too. It’s been proven that we learn better in smaller bursts, rather than in marathon studying sessions. Repetitions spaced out over time lead to greater retention of information in the long run than the same number of repetitions clumped together.

What this means for you is that if you’re trying to learn something new, it’s best to do it in many short sessions, not in longer ones where you’re “cramming,” as for a test. So, let’s say you’re trying to learn a new language and you have a 3-hour car trip coming up. You decide to spend the three hours listening to your foreign language app in the car. You’d be better off listening for 30 minutes, then taking a break and switching to a different topic for 45 minutes, then going back to it for another 30 minutes.

To structure these sessions, try reviewing previously learned information first. This will “prime” your mind for the new information you’re about to absorb, and will reinforce the things you’ve already learned. Then, take a break and listen to the radio or have a conversation with a friend. Then, when you return to your studies, you’ll be ready to tackle that new material – in small bursts, that is!

Retrieval Practice – The act of retrieval itself is known to strengthen memory, making information easier to retrieve at a later date. But, how do you practice this method? It’s simple – test yourself. While tests are most often used as assessment tools, recent research proves that the act of retrieval in test taking actually causes learning by strengthening the memory of the tested information.

Practicing retrieval also improves higher-order, meaningful learning, like applying existing knowledge to new situations and using information in new contexts.

Elaboration – this one is exactly what it sounds like. You take new information just learned and connect it to pre-existing knowledge, describing in as much detail as you can. Though it can take many different forms, elaboration is essentially adding new features to an existing memory.

Another way to employ elaboration is to constantly question the materials you’re studying with the questions, “how” and “why”. The process of figuring out the answer to the questions, even with some degree of uncertainty, can help learning.

Dual Coding – We all know the saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words”. In addition to being able to present information more succinctly, pictures form more memories than do words. With dual coding, you use visual representations and verbal or reading skills in combination to further imbed what you’ve learned. Sometimes it’s easier to recall an image than words, and the image can often trigger the rest of the memory.

Since verbal and pictorial information are processed through separate channels in the brain, this method of reinforced learning is often called “dual coding.” Please bear in mind that this is separate from the various learning styles, which we’ll cover again in greater detail in just a bit.

Similar to dual coding is interleaving, which is the process of mixing multiple subjects or topics while studying, rather than blocking, which is when you study one topic thoroughly before moving on to the next one. Interleaving trains the brain to move back and forth, which is a more natural way of learning. It deepens long-term memory associations, and unlike multitasking, which has been proven not to work.

Interleaving also involves switching between tasks, but with the goal of long-term learning, rather than one of immediate performance gains. The topics can be from the same or different subjects, but it’s most beneficial when the subjects are related in some way.

Learning Styles – these are a person’s most effective methods for absorbing new information and learning new skills. They’re also called Thinking Styles, Cognitive Styles, and Learning Modalities, and they can be fluid, changing depending on the material being studied. Learning styles are not a measure of ability or intelligence, but rather simply a preference for one mode over others.

Tactile or Kinaesthetic – people who gravitate to this learning style often appear fidgety or restless due to their need for constant movement. These folks learn best by “doing”. Memorizing lists and spelling are often not the fortes of these learners. They learn best with experiments, field trips, role-playing, simulations, and problem-solving. Basically, anything that’s “hands-on” is going to appeal to these learners.

Visual – these learners need to actually “see” what’s being taught, rather than being just “talked at”. These learners are great at memorizing diagrams, charts and images, and they learn best by looking at graphs or images, and visualizing more complicated concepts. Storytelling is a great way to reach these learners when visual aids aren’t an option. Stories will allow these learners to visualize the concepts in their minds, solidifying the information more thoroughly.

Visual learners will often daydream, but items like flash cards, color-coding, diagrams, photos, charts, maps, and mnemonic devices will help keep this type of learner focused and on task – and learning!

Auditory – learners who absorb information best through listening are often outgoing and enjoy conversation. They also prefer to work or study with background noise, often music. These learners need to be actively engaged in the lecture or discussion.

Some of the best ways to reach auditory learners are with videos or podcasts, reading aloud, having group discussions or debates, using word association, putting information to music or into rhymes or poems.

Regardless of your learning style, you’ll still probably participate in both “active learning” and “passive learning.” Active learning involves something in which you can take part, like a hands-on activity or experiment. Passive learning, which is still learning, is something like reading a text, watching a movie, or listening to a lecture.

The learning process first begins when you encounter something new – an experience, a word, a concept, or a problem. Once you’ve tried specific techniques, you can determine whether they work for you and when to use them in the future.

However, there’s more to learn in life than just “book learning.” Learning can involve both positive and negative behaviors – it’s a natural and ongoing part of life that occurs continually, for better or worse. For example, you can learn how to do things and how to feel about them. Sometimes learning means becoming more knowledgeable so you can live a healthier life. Unfortunately, at other times, we can learn negative behaviors, too.

Learning itself can happen in many different ways. To explain how and when it occurs, psychologists have proposed different theories.

Classical Conditioning – Learning through association is one of the most basic ways in which people learn new things. You may have heard of Ivan Pavlov, or at least of his dogs. Lab experiments with his dogs proved that they could learn to salivate at the sound of a bell, rather than at the appearance of food – when they would typically salivate.

When an unconditioned stimulus that naturally triggers a response is paired with a neutral stimulus, eventually an association forms. At this point, the previously neutral stimulus becomes known as a conditioned stimulus that then triggers a conditioned response.

Operant Conditioning – This type of learning comes from reinforcements and punishments that can occur naturally or intentionally. When something immediately follows a behavior, the consequence can either decrease or increase the likelihood that the behavior will occur again in the future.

Learning Through Observation – It IS possible to learn without being conditioned, punished, or rewarded. Observational learning occurs by observing the actions and consequences of other’s behaviors. Children imitate their parents based on observational learning. In fact, the results of observation may not even be immediately apparent, as with history material that you’ve learned but not yet done anything with.

Challenges – learning doesn’t always come easily. Sometimes we must overcome obstacles in order to gain new knowledge.

Cognitive Challenges – such as difficulty with memorization, or inability to attend to information can make it difficult to learn. Specific learning disabilities, such as dyslexia, affect the way knowledge is processed and retained.

Motivational Challenges – both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation can affect ow much we learn. Those with strong intrinsic motivation to learn feel compelled to learn for the learning’s sake. Others may need extrinsic motivators to complete homework, for example, but those same people may be intrinsically motivated to research their family history. Motivational challenges can also spring from mental health conditions like ADHD or depression.

Now, we’ll discuss ways to improve learning. There are strategies you can use to improve how you learn and how well you retain and apply what you have learned. First and foremost – never stop learning! Learning is a skill that can be practiced – and the harder the new skill, the more it will strengthen your brain.

1. Improve your memory – there are a number of different strategies that can boost memory, such as improving your focus, avoiding cram sessions, and structuring your study time, but there are even more lessons from psychology that can dramatically improve your learning efficiency:

· Getting regular physical exercise

· Socializing with others

· Getting enough sleep

· Eliminating distractions so you can focus on what you’re learning

· Organizing information you’re studying to make it easier to remember

· Rehearse elaboration, describing in your own words the new thing or concept you’ve learned

· Use visual aids like charts, graphs, and photos

· Read the information you’re studying out loud

2. Keep learning new things – the best way to become an effective learner is simply to keep learning. Research has shown that the brain can produce new brain cells, many of which will just die off unless engaged in some sort of learning. By learning new things, these cells are kept alive and incorporated into brain circuits. You may have heard of this concept with “use it or lose it,” particularly when learning a new language – this process is actually called “pruning,” the process during which certain pathways in the brain are maintained, while others are eliminated. So keep learning so you don’t lose it!

3. Learn in multiple ways – rather than just listening to a podcast, for example, find a way to practice the information both verbally and visually. This could involve describing what you’ve learned to a friend, taking notes, or drawing a mind map. One helpful tip is to write out your notes on paper, rather than typing on a computer or other device. Research shows that writing things out longhand better helps to cement the information in memory than digital note-taking.

4. Teach what you are learning – one of the best ways to learn something is to teach someone else. Start with elaboration – translating the information into your own words. Then share it with a friend or cohort. This process alone helps solidify new knowledge in your brain. You could also write a blog post, create a podcast, or participate in a group discussion or debate.

5. Build on previous learning – relate the new information that you learn to things that you already know. For example, if you’re learning a new language, you may want to compare and contrast new vocabulary and grammar you’re learning with what you already know about your native language or other languages you speak.

6. Gain practical experience – while “book learning” is important, it also helps to put new knowledge and skills into practice. For example, if it’s an athletic skill, perform the activity on a regular basis. New language? Practice speaking it with others or surrounding yourself with things from that culture, like food and foreign-language films.

7. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes – research shows that making mistakes when learning can actually improve learning outcomes. Mistakes followed by corrective feedback can also be beneficial, so if you make a mistake while learning something new, correct the mistake, and examine how you arrive at the correct answer. This strategy helps foster critical thinking skills, which makes you more adaptable in learning situations that require being able to change your mind.

8. Use distributed practice – instead of trying to cram all your learning into a few long sessions, try short, focused sessions with many breaks. When you return from your break, rehearse the information you were just studying, then add in new material.

9. Take tests – test taking actually helps you remember more of what you’ve learned than does simply spending more time studying. That’s because tests force you to use recall, which can often trigger new memories from previously studied information. Once you’ve retrieved information, it’s likely that you’ll remember it in the future.

So, if you want to keep learning, it’s helpful to explore learning techniques that have proven to be successful. Strategies like boosting your memory and learning in multiple ways is helpful, as are using distributed practice, testing yourself often, and regularly learning new things. Learning is a lasting change in behavior that is the result of experience. It’s the acquisition of information, knowledge, and skills. We tend to focus on formal education when we think and speak of learning, but it’s truly an ongoing process that takes place throughout life, not only within the confines of the classroom.