BE A LEARNER AND NEVER STOP!
Things you can do to help yourself
learn
Ultimately, the responsibility for learning rests with the
learner. The teacher/instructor can help, and point out tips and tricks along
the way, but it comes down to the person learning.
Here are some things that the learner can use to increase their
success:
1. Slow down: Learning is not a sprint where the first
person to finish the book, the activity or the test wins. The goal is a lasting
understanding that you can apply immediately and in the future.
2. Write your own notes: in your own language. Write your
notes the way that you would explain the topic to a friend. Paraphrase, include
silly little doodles that illustrate the concepts.
3. Get sufficient downtime and sleep: Our
brains are not designed to be constantly overstimulated. Tired brains do not
learn! Your brain needs a break to
transfer the information from the short-term memory to the long-term memory,
and to assimilate the new information.
4. Stay hydrated and make sure you are not hungry: Drink
lots of water and try to limit the amount of caffeine and junk food in your
diet. Hunger and thirst are the enemies of cognition.
5. Get emotionally involved with the material: The more
neurons that fire the greater your retention of the topic will be.
6. Create something new with your new knowledge: Applying
your newly learned knowledge outside of the scope of the exercises in the study
material will have two main advantages:
Firstly, it will cement the knowledge in place.
Secondly, it will increase your confidence.