God desires continuous progress on earth - Sirshree
Right from the day a life form takes its place into existence, its brain starts developing numerous connections across itself. It has become imperative to keep learning new things in order for us to advance from the stage our ancestors have left us and take it forward responsibly, efficiently and elegantly. Therefore, the habit of efficient learning needs to be cultivated in ways that prove fruitful for generations to come.
Amongst all the learning, it becomes very important to mold the process such that there is a measurable outcome which lasts longer and at the same time, is enjoyable. This blog mainly deals with highlighting this process of learning and ensuring one makes the most of what one takes up efficiently.
1. Keep an open mind: Don't stop before you start. Resolve to completely involve yourself in the activity without presumptions about how it will turn out to be or such assumptions. You have taken up the task for a reason and vow to complete it diligently before you start. This will prepare your mind for what you are about to take on.
2. Identify your approach: For the activity or learning process involved, identify the approach you would like to take - if it would be better for you to go top-down or bottom-up. Usually, what proves beneficial to most is as follows:
- For Theoretical learning - top-down, getting the bigger picture first and then drilling your way down.
- For Practical learning - bottom-up, learning it step-by-step and slowly taking it to the next level.
Of course, there is no hard and fast rule to follow the above. You may choose whatever you think would help you achieve the results quickly.
3. Memory techniques: This is not something you might not be aware of but, it sure helps us go a long way. Choose the most appropriate memory technique: Association, Imagination (paint a picture, form a story or write a poem!), mnemonics, linking and so on. As most of us already know, the most effective technique entailed by history is completely involving yourself practically or gaining complete experience of the subject matter. It has also been observed that if you attach an emotional aspect to the process of learning, it leaves an impact in your mind and you remember it for a longer time. This is a very essential and important step that requires your 100% attention.
4. Physical involvement: It has been observed that when you incorporate a physical activity such as writing, hand gestures, talking, etcetera into a learning process, it helps us remember better and makes it a less stressful activity. You may even also involve yourself in a group learning activity, however, ensuring not to digress from the main intention whilst making the process fun.
5. If you do not understand something, seek expert help. Do not overlook. For this, please refer to my earlier blog: Ask! But, Conditions Apply...
6. Summarize: Recite to yourself what you have learnt or run the practicals all over again in your mind or physically perform the entire activity. In a jiffy, you will get the gist of what you have learnt and also, remember the key points for various kind of deductions. This is a very important step for when you have to retrieve the information once again later and achieve long lasting memory.
In times when you do not have much time and have to learn something right away, first, really understand the outcome required (the end result), prioritize based on it and then make your way down the list. This way, you will, if not all, at least ensure maximum benefit for whatever little investment you can afford.
Eventually, I would like to highlight a very important aspect to the learning process. All of the above activities or approaches would definitely work wonders if your "Awareness" level during each of them is at its zenith and in a relaxed one at that. You might have noticed how, during your childhood, you might have just mechanically learned something, reciting it again and again, without really understanding what it is but, stuck in your mind until now. This is the power of relaxed learning. If you add that up with your added intelligence through the years, there won't be anything stopping you. The effect of having "Awareness" at every moment in our lives has the greatest significance and this point cannot be stressed enough. More about this, over here: How the Brain Learns.
The best rendition of all what I want to say have been beautifully depicted in this amazing article - ISAAC ASIMOV: A lifetime of learning.
