How to Learn Something New and Deep?
What I Learnt From “Learning How To Learn”?
This course gives you easy access to the invaluable learning techniques used by experts in art, music, literature, math, science, sports, and many other disciplines
Focused and Diffused Modes of Learning
Researchers have found that we have two fundamentally different modes of thinking.
- Focused Mode
- Diffused Mode
Focused Mode:
When you concentrate intently on some subject you’re trying to learn or to understand.
Diffused Mode:
More of a relaxed thinking style when your mind is not highly active.
You can’t be in the both modes at the same times, and both are important and it seems one mode seems to limit your access to the other mode’s way of thinking.
How To Learn Something New And Deep
Use focus mode of learning — Learn key things about the new subject that you are trying to understand — then relax and let your mind run free going back into diffused mode … and then again into focused mode so that new connections can be made strong
So this works especially with something that’s a little more difficult, your mind should be able to go back and forth between the two learning modes. That’s what helps you learn effectively and it stays longer
Use Pomodoro Technique
Everybody has some issues with procrastination, But some people have more issues with procrastination than others
The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s. The technique uses a timer to break down work into intervals, traditionally 25 minutes in length, separated by short breaks
It works because after focused mode of 25 minutes (any pre-fixed time ) you have a short break — and after a few focussed mode session you have a long break.
Practice Makes It Permanent
Nothing Can Replace Practice, So Practice, Practice and Practice
Maths are science are challenging because there is nothing to relate to — like in art, music and creative pursuits you can get help from surrounding abstract objects
So, it is more important to practice with ideas and concepts your learning in math and science. The more abstract something is, the more important it is to practice in order to bring those ideas into reality for you.
While practicing, use focused and diffused modes or learning. First, study hard by full concentrations and take a break or change your focus to some different subject to go into diffused more. This way your mind will keep working in the background on the same subject and will build strong neural patterns
If you are struggling with practice — you can use Pomodoro Technique
Using Long Term Memory and Working Memory
There are two major memory systems
- Working Memory
- Long Term Memory
Working memory has to do with what you’re immediately and consciously processing in your mind. It is like a blackboard/whiteboard and can be easily forgotten if not practiced enough for Long Term Memory
Long term memory is like a warehouse, highly distributed over a big area.
Research has shown when you first try to put a short term memory in long term memory, you need to revisit it at least a few times to increase the chances that you’ll be able to find later when you might need it
To learn deep and difficult subject — long term memory is very important. You might understand something at the first time, but in a long process of learning there are high probabilities that you keep forgetting old learning
Warning: Instead of repeating something 20 times in the evening what you learnt in the morning , repeat every day once or twice for a few days.
Sleep and Its Importance in Learning
Lack of sleep is highly toxic to your brain. Sleep which looks like some kind of waste of time is actually your brain’s way of keeping itself clean and health.
Too little sleep over a long period of time could work against your ability to learn and grasp new ideas — and will create multiple deceases
Sleep is very important for memory and learning process. During sleep your brain erases the less important part of your memories, and strengthen the more important part of memories that you want to remember.
Sleep has a remarkable difference in your ability to figure out difficult problems and to understand what you’re trying to learn — allowing them to put together the neural solution to your learning task while you’re sleeping.
… and do not forget to dream about what you are trying to learn — as this will definitely enhance your ability to learn more
