Making Learning Quick and Easy Series: Meta-Learning that Improves Learning to Learn
Are you tired of learning? Are there things you want to learn, but learning them intimidates you? Do you want to learn something, but you do not think you have the time? If there are things you would love to learn, but school took all the fun out of your learning, then this article is for you. It is also for those who want to improve their learn ability and have more time for other things.
There are a many ways to learn. In addition it depends on what you are trying to learn. At least some of the techniques, learning approaches, and meta-learning short cuts proposed in this article will help you on your journey to learning quickly and easily.
Learning to learn is a major field of study. In this article, I have collected the most effective techniques and learning strategies that I know of. Please share your “Learning Made Easy” ideas in the comments and/or comment on what has helped you in this article.
Less is more. This is a series of articles because there is so much information. When there is too much information presented at once, the brain switches off. This is the exact opposite of the desired result.
Disclaimer: this article cannot possibly cover all the techniques, learning approaches, and meta-learning short cuts available. It is meant to open your mind to the best learning techniques for your own brain. You are in control and creativity is your greatest asset and friend in learning.
Meta-Learning
Meta-learning is a logical level above learning, namely, learning to learn or learning about learning. In this series, I am dealing with meta-learning. However this particular article will focus on meta-learning.
Foundational Knowledge
Learning happens faster and easier when you have a knowledge base. Foundational knowledge (to add words to the English vocabulary LOL!) makes learning easier. When you already have some knowledge about something it is easier to learn more. Partly because you can add to your knowledge as opposed to remember from scratch.
A building is only as good as its foundation. Therefore foundational knowledge should be as solid as possible.
A building is only as good as its foundation. Therefore foundational knowledge should be as solid as possible. It pays to learn the basics of whatever you are learning more thoroughly in order to improve your learning later on. However time and rate of learning can still be increased as discussed below in scaffolding.
Your brain is lazy. Therefore it would rather add to what it already knows than put in a lot of effort to learn something new.
Your brain is lazy. Therefore it would rather add to what it already knows than put in a lot of effort to learn something new. One area where this is helpful is forming habits. Your brain naturally wants to form habits because then autopilot can take over and it does not have to do any more work. This is why having foundational knowledge is great for learning.
Thus first foundational knowledge helps learning because effort is decreased the more you know about a subject or skill. Second is where I want to take you next, namely building scaffolding.
Building Scaffolding
So how do you build a scaffolding if you do not have a knowledge base?
So how do you build a scaffolding if you do not have a knowledge base? Good question. With some creativity, this can be solved. First you have build a scaffolding in your mind. Make it really realistic. Then you can start adding information onto each peace of wood. This will help build a foundation of knowledge to build onto. Once you have this foundation in place you have created foundational knowledge. You can then choose to put more information and learning into a building you build supported by the scaffolding. Another option is for you to merely add to your now existing knowledge base in a building that is now a combination of the foundation knowledge and new learning.
Another option is see a building in your mind’s eye and then add information to each window. This way you increase your knowledge every flour you add. When you have enough information you can stop growing the building and either go on the roof and build your knowledge or just add to your now existing knowledge base.
Have fun with building a foundation.
Have fun with building a foundation. The more creative and fun it is to learn something, the better and quicker you learn. This certainly applies if you are something new that you are curious about and would like to know more about. Questions also help build scaffolding, so remember to ask as many questions as you can before you start learning and while you are in the learning process. So that your brain will look for answers during your learning time.
24, 48, 72; 1, 2; 1; 1 Methods of Reviewing
Use the 24, 48, 72 hours and 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, 1 year (and then if you need or want to 2 years later) review law. Once you have learned something, review your notes 24 hours afterwards. Then review your notes again 48 hours and then 72 after you initially learned them. 1 week later again review your notes and then 2 weeks later. For best effects review your work again 1 month later and then 1 year later. This is especially if you want to retain your work long term.
Review means read your notes, go over them. Do not learn anything! Review means merely read through your notes. Make really great notes so the material makes sense to you and helps you remember everything that is important to remember. The better your notes, the better your learning. This means you never have to sit down and memorize anything that you want to learn. Of course there is room for learning if you want to and you can choose to use this technique in combination with others.
Emotional State at Time of Learning
Therefore in order to retrieve the learning, you should ideally feel the emotion you had when you learned that particular thing.
When you learn something you store it together with the emotion you experienced when you learned it. Therefore in order to retrieve the learning, you should ideally feel the emotion you had when you learned that particular thing. Emotion is a key to retrieval of the information you learned. Retrieving information you learn is as important as learning and storing the information, particularly if you have to write a test or give a presentation.
I learn quickly and easily and my brain is ready to absorb this material easily like a sponge.
It is therefore a good idea to relax your mind and breath and enter a state of openness to learning. Say some affirmations about learning, for example, “I learn quickly and easily and my brain is ready to absorb this material easily like a sponge”. Then when you want to retrieve the information, all you have to do is access this same state. You should relax your mind and breath and enter this state of openness to learning once again. The learning should flood back into your mind quickly and easily. You might have to say your affirmations in order for this to happen or trigger your anchor points (see next paragraph). After a while your brain will get used to slipping in and out of this learning ready state and you can access whenever you want.
It is also a good idea to anchor the state so you can access the state with a word or gesture for example. One example is every time you enter this state you say the words, “openness to learning”. Then all you have to do is say these words and your mind will go to this state you have created. From here you can learn quickly and retrieve the information quickly and easily.
A Good Story
Everyone loves a good story!
Stories have been passed down through the generations. They are very effective means of transmitting traditions from generation to generation. In addition lesson, morals, and values are transmitted more effectively and efficiently through stories. Aesop’s Fables is an excellent example of this type of storytelling. Everyone loves a good story. Adults still remember the stories and songs from when they were children. Illustrating the effectiveness of both stories and songs as good memory strategies.
Metaphors are great means to communicate. In addition metaphors can help make learning stronger and quicker. Instead of memorizing a whole lot of information, it is more effective to take the information re-write it in the form of a metaphor, story, song, or even poem. Some people do better at organizing information into a picture.
In addition to a memory strategy, metaphors, stories, songs, and poems can be used to create a foundation upon which more learning can be built. Think of this as an alternative to building scaffolding or different type of scaffolding.
Reduce the Learning Steps to Essentials
A very effective tool to have is part of meta-learning is bringing learning down to the essential steps only. You have to take yourself out of the process of learning. Then you have to analyze which steps are essential to your learning. You therefore streamline your learning process. Cutting off precious time spent learning in order to have more fun. Unless you have successfully managed to make learning fun of course. Then you might want to stay absorbed in your learning a little longer and learn more or perfect your knowledge and sharpen it.
The Benefits of a focused, relaxed Mind
Focus your mind and relax it. Set your mind up to learn quickly and easily. As discussed under the topic of emotional state at time of learning, you will benefit from having a relaxed state of mind open to learning along with other health benefits.
However focusing your mind can be a very important step to learn quicker in a totally different way. Once you are relaxed, you can use visualization and imagination much more effectively. This will be dealt with another article in this series because these techniques are basically infinite. You can make up many different versions of visualizations and be creative. So you benefit from enjoying the learning at the same time as being relaxed and feeling peaceful. It also helps when you are working out which steps that are essential and those you can cut out. All this while maintaining the quality and quantity of the learning you are engaged with in the moment. Thus reducing the stress of learning and/or pressure of performing and/or doing well on tests.
Summary
How can learning be lifelong, fun, and fulfilling in of and itself? There are many ways to learn. It is important to take time to learn how to learn because this can decrease the time and effort it takes to learn. In addition it can make more learning fun. Meta-learning is therefore a constructive use of time.
You can build a scaffolding of foundational knowledge. Then review the knowledge you add onto this knowledge 24 and then 48 and 72 hours later, 1 week and 2 weeks later, 1 month later, and 1 year later. This will set you up to avoid having to learn the facts over and over again.
Write a good story for yourself about the information you are trying to remember while in a relaxed and open learning state. Then when you later want to recall the information all you have to do is start the story, sit back and enjoy the flow of information. Harness the potential of visualization and let your imagination guide you to the best strategies.
Finally decrease the time and effort you need to exert learning by analyzing your learning and fine-tuning it to the essential steps only. Then enjoy all your free time to learn more about what you are passionate about or spend quality time with your friends and/or family. Enjoy the learning journey!
