Learning new things is a common routine of our time. Frequently the professional success depends on the human’s capability to consume and process huge chunks of data. So, it is crucial to understand how to work with new information in the most effective way.

In this article, I aim to state the obstacles to learning new things and how to successfully overcome them.

What does the word “learn” actually mean

Our brain is very complicated. There are more than 85 billion connected neurons. They create an enormous web representing the brain itself. It is much more difficult in reality than any created theoretical scheme, book, etc. So this article does not claim to be a comprehensible source of information about learning, especially about the brain. But I hope this helps you take the first steps towards effective learning.

So, a simplified definition of the learning process goes as follows: our brain receives some data through the senses, then processes that and returns the result to us. Most people would agree with that because it is pretty logical and intuitive. But what about learning methods? There are many approaches and points of view. Someone likes to reread books many times, someone always takes notes or underlines the most important ideas with multicolored pens.

I have my own approach as well. I decompose the learning process into four specific acts which are fairly simple but not so obvious:

1. Perception
2. Understanding
3. Memorization
4. Usage

I believe, that If you pay attention to all of these points, it will provide good results in any area you want to get into.

That was a quick answer to the main question of the article. More details are down below 👇🏼

The main learning stages

Typically, people imagine that learning new things means memorizing something new. Yes and no. Indeed, the amount of data you get is an objective rate of learning success. But obviously, there are many more hidden things like goals, motivation, good sources, perception, and more. We used to unknowingly omit them, but they all play a significant role. Let’s start from the beginning.

Step 0 — preparation

Goals

Before starting classes, ask yourself, “Why am I doing this?” and “What do I want to achieve by doing this?”. If you can’t get a meaningful answer, relax — you do not actually need it. And that’s okay. Find something else.

I cannot imagine how many people suffer because of making the wrong choice. It’s hard to admit you messed up when you did a lot of hard work. So choose consciously. This is really important.

The System

Now you have realized your goals. So, here’s the start! Not really. The first step is to prepare a learning system that is suitable for you. I believe starting right away is pretty silly. In the long run, the lack of thoughtful structure is ineffective.

I suppose a good learning system should include four main parts:

• suitable learning approaches

Some people like the text format, some need illustrations to create an image in their minds. Determine which source you prefer. Find yours.

• good sources

Thanks to the internet, we have a lot of information. Or — however, as the saying goes, “more” is not necessarily “better”. It is important to find the information you can trust. Before you start exploring, do a little research to help you to build a strong knowledge base.

• specific learning goals

You have to realize what you really want, specifically, not in general. Clarify every step.

• certain deadlines

Learning something big is not an ordinary task. You should have deadlines to control your progress.

Step 1 — Perception

After you’ve made some preparations, it is time to get started. So you’ve found good sources. What’s next? It might seem a little odd to you. What do you mean by “what’s next”? Just open the book and read it! As usual, it is not that simple. Yes, I can read a 10-chapter or 50-page tutorial, but what’s the point? Do I clearly understand what I just read?

We used to think that the learning process looks like concentrated hard work for several hours. Yes, it is hard work, but it does not have to be exhausting.

Our brain works in 2 ways — focused and unfocused. The focused mode is pretty well known to us. All our consciousness is directed towards understanding a new idea. Sometimes we can feel it physically through a headache. During this process, the brain creates new neural connections step by step.

Unfocused mode is very underrated. Most people haven’t even heard of it. Ever feel like you cannot find the solution for several hours? But next day after night, the solution seems to come by itself.

I remember trying to learn how to play the guitar. In the beginning, my fingers didn’t follow me, so I changed chords very slowly. But one day I noticed I could do it automatically, and I no longer thought about how exactly I put chord position.

So, we should know that our brains do not shut down after hard work. It keeps going and analyzing the problem, activating new areas that are not available in focused mode. For example, the popular Pomodoro technique is based on this mode change rule. When you keep track of your work hours and take breaks, it allows the brain to use two modes, which is more efficient.

The main takeaway about perception is that learning is not reduced to focus mode. Changing activities, doing exercises, and getting enough sleep will ensure that new information is effectively memorized and analyzed

Step 2 — Understanding

Understanding is key in learning. This is the first goal to turn external information into real knowledge.

Here’s a trick we always get caught up in. How do we know we understand?

There is a method that can help us define the illusion of understanding called the Feynman Technique.

Richard Feynman was a Nobel Prize-winning physicist. But he is well known as a great lecturer. He could explain really difficult topics in simple terms. He realized that jargon, vague words, and complexity reveal a lack of understanding.

So his method is pretty simple. If you think you understand something well, try explaining it to a 12-year-old using simple words without jargon.

Using this method, we can find knowledge gaps and come to a real understanding, which is why it is helpful.

Step 3 — Memorization

It is not enough to understand something. We need knowledge not just to say “Yes, I understand”, but also for using it in the future, so we cannot avoid the memorization stage.

There is a great number of ways and approaches to memorizing information. I want to mention the basic rules.

Firstly, it’s important to understand that we memorize the things we repeat. Neuronal connections are not static. If they are not used, one day they will fade away. Spaced repetition allows making connections stronger.

The second rule of memorization, which I find the most important, is about how exactly you do the repetitions. It is counterproductive to just reread notes several times. Neural connections only get stronger when you retrieve information from memory over and over again. So before the next lesson, try to remember everything you learned last time by yourself. In this case, our brain “thinks” something like, “All right, this is certainly an important thing. I have to memorize this.”

Step 4 — Usage

This step concerns the use of the received information. We do not learn simply to collect random facts. Using information is the end result of all previous efforts. So, if you did a good job, you can use your knowledge anywhere and anytime.

If you do not use your knowledge or skills, neural connections get weakened and destroyed. The brain does not want to waste energy on unnecessary stuff. So do not forget to keep your knowledge up to date.

I hope this article helps you start learning new things the most efficient way. There are many more interesting facts, life hacks, techniques, so you can do your own research.

And good luck on your journey!