Learning is a lifelong process that doesn’t end after graduating from school or university. As you progress through this journey called “life,” you acquire new knowledge from multiple sources. Learning has many benefits but the biggest benefit of all is its ability to make you a well-rounded individual. Here are 10 practical tips to help you become a more effective learner.
Seek Knowledge
If there is one thing you take away from this blog post, it should be this one. You need to have the desire to seek knowledge and acquire new skills. If there is no willingness to learn, you will never become an effective learner. It’s as simple as that.
Ask Questions
Don’t hesitate to ask questions because you don’t know the answers to everything. Also, don’t shy away from having discussions and debates with people around you. It will give you a new perspective and enhance the learning process.
Be a Voracious Reader
If you have never been a reader while growing up and perceive reading to be a chore, it’s time to change your mentality. With reading materials available in a variety of formats and topics, cultivate a reading habit by reading on topics that interests you. A good habit to adopt is to read the news and current affairs. Not only will you be more aware of what’s happening around you but also learn new things in the process.
Be an Attentive Listener
If you are the type of person who likes to dominate a conversation and impose your point of view on others, you are limiting your learning scope. Instead, take a step back and truly listen to what others have to say. You will be amazed by how much knowledge you can gain just by listening.
Embrace Discomfort
Step out from your comfort zone and take on new challenges and risks. It’s this ability to embrace continuous discomfort that separates high achievers from everyone else. If you are having too easy a time, you are doing it wrong.
Have an Open Mind
If you are too set in your ways, you inhibit the flow of information and new ideas to your brain. Our world is constantly involving and so should you.
Find Your Preferred Learning Style
We all know someone who absorbs knowledge like a sponge but the reality is, we can’t all be sponges. Therefore, it’s imperative to figure out what your optimal learning style is. For example, some people are visual learners while others learn best through listening. There are no set guidelines to learning so just figure out which one is the right one for you.
Do Not Memorize
Memorizing may help you score high in exams but it is only short-term knowledge. True learning occurs when you understand the logic behind concepts. If you don’t understand a particular concept, the best thing to do is to refer to Tip #2 and ask questions.
Practice, practice, practice
It is difficult to overstate the value of practice. For a new skill to become automatic or for new knowledge to become long-lasting, sustained practice is necessary. As they say, practice makes perfect.
Learn How to Multi-task Properly
Don’t get us wrong – multi-tasking is a useful skill to have but sometimes it can lead to an information overload which kills effective learning. The human brain possesses amazing computing abilities but like all processors, it can only do so much. To maximise learning time, prioritise what goals you have in learning and know those out first before moving on to others.
With a number of courses (pre-employment programs, training and apprenticeships & traineeships ) available through Skill Hire, you can pursue a career path that interests you. The above-mentioned learning tips will not only make you an effective learner but also a well-rounded individual so start applying these tips to your everyday life today.
On a concluding note, the below quote from Sir John Templeton perfectly summates the value of learning:
“A day without learning is a day wasted. There is no much to learn and so little time to learn it.”
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