KSS eKourier July 2022

TRAINING

10 STEPS TO BECOME A BETTER LEARNER the mistakes were close to the actual answer was actually a helpful part of the learning process.

covered on the test.

something is to teach it to someone else. Remember your year six presenta- tion? By teaching the rest of the class, your teacher hoped you would gain even more from the assignment. You can apply the same principle today by sharing newly learned skills and knowledge with others. Start by translating the information into your own words. This process alone helps solidify new knowledge in your brain. Next, find some way to share what you’ve learned. 5 Build on Previous Learning Another great way to become a more effective learner is to use relational learning, which involves relating new information to things that you already know. new vocabulary and grammar you are learning with what you already know about your native language or other languages you may already speak. 6 Gain Practical Experience For many of us, learning typically involves reading textbooks, podcasts, classes or doing research online. While seeing information and then writing it down is important, actually putting new knowledge and skills into practice can be one of the best ways to improve learning. If it is a sport, athletic skill or instrument perform the activity on a regular basis. If you are learning a new language, practice speaking with another person and surround yourself with language- immersion experiences. Watch foreign- language films and strike up conversa - tions with native speakers to practice your budding skills. 7 Don't Be Afraid to Make Mistakes Research suggests that making mistakes when learning can improve learning outcomes. According to one study, trial-and-error learning where For example, if you are learning a new language, you might associate the

This phenomenon, known as the testing effect, suggests that spending time retrieving information from memory improves the long-term memory of that information. This retrieval practice makes it more likely that you will be able to remember that information again in the future. Stop Multitasking For many years, it was thought that people who multitask (perform more than one activity at once) had an edge over those who did not. However, research now suggests that multitasking can actually make learning less effective. Multitasking involves trying to do more than one thing at the same time. It can also involve quickly switching back and forth between tasks or trying to rapidly perform tasks one after the other. According to research, doing this not only makes people less produc- tive when they work but also impairs attention and reduces comprehension. Multitasking when you are studying makes it harder to focus on the information and reduces how much you understand it. Research has also found that media multitasking, or dividing attention between different media sources, can also have a detrimental impact on learning and academic performance. SUMMARY If you want to know how to learn, it is important to explore learning techniques that have been shown to be effective. Strategies such as boosting your memory and learning in multiple ways can be helpful. Regularly learning new things, using distributed practice and testing yourself can also be helpful in becoming a more efficient learner.

Another study found that mistakes followed by corrective feedback can be beneficial to learning. So if you make a mistake when learning something new, spend some time correcting the mistake and examining how you arrived at the incorrect answer. IF YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW TO LEARN, IT IS IMPORTANT TO EXPLORE LEARNING TECHNIQUES THAT HAVE BEEN SHOWN TO BE EFFECTIVE This strategy can help foster critical thinking skills and make you more adaptable in learning situations that require being able to change your mind. 8 Use Distributed Practice Another strategy that can help is known as Distributed Practice. Instead of trying to cram all of your learning into a few long study sessions, try a brief, focused session, and then take a break. So if you were learning a new language, you might devote a period of time to an intensive session of studying. After a break, you would then come back and rehearse your previous learning while also extending it to new learning. This process of returning for brief sessions over a long period of time is one of the best ways to learn efficiently and effectively. 9 Take Tests While it may seem that spending more time studying is one of the best ways to maximise learning, research has demonstrated that taking tests actually helps you better remember what you've learned, even if it wasn't ‘ ‘

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Wayne Brown Learning & Development Manager

19 Kennards Kourier July 2022