‘We learn more by looking for the answer to a question and not finding it than we do from learning the answer itself.’ ~Lloyd Alexander
By Leo Babauta, Education Expert at learns.edu.vn
As an educator and a passionate learner myself, I’ve dedicated years to exploring the fascinating world of learning. My journey as a homeschooling parent (assisting my wife Eva), and as an instructor in online courses covering habits, writing, and mindful living, has provided invaluable firsthand experience. Beyond formal teaching, my personal pursuits – from mastering breadmaking to delving into languages, wine appreciation, chess strategies, writing techniques, and fitness regimes – have constantly enriched my understanding of how we truly acquire knowledge.
Through this dual lens of teaching and continuous self-education, I’ve Learned About some fundamental truths regarding the learning process. Two key insights stand out, essentially reflecting different facets of the same core principle:
- The vast majority of my significant knowledge wasn’t gained within the traditional confines of a school setting.
- Similarly, the most impactful learning experienced by my students and children has been self-initiated and independently driven.
These observations, stemming from extensive personal experience and pedagogical reflection, have profound implications for how we approach learning and education. Let’s delve into some of these implications, hoping to offer valuable perspectives for anyone seeking to enhance their learning journey.
The Essence of Independent Learning
A cornerstone of the Unschooling philosophy, which resonates deeply with our family’s approach to education, is the understanding that learning isn’t about passively receiving information on prescribed subjects. It’s fundamentally about fostering an environment where children, and indeed all learners, take ownership of their educational path. Learning thrives when it’s fueled by genuine interest and intrinsic motivation, not by external mandates or imposed curricula.
My own adult learning experiences mirror this principle perfectly. Reflecting on my school years, while I appreciate the dedication of my teachers, I often found myself disengaged when the material felt disconnected from my personal interests. I would often resort to simply fulfilling the minimum requirements to pass assessments, not because the subject matter was inherently dull, but because it lacked personal relevance. The motivation to learn stemmed from external pressure (“I should learn this”) rather than internal drive (“I want to learn this”). True learning ignites when we are genuinely captivated, when we perceive a subject as deeply interesting or essential for achieving a personally meaningful goal.
The moments when teachers truly succeeded in engaging me were those when they sparked a genuine curiosity, making a subject so compelling that I became invested in exploring it further. However, even then, the deepest learning invariably occurred outside the structured classroom environment – in the quiet corners of the library, or during solitary study sessions at home. It was in those self-directed moments that I truly absorbed and integrated the knowledge.
This highlights a crucial point: passively listening to instructions or explanations is not true learning. Real learning emerges when we actively engage with the subject matter, when we put knowledge into practice. It’s in the act of doing – experimenting, applying, creating – that superficial understanding transforms into genuine mastery. The learning process is iterative; it involves trial and error, navigating challenges, and refining our approach based on experience. It’s in grappling with these practical problems and finding solutions that deep understanding is forged.
The most effective educators intuitively understand this. They prioritize inspiring curiosity and facilitating opportunities for students to actively apply their learning. They act as guides and mentors, igniting the spark of interest and then empowering learners to embark on their own journey of discovery.
As an adult learner, I’ve learned about the power of self-directed exploration. Information passively consumed through reading or lectures often fades quickly. But the knowledge gained through active application – by experimenting, practicing, creating, and sharing – becomes deeply ingrained. This is the knowledge that endures and shapes our skills and understanding.
My understanding of blogging, for instance, wasn’t born from reading countless articles about blogging strategies. It emerged from the hands-on experience of consistently blogging for years. Similarly, my students who have successfully integrated habits, decluttered their lives, embraced meditation, or started their own blogs, didn’t do so simply by absorbing my lectures. Their transformation came from putting the principles into practice – forming a simple habit, systematically decluttering their homes, committing to daily meditation, or consistently creating blog content.
The essence of true learning lies in this active engagement – in the movement of fingers, the rhythm of dance, the act of creation. It’s in the doing, not just the hearing or reading, that knowledge truly takes root and blossoms.
Cultivating the Learning Mindset: A Guide for Learners and Educators
The primary role of an educator, therefore, is to ignite fascination within the learner. Fascination becomes the catalyst for learning. Once that spark of interest is kindled, the next step is to guide the learner towards actively engaging with the subject matter.
This principle applies equally whether you’re teaching others or embarking on a journey of self-education. To effectively learn, or to effectively teach, consider these strategies:
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Spark Fascination: As an educator, your initial task is to reawaken your own initial fascination with the subject and share that enthusiasm with your students. If you yourself lack genuine interest, it’s challenging to inspire it in others. Passion is contagious. How do you cultivate fascination? Often, engaging with a subject in service of others, or exploring the journeys of those who have excelled in the field, can reignite or deepen your own enthusiasm.
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Immerse Yourself Deeply: Once fascinated, dive in wholeheartedly. Utilize every available resource. The internet, libraries, and even used bookstores are treasure troves of knowledge. Explore online resources, communities, and forums related to your area of interest. If resources are scarce, consider contributing to the knowledge base by creating your own.
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Embrace Action in Small Steps: Taking the leap from theoretical knowledge to practical application can feel daunting. Start small, break down complex tasks into manageable steps. Minimize the perceived risk of failure by focusing on building foundational skills and celebrating small victories. Prioritize enjoyment and ease in the initial stages to build momentum and confidence.
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Infuse Playfulness into the Process: Learning should not feel like a chore. It should be an enjoyable exploration. If learning feels like a burden, sustained engagement becomes difficult. Make learning playful. Incorporate games, challenges, and creative activities. Celebrate your progress and share your newfound skills with others with enthusiasm and joy.
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Learn in Community: While much of deep learning is an individual journey, learning alongside others can significantly enhance the experience. Collaborate with peers, join study groups, or find a learning partner. Sharing the learning process with others provides motivation, diverse perspectives, and a sense of shared purpose. Engaging with others in the learning process can fuel your motivation and provide valuable accountability.
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Allow for Exploration and Detours: Learning is rarely linear. It’s natural to delve deeply into a topic for a period and then feel drawn to explore something else. Embrace this ebb and flow of interest. Passion often manifests in bursts of intense focus followed by periods of exploration in related areas. Allow yourself the freedom to wander and pursue emerging curiosities.
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Embrace Depth Over Time: While initial forays into a subject can yield significant understanding within weeks, true expertise develops over months and years of dedicated practice. Recognize that mastery is a long-term commitment. To balance exploration with in-depth learning, consider exploring different facets within a broader topic. For example, within the vast world of wine, you might initially explore various wine regions, then delve into specific varietals, and subsequently focus on particular producers or vintages. This allows for both breadth and depth of learning. You can also step away from a topic and return to it later with renewed enthusiasm, building upon your existing foundation.
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Test Your Understanding: Regularly assess your knowledge. Formal testing can be a structured approach to identify knowledge gaps and reinforce learning. However, learning through play and application can also serve as a form of self-assessment. Engage in activities that require you to apply your learned about knowledge and observe the outcomes. This practical application provides valuable feedback and reveals areas for further development.
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Cultivate a Discerning Mind: Don’t passively accept information, even from experts. Question assumptions, explore alternative perspectives, and critically evaluate the information you encounter. Disagreement, when approached constructively, can be a powerful catalyst for deeper learning. By challenging existing ideas, you force yourself to think more deeply and formulate your own understanding. Even if your initial disagreement proves to be based on a misunderstanding, the process of critical analysis significantly enhances your comprehension. Embrace intellectual humility and be open to revising your views as you learn more.
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Become a Teacher: One of the most effective ways to solidify your own understanding is to teach others. Sharing your knowledge forces you to organize your thoughts, articulate concepts clearly, and anticipate potential points of confusion. Teaching reveals gaps in your own understanding and necessitates deeper reflection and synthesis of the material. You don’t need to be an expert to teach; even sharing beginner-level knowledge with someone new to a topic can significantly deepen your own grasp of it.
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Recognize Subliminal Learning: Our minds are constantly absorbing information, often unconsciously. We are not always consciously aware of everything we are learning in the moment. Expose yourself to a rich and diverse range of information related to your area of interest and trust that your mind is processing and absorbing more than you may consciously realize. Later, you may be surprised to discover knowledge or insights emerging from this subliminal learning process.
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Reflect Through Writing: The act of writing about what you’ve learned about is a powerful tool for reflection and synthesis. Blogging, journaling, or even simply writing notes summarizing your learning process forces you to organize your thoughts, articulate your understanding, and identify areas for further exploration. Sharing your reflections with others can also spark valuable discussions and further deepen your learning.
‘The only thing that interferes with my learning is my education.’ ~Albert Einstein
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