Learn Better summary

We've seen how effective some learning strategies can be, as well as how they can make learning more fun. But learning can be made more effective still by using the six steps of learning.

The first step is all about value. If you can make the skills or knowledge you're learning valuable and meaningful, you’ll be much more driven to take initiative and persevere.

The story goes that Isaac Newton suddenly grasped the law of universal gravitation after an apple fell on his head. But you can’t rely on such eureka moments in real life.

Learning breakthroughs come from setting targets. And that’s what step two is all about: breaking up larger goals into smaller goals, or targets, that you can focus on one at a time.

Have you ever practiced a presentation in front of a friend before the big day? It’s a common thing to do, and with good reason. Being evaluated by an audience is a fantastic way to improve.

That’s why the third step is to develop – that is, to hone your skills by getting feedback. After all, when you’re learning, you often don’t know in what areas you need to improve. Someone else’s perspective is bound to help in the long run, even if it feels like it’s slowing you down at the time.

You might think that renowned writers, artists or scientists were born to succeed in their respective fields. But, in reality, geniuses are forged in the crucible of continuous learning.

That’s step four in a nutshell – you’ve got to extend the knowledge you already possess. In other words, if you aspire to reach the highest echelons, you’ll have to constantly improve your understanding of a given topic.

It’s said that the best way to master a new skill is to practice it over and over again. But the problem is that practice alone isn’t actually all that efficient.

This is where step five comes in – you’ve got to relate. In other words, you have to develop an understanding of the relationship between concepts.

Have you ever found yourself driving around in circles for hours, just because you’re convinced you know how to get somewhere and are unwilling to ask for directions?

The sixth and final step encourages you to review your knowledge – to rethink – and thus prevent exactly this sort of mistake.