Learn any subject faster and better – Economical learning techniques 2

In the first post in this series, I introduced you to a concept of accelerated learning I call Economical Learning. If you have not already, you can read that post here. In summary, I shared with you why starting with clarity on what you need to learn, or start with duh, is more important than the actual act of learning as it directs your efforts going forward.

In this post, I talk a little more about this and introduce the next stage of the Economical Learning model. Let us begin.

Second step of Economical Learning - The Pre-determination and deliberation step

Most people jump this step but that is a mistake. For a lot of professionals, once they identify (albeit in fuzzy terms) what knowledge or skill they lack, they jump online inserting keywords into search engines, browsing books, courses and program brochures, in search of the one they can take to address the knowledge gap.

There is a problem with this approach though – it lacks deliberation. And deliberation on your learning – especially the desired outcomes – is crucial to Economic Learning.

Quick Poll

Raise your hand if you have ever passed through a course or read a book that was meant to prepare you for a career or impart some skill for a specific role or job function only for you to start the job and have to re-learn it all over again. Unfortunately, for most of us, this is called school.

You can put your hand down now.

Water gun or Sniper Rifle

What happened? Was the course a bad course? Maybe. Was the instructor uninteresting? Perhaps. But my money is on the ticket that says that you were not crystal clear about what exactly you were going to get out of the course or book. You shot your energy in many different directions probably making decent grades or getting the overall gist of the material but not coming away with any tangible improvements in ability. As a result, you were like a kid with a water gun instead of a trained sniper. And it is this ability to attain a clear focus on your desired outcome that is at the core of any successful learning experience.

Begin with the end in mind

The late and great Stephen Covey—author of the iconic Seven Habits of Highly Effective People advises that we begin with the end in mind when embarking on any worthwhile effort.

This is what the predetermination step is all about. The predetermination stage involves thoughtfully outlining what exactly you need to glean from any learning effort you embark on.

For example, whenever I am called upon to deliver a keynote, I will do a lot of reading (and re-reading) in line with the theme of the client’s event. I have my general theme of expertise but, to ensure the presentation is tailored and impactful, I often read specific material. By clearly predetermining the purpose of my study – identify industry trends, extract relevant statistics or quotes, mine relevant inspirational stories etc. – I am MUCH more focused during my study and can quickly qualify (and disqualify) certain books (or certain chapters of books), courses etc.

In other words, I am extremely clear about what I am diving in for. It also helps me to quickly recognize it when I see it and to document it for later review.

You can do the same. By predetermining what you need to gain from an educational effort guided by your reverse epiphany, you will ask the right questions of the information you interact with and good questions produce good answers.

But what questions do you ask?

Critical Questions

During the predetermination stage here are the two questions I think are most important:What do I need to know?What do I need to be able to do?

With these questions clarified, you have a solid start. You can choose your strategy – book, course, educational provider, format etc.

For example, if you need to be able to build a wooden bench, then getting a civil engineering degree at a university is probably overkill. Also, it does not guarantee that you will be able to perform the task. Reading a book on the subject is probably not enough. An online video course on bench-building is better – but not by much. You are probably best off taking a weekend workshop at a local technical or trades college with a capstone project that involves, well, building a bench.

Ease of assessment of learning? Check. Most economical use of resources? Double check.

Other important questions

Of course, there are extensions of these questions to consider depending on your motivation for learning – can I get (or change) jobs with this skill or knowledge? How much more could I earn? Would this education enable an upward or simply a sideways move within my organization? Will these skills improve my relationship with my significant other?

All these are valid questions but they depend on the two foundational questions – what will I know and what will I be able to do? And from my experience and observations, even though the first question is foundational, the second question is more important for practical uses.

In the next post, I will introduce you to an easy set of statements that will help prepare you mentally to get the most out of your studies. These are not affirmations like “I can do it!” Affirmations have their place but these are an extension of pre-determination that will boost your effectiveness when you actually begin to engage the material.

Till the next post, be your best. And do your best.