Mastering a new skill can be a challenging act to break into, but there are many clear advantages to learning. You’re committing to keeping your brain focused and sharp, while setting healthy challenges that can help further your career and enrich your life in the long run.
Having a clear study plan in place is a first step towards learning a new skill. These top tips will help you accelerate the learning process and help to identify which learning strategies will serve you best.
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1. Become the teacher
One effective strategy for learning a new skill effectively, is to teach the material to someone else. Research suggests that explaining concepts to others helps with understanding and retaining information. When you prepare to teach someone else, you organise and process the information more thoroughly,
2. Ditch the device for a pen and paper
While typing notes on a laptop is faster and is how many of us navigate reading/writing in the digital age, writing by hand does still boast clear advantages for studying.
Writing by hand can improve comprehension and retention. Studies have shown that students who take handwritten notes tend to process information more deeply and perform better in recognising key concepts. This is because handwriting forces you to summarise and paraphrase information, enhancing understanding.
Unsplash / Kelly Sikkema
3. Change up your learning method frequently
Changing the way you learn often can enhance learning efficiency. According to Johns Hopkins University, varying your approach to practice can lead to better performance. Switch up learning techniques by using a mix of flashcards, mind maps, and summaries.
You can also alternate between different types of practice sessions, such as listening, speaking, reading, and writing when learning a language. This variation helps your brain adapt, keeps you engaged, and reinforces knowledge through different angles.
4. Try micro-learning
If you find the workload of learning overwhelming, try dividing complex skills into smaller, manageable components to make it less daunting. This approach is known as micro-learning, and it helps you tackle one part at a time.
For example, when learning to write a book, start with short articles or chapters, then gradually increase their length and complexity.
This method makes the process more achievable and allows you to build confidence and competence step by step
Unsplash / Kaitlyn Baker
Learning a new skill quickly is not about shortcuts but about adopting effective strategies. If you’re interested in taking up a new skill that could deepen your understanding, sharpen your focus and potentially unlock new doors for you, e-learning (taking an online course) is a great place to start.
There are a number of great online classes to choose from online. Have a look at Daddy’s Deals for accredited courses at a bargain.
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Feature Image: Unsplash / Unseen Studio
