Caribbean STEM Coaching Club 2022 Parents Share Perspectives on Learning How To Learn

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According to the World Economic Forum, by 2025, 40% of current workers’ core skills will need to change and 50% of all employees will need to reskill altogether for new careers.  Those who choose to upskill and reskill are likely to benefit from a wealth of lucrative new and emerging opportunities.

We recognise that learning how to learn fast, effectively, and enjoyably to keep pace with a fast and constantly changing world of work must be one of the most important skills nowadays. And we want this skill for ourselves and, of course, for our kids.

We recognise there is no “one size fits all”.  Different brains learn differently and we all need to be sufficiently self-aware to know how best our own brains learn. Nonetheless,  we see value in sharing top tips by world-leading researchers.  Here are a few:

Know how the brain learns

Advances in neuroscience have given us greater insights into how the brain works. We now know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the brain is very malleable. When faced with new challenges and opportunities to learn and adapt, our neurons grow new connections and our brains get stronger. This is neuroplasticity. Researchers suggest the following:

1.Learning how to learn is about finding effective ways to build new neural connections in the brain that can store a concept or fact in long-term memory.

2. The brain learns in two ways: by going into “focus mode” and “diffuse mode”. You need both to learn well. When you focus on learning and then turn your mind to something else, the brain subconsciously continues to process, problem-solve, and form new neural connections.  That is why regular breaks, distractions, hobbies, exercise, and, of course, sleep are so important.

3. When building new neural connections that will put facts or concepts into long-term memory, it will be hard at first.  But if we keep at it, it will get easier over time – like learning to ride a bike, drive a car or play the piano.  We have to be comfortable moving through that initial difficult phase and learn to persist through it.

4. Tackling simple information or concepts will build new but small neural links.  Tackling hard concepts will build stronger, large links.  So don’t always take the easy way out!

5. It’s not always about hard work; sometimes we need to explore and find different learning strategies that work.

The “Pomodoro Strategy”

Try mixing up the focus mode and diffuse mode in the following way:

  1. Use a timer
  2. Remove all distractions
  3. Concentrate very hard for 25 minutes
  4. Reward yourself with anything that is pleasant – music, TV, phone, whatever you enjoy.

The Recall Strategy

  1. Study a page
  2. Underline a few keywords
  3. Look away
  4. Recall by talking to yourself or someone else
  5. Recall by writing – but make sure you look away.

Practice makes permanent

1 Space study over several days at regular intervals.  This has the effect of utilising both the focus mode and the diffuse mode to form stronger neural connections and rewire your brain.  What you learn will go into the long-term memory.

2. Avoid “cramming”. When you cram you just use the focus mode so what you learn does not go into the long-term memory.  It would be easily forgotten.

3. Look over notes as soon as possible, – and again and again at regular, spaced intervals.  Discuss and explain what you are learning to someone.  This will store what you learn in the long-term memory.

Apply what you learn as soon as possible

  1. The 19th century German psycholohgist Hermann Ebbinghaus’ work on “The Forgetting Curve” is still considered relevant today.  He found that if new information is not applied, we will typically foget about 75% after just six days.
  2. Simply understanding a concept does not put it in the long-term memory; applying and practicing the concept do.
  3. Any kind of activity helps us to learn more effectively: discussion, practice, teaching, talking to yourself, handwriting, action style video games (just don’t get addicted!)
  4. Where Maths in concerned, “little and often” in terms of Maths practice is typically what works.
  5. 2021 research on upskilling in the workplace suggests that only 10% of workplace learning is derived from formal courses. 20% is derived from from interactions with others, and 70% from job related experiences.

The “Hard Start” technique

This is important for homework and exams. It plays into using both the focus and diffuse modes of the brain effectively.

  1. Look over the paper
  2. Pick out the hardest problem first
  3. Try  it until you get stuck
  4. When stuck, leave it and try an easy one or two
  5. Then go back to the hard problem.

This enables the diffuse mode of your brain to take over.  It also builds confidence and you are more likely to crack the hard problem in the end.

Useful reading

  1. Coursera: Learning How To Learn For Youth 
  2. Mckinsey: The Most Fundamental Skill: Intentional Learning and the Career Advantage
  3. FutureLearn: How To Learn Online
  4. Journey 2021 People Development Report

© Penny Carballo-Smith, 28 February 2022.

Since 2015, the Caribbean STEM Coaching Club has been equipping UK families of African and Caribbean heritage to thrive in our new, fast-changing world of work. The Club is a joint venture between three Caribbean-led Not-For-Profits: Future Think, The Caribbean Diaspora for Science, Technology & Innovation (UK), and The British Foundation for the University of the West Indies.