Learning to learn ensures that you make best use of all your cognitive functions.
In the 21st Century, the new disadvantaged will be those who do not have the capacity to learn. They will sink, unable to change and adapt as they are flooded with ever more information and change. But learning is about more than just getting by in a changing world. Our ability to learn is what makes us human: we are born curious and our ability to continue learning is what defines us – as individuals, as communities and as societies. Learning can bring you, your family, your organisation and your community any number of benefits. Knowing that the brain is malleable and has the potential to continuously generate associations and connections is key.
Learning how to learn is therefore a crucial process in which we should all engage throughout our lives. Often we concentrate on what we are learning rather than how we are learning it.
The most important aspect of learning how to learn is that you really do need to actively think about your learning. Two main things will probably affect your approach to learning:
- your motivation
The reasons why you are engaged in a particular course of study? What you want to gain from studying may be something very specific, like promotion; or perhaps very personal, like increased self-confidence.
- your learning history
We all have a learning history that has both positive and negative experiences. Maybe the reason your learning did not go too well was nothing to do with the topic or the activity, but simply that you had had a difficult day and found it impossible to concentrate.
It is likely that you will have some emotional feelings about why you learnt successfully or otherwise. Emotions and feelings are often part of our learning.
All learning has an affective component (to do with feelings) as well as a cognitive one (to do with thinking). Recognising this – and resolving any tensions in our feelings about learning – is an important part of learning how to learn.