This week we are debunking a common myth about learning — and figuring out what actually helps us be more efficient learners!

Scientists have long studied how we learn. One popular theory, called the VARK theory, emerged to try to help people understand their learning preferences.

This theory suggests that each person each person learns best when they receive information a certain way:

• Visual (V)

• Aural/Auditory (A)

• Reading/Writing (R), and

• Kinesthetic (K)  

This theory led to two basic assumptions: 

1. Everyone has a measurable and consistent learning style that falls into one of these 4 categories (or a combination of them).

2. Appealing to your learning style will improve learning outcomes. In other words, if you are a visual learner, you will learn best if you see things. If you are a kinesthetic learner, you will learn best when you move around.

Sounds great, right?

Research has actually shown that learning is incredibly complex and variable, and there is not a strong connection between understanding your learning style and improved learning outcomes.

One major pitfall with thinking that we learn best in one way is that we become passive learners, who are at the mercy of how learning is presented to us.

In fact, your learning is in your control. And, knowing what makes learning feel accessible and fun for you is still important — there’s just more to the story.

In this guide, we’ll learn more about what actually impacts your learning and share practical tips that you can immediately integrate into your life, whether you are learning in an academic setting, for personal growth, or just for the pure fun of it!

A Learning Mindset

Many of us have topics we want to learn about but encounter barriers along the way.

Ever heard someone say:

• “I’m not a math person” 

• “I’m not smart enough” 

• “That’s too hard”

• “You’re either born with it or you’re not”

Or maybe you do think you can learn but you struggle with procrastination or maintaining consistency. Whatever your barriers are, they create limiting beliefs that all say: “I don’t have what it takes to learn.”

Therefore, shifting your mindset to believing that you have what it takes to learn is one of the best ways to improve learning outcomes. Otherwise, any strategies or tips will fall apart once you encounter barriers that confirm those limiting beliefs.

The good news is, we can shift our mindset around learning!

4 strategies for improving your learning mindset:

• Carefully observe the qualities of joyful, energetic learning experiences

• Instead of avoiding, get curious about difficult learning experiences

• Bring play and creativity to the learning process

• Try saying “I don’t know this YET” to leave room for learning and growth

Focused Mode vs Diffuse Mode

Have you ever had great ideas when you’ve stepped away from your work, like when you’re on a walk, doodling, or taking a shower? There’s a reason for this!

Neuroscientists have discovered that the brain operates in two modes: focused mode and diffuse mode.

Most of us are more familiar with focused mode, which involves us giving intense, narrowed attention to a particular subject. You can think of it as a spotlight that shines on the most important information. This is where we create neural pathways in the brain that connect information.

Diffuse mode, on the other hand, is when our brains are allowed to wander. You can think of it as a more subtle, dim light that allows you to see a larger surface area. This is where you can get a big-picture perspective, get into creative problem-solving, and connect previous learning. This is why we take breaks during our work sprints!

We can’t be in both modes at the same time, but we need both for effective learning!

Illusions of Competence

"Illusions of Competence" refers to passive learning activities that lead us to think we are learning but we are not actually deeply retaining the information.

In order to truly learn, we need to employ strategies that allow information to be stored in our long-term memory.

Here are 3 ways we can fall into Illusions of Competence:

1. Reading, listening, or watching a way to solve a problem and thinking that we have internalized the solution. 

2. Excessively highlighting and underlining while reading. 

3. Cramming information over and over in one study session.

There is also a concept called Einstellung, in which your initial idea you already have in mind or a neural pattern you've already developed and strengthened, may prevent a better idea or solution from being found.

What can we do instead?

• Minimize highlighting and underlining. Mark up the big ideas of the text and synthesize key concepts with annotations in the margins.

• Recall the information without looking at the source. An example is challenging your brain to remember a fact instead of asking Google or Siri.

• Try "spaced repetition." Expose yourself to the learning material day after day, when your brain has had time to rest and process. This moves information from short-term memory to long-term memory.

Supercharge Your Learning

We’re going to wrap up with 4 practical tips to help you supercharge your learning!

#1 — Integrate multiple modalities of learning

Audio, video, text, or even a conversation with a friend can help solidify information and help you think about it from different angles.

#2 — Create your own analogy or metaphor for a particular concept

This can help things make sense to you personally (e.g. the flow of electricity is like the flow of water). Choosing an analogy that is relatable to your own life is a great way to personalize your learning to make it really stick.

#3: Work in Pomodoros

Just like we do here at focused space! In case you don’t know, “Pomodoro” is the Italian word for tomato (named for the kitchen timer of the same shape!). A pomodoro is 25-minutes, followed by a 5-minute break. Breaks allow for diffused learning, which means our brains are allowed to wander to make connections. Giving yourself a reward at the end can help boost motivation.

#4 — Don’t forget the basics

Sleep, exercise, and eating things that give you energy and make you feel good — Sleep is one way our brains get into diffuse mode. Exercise helps neurons stay alive and healthy. Foods like leafy greens, berries, and fatty fish are associated with increased brain health.

We hope this week's theme helped you learn more about your own learning! Remember, it all starts with the right mindset. Your learning is in your control, and believing that you have what it takes to learn is one of the best ways to improve learning outcomes.

See you around some of the sessions this week!

— Kaila, focused space host