The SmarterThe Smarter

Learning GuideLearning Guide Elizabeth WrayElizabeth Wray

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The The Road Road

t o t o LearningLearning

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Your BodyYour BodyIt may appear that the mind is doing all the work when it comes to learning but we now know

that your body has a major influence on how effective your learning will be.

Take a breakTake a break

Although it might be tempting to slog away at something for hours on end without a break,

research has shown that we can only really concentrate on something for 20-25 minutes. You

need to take regular breaks when learning on your own. If you are learning in a class with

others it’s good for the whole class to spend ten minutes reviewing what they have learnt so far

– it will be time well spent.

Learn with the rhythmLearn with the rhythm

Our bodies do most things according to daily rhythms. Generally speaking, we absorb

completely new information better early in the day. Later in the day we are better at relating

information to what we already know. There is, however, no hard

and fast rule. Notice when you feel most alert and, if possible,

timetable your learning to fit your natural rhythms.

Sleeping is an important part of learning because it is during sleep

that we process what we have learnt. The time you spend sleeping is

some of your most important learning time. We need periods of deep profound rest if we are to

learn effectively. Some people require only 4-6 hours a night others need 8-10 hours.

Shoulders back!Shoulders back!

Don’t sit still at your desk for too long or your mind as well as your body can seize up! Stand up

for a few moments and move around, perhaps share your ideas with another person, this can

revive your attention and keep your mind fresh. It may sound old-fashioned, but sitting up

straight will make a difference to how well you can learn as it makes it easier for the blood to

flow to the brain.

FeedFeed your brainyour brain

According to an old saying, “what you eat today walks and talks tomorrow”.

Drinking plenty of water helps the circuits in our brain to work most

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effectively. Coffee, tea, sugar and alcohol all tend to reduce our ability to learn effectively. Make

sure you stay hydrated by drinking 6-8 glasses of water per day.

Relax!Relax!

It may seem like common sense, but research has now proven that stress reduces our learning

ability. So if you have just had a blazing row with your partner you can’t expect to be learning as

effectively as when you are relaxed. If you feel stressed when you are learning, take time out to

relax. Go for a walk, listen to your favourite music for a few minutes or practise relaxation

techniques such as yoga or deep breathing. Meditation has now been clinically proven to

produce a clear mind and strengthen the immune system. Guided meditation leads to an

experience of inner peace and mental clarity. This practice is derived from the Buddist tradition.

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Ways of Learning – Ways of Learning – how can I improve my learning?how can I improve my learning?

Sensory learningSensory learning

Although we have five senses we often use just two of them to learn: vision and hearing.

Learning becomes even more effective, however, when we use our sense of touch to do the

learning as well. For instance, if we are learning how to use a video recorder we will learn faster

if we touch the buttons as well as read the instruction book. If we can also taste and smell the

learning, so much the better. The majority of people in Western culture are visual learners and

that is due to the fact that we live in a highly visual stimulating society. For people who are blind,

the senses of touch, sound and taste become more attuned and developed as compensatory

mechanisms. To enhance memory the more senses that are involved deepens the learning and

the recall.

Making connections – the jigsaw puzzleMaking connections – the jigsaw puzzle

Have you ever tried to put together a large jigsaw puzzle without ever

seeing the picture on the lid? Even a quick glance at the complete picture

before you start helps enormously. Learning isolated topics without an

overview of the entire subject is a bit like doing a jigsaw without looking at

the picture. We learn better when we know how what we are learning now

is connected to what we have learnt before. This is pegging the learning

and making links to unrelated items – a powerful memory game links 19 unrelated items through

story telling and visualisation and laughter. Although this is a game, the learning principles are

powerful, sustainable and linked to methodologies like brain storming and tools like reverse logic

and mind mapping.

If what you are learning seems unconnected to anything else it is harder to take in and

remember. Make connections, either along or with a colleague to understand how what you are

learning fits in with the broader picture eg your organisation’s business plan or project plan.

The mind’s eye – visualisationThe mind’s eye – visualisation

Look at Johnny Wilkinson’s kicking ritual - looking for Doris in the crowd behind the goalposts –

he is completely focused on a successful kick bringing back his rehearsed memory of success ie

it is his inner game in his mind’s eye – sports psychologist use this mind-training extensively and

books like the Inner Game of Golf, The Inner Game of Tennis are hugely successful. This

technique is so successful because the brain can’t tell the difference between imagining an

activity and actually doing it. If this sounds far-fetched just imagine your favourite meal, a juicy

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steak or spicy curry. Did your mouth start watering? But you didn’t have the meal in front of

you. Your brain visualised the sensation of eating and your body responded.

In the same way, you can help your brain prepare for the task ahead by visualising successful

learning. Imagine sitting in the exam and calmly answering all the questions or teaching a friend

the skills you are learning.

MemoriesMemories

We all remember the rote learning we did at school. Endless repetition of Kings and Queens of

Britain went in one ear and out the other. We now know that rote learning is one of the least

effective methods of creating long term memories. Cast your mind back to what you really

remember from school. The memories that stuck are probably connected with an activity or an

emotion. You may remember a role in a play, or scoring a winning goal in an important football

match. When you connect learning with an activity, emotion or smell your memory will be much

stronger. This technique is in the domain of accelerated learning, which is now widely used in

schools.

Do you find that you remember the beginning and ending of a film, but not what happened in the

middle? This is because our brain remembers beginnings and endings better than what comes

in between. If you break up a memory task into many parts you will create more beginnings and

increase your chances of remembering.

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20%of what we read

30%of what we hear

40%of what we see

50%of what we say

60%of what we do

90%of what we see, hear, say & do

So don’t just read your list. Say it out loud and walk around acting it out. The more outlandish

the actions the more likely you are to remember. If you are a visual person, draw pictures of

what you are trying to remember. If you work better through your sense of hearing, make a tape

recording and play it back to yourself when you are driving.

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What type of learner am I?What type of learner am I?

Four types of learnerFour types of learner

How would you describe your learning style? When you were at school did your friends learn in

the same way that you did? If you and your partner are putting together some self-assembly

furniture, who carefully reads the instructions first and who jumps straight in and starts screwing

things together? Psychologists have identified four different learning styles. We normally have

a preferred learning style that is our natural way of learning but we can all improve our ability to

learn using the other styles.

Act ivist s like to leap up and have a go - they learn by doing

Reflectors like to think about things before having a go and to learn by watching others

Theor ist s like to understand the theory and to have a clear grasp of the concept before having a go

Pragmat ist s like to have some practical tips and techniques from someone with experience before having a go

While we probably prefer one style to another, to be a really effective learner you need to be

flexible enough to move between the four styles.

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FeelingsFeelingsIf you have unhappy memories of learning at school don’t let them affect your learning at work –

because it is completely different. In fact many people have been amazed at how different

learning can be from their school experiences.

MotivationMotivation

Motivation to learn is very personal. It may come from a love of the subject or you may have a

goal in mind that the learning will help you achieve. Or a friend or relative may inspire you.

Whatever your motivation it helps to visualise what will happen as a result of your learning. If

you are working towards a qualification, imagine receiving the certificate with your name on it. If

you are working on a new skill anticipate the satisfaction you will feel when you can breeze

through a task that you find difficult today.

Motivation maintains energy levels. If your energy level is low, check:

If you know why you are learning the subject

Whether the learning is enjoyable and feels unthreatening

Whether you believe you can achieve your learning goal

A five-year study was carried out of 120 top artists, athletes and scholars in America. University

of Chicago education professor, Benjamin Bloom, led the study. Dr Bloom reported “We

expected to find tales of great natural gifts. We didn’t find that at all. Their mothers often said it

was their other children who had the greater gift.” What the high achievers had was vision.

Eat the Elephant a bite at a timeEat the Elephant a bite at a time

Does it sometimes seem like you have bitten off more than you can

chew when you are learning something? It will help if you

break it down into bite-sized chunks. Set a small, reachable goal, one you

are sure you can complete. Then try and stretch yourself a bit more.

The longest journey starts with a single step. The first step is often the hardest but it can lead

you anywhere you want.

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Learning from MistakesLearning from Mistakes

Remember, if you’re not making mistakes then you are not really stretching yourself. Don’t feel

discouraged by your mistakes. They show that you really are learning. In fact many people will

tell you that they have learnt more from their mistakes than their triumphs.

Let’s work on the assumption that you are going to make mistakes while you are learning.

Create a support circle for yourself by telling friends, family and colleagues that you are learning

something new and you expect to make a few mistakes as you learn. Ask them if they would

mind chatting with you when you make a mistake to help you learn what you can from it. Recruit

a few experts in the area that you are learning and ask them if they will also spare you some

time to talk about your learning. The learning that results from our mistakes tends to ‘stick’

better than if we get everything right first time.

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How do I learn?How do I learn?

Multiple intelligences – nine ways to be cleverMultiple intelligences – nine ways to be clever

We have all heard of intelligence tests. They have been around a very long time. The first

intelligence test was developed during the early part of the last century. But there’s much more

to intelligence than IQ tests and formal qualifications. A brilliant footballer, a manager who can

really motivate a team and a passionate musician are all intelligent – even if they have never

passed an exam in their lives.

In the last ten years, science has begun to uncover the massive potential of the brain for

thinking, learning and creativity. These exciting discoveries fit in well with the new view of

human intelligence as a many-sided quality. Psychologists now believe that there could be at

least ten forms of intelligence which draw on the whole range of human ability.

Which is your intelligence type?Which is your intelligence type?

There are no hard and fast rules; we probably all possess a degree of each type of intelligence,

but you will recognise various strengths and weaknesses in the descriptions below.

Visual-Spatial intelligenceVisual-Spatial intelligence

If you have a good sense of direction and never get lost in an unfamiliar place, then you’ve got

good spatial intelligence. It’s all about being able to understand how objects are related to each

other in space and being able to create a mental map of a place. All the great architects have a

high degree of spatial intelligence because they understand the relationship of a building to its

surroundings. Games like chess develop spatial intelligence.

Musical intelligenceMusical intelligence

Most of us enjoy music – but no one really understands how the brain

creates it, or where musical talent comes from. If you are deeply moved by

music your musical intelligence is strong whether you are performing or just

listening. Some psychologists believe musical intelligence is part of a more

general creative intelligence that also covers the visual arts like paining and sculpture.

Bodily intelligenceBodily intelligence

All the great athletes and actors have it – bodily intelligence is about the way you move, handle

objects (like a football or golf ball) and hand-to-eye co-ordination. Clumsy people are low on

bodily intelligence, but any sporting activity, especially dance or yoga will develop it.

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Linguistic intelligenceLinguistic intelligence

Human evolution was driven by our unique language skills. Reading, talking, writing and

listening are all components of linguistic intelligence. Poets and chat show hosts alike have a

high degree of linguistic intelligence. Oprah Winfrey is an example of someone with high

linguistic intelligence. Reading, keeping a diary and saying poetry aloud will all develop your

linguistic intelligence.

Mathematical intelligenceMathematical intelligence

Carol Voderman is a good example of someone with a strong mathematical

intelligence. It is more than mental arithmetic, however, covering any form of

logical thinking – from the great scientific discoveries to making a shopping

list or analysing a problem in terms of pros and cons. Organising a project of

any kind will develop your mathematical intelligence.

Naturalists intelligenceNaturalists intelligence

Can you recognise any bird that lands in a garden or plant that grows in it? If

you can you probably have a high degree of naturalist intelligence. People

such as farmers, gardeners and conservationists are all strong in this

area.

Interpersonal (social) intelligenceInterpersonal (social) intelligence

Great politicians, nurses, teachers and doctors all show a high degree of personal intelligence –

the ability to inspire and empathise with the people they deal with. Think of Ghandi or Churchill.

Intrapersonal (emotional) intelligenceIntrapersonal (emotional) intelligence

The other aspect of personal intelligence is self-understanding and being at peace with yourself.

Any form of personal self-development from assertiveness training or psychotherapy to martial

arts or voluntary work will enhance your intrapersonal intelligence.

Spiritual intelligenceSpiritual intelligence

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An awareness of the higher things in life – whether it be devotion to religion or an awareness of

the beauty of nature – is known as spiritual intelligence. It’s easy to ignore the spiritual side

when you’re busy but meditation and related practices will put you in touch.

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Your environment – where and when do I learn best?Your environment – where and when do I learn best?Your choice of wallpaper really can affect your learning! A number of factors will affect whether

you have a positive or negative environment for learning. These include:

The quantity and quality of light

Room temperature

What you see, such as pictures on the wall, the colour the room is painted

Noise levels, interruptions and distractions

Use of music

Fresh air – is the room well ventilated?

The sound of musicThe sound of music

Although some people prefer to learn in total silence, for others music can help reduce stress

levels and enhance learning ability. It’s worth experimenting to find out what is right for you.

A little help from your friendsA little help from your friends

It can be hard to study alone. Find yourself a learning partner if you can – another person who

is learning the same thing. Involve your family, letting them know what you are learning and

explaining it to them. This can also help them to understand the importance of what you are

learning and they are likely to be more supportive.

Ask colleagues who have already learning what you are learning how they went about the task.

They may well have useful suggestions to help you on your way.

Are we having fun yet?Are we having fun yet?

Can learning be fun? Many people think so. In a recent MORI poll 28% of respondents said

that learning was one of the things they enjoyed doing most, beating sport and watching

television.

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What we do know is that your learning will be more successful if you are having fun. Can you

make it a game? Learning has gained a reputation for being a serious business but, while we

can achieve serious benefits through learning, the most effective learning occurs when we are

having fun. Think about having a learning buddy who can act as a coach for you having regular

reflective learning sessions somewhere nice and inspiring, maybe outdoors, or in your favourite

café.

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Learning as a lifestyleLearning as a lifestyleOf course, we all “learn something new every day”, but what do we do with it? One of the

easiest ways of learning is to treat everything that happens to you as a learning opportunity. Get

into the habit of asking yourself “What did I learn from that?”

To remember what you have learnt you must give your brain a chance to let it sink in. So make

a point of going over in your mind what happened and what you learnt. This process will be

even more effective if you make some notes. Or try sharing what you have learnt with a friend.

You may decide to set yourself some specific goals to develop your learning lifestyle. Learning

psychologist Dr Peter Honey recommends sticking to the L E A R N plan to help you decide on

your learning goals.

L

E

A

R

N

for Limited - have a maximum of three goals

for Exact -each resolution should be specific, with ‘i’s dotted and ‘t’s crossed

for Appropriate - each resolution should tie in with your needs

for Realistic - resolutions should be feasible taking account of all constraints/circumstances

for Now - the best resolutions start immediately

Learning resolutionsLearning resolutionsThe learning resolutions below are just a few suggestions. You will be able to think of

resolutions that suit you.

Resolution 1Resolution 1

Keep a learning diary – minimum of three written entries per week

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Resolution 2Resolution 2

Each week to take one lesson learned and ask “In how many ways could I apply this learning?”

Resolution 3Resolution 3

Each month to pose the question “What have I learned about how I and others learn?”

Resolution 4Resolution 4

Keep going around the learning cycle, do it, review it, analyse it and keep asking what do I need

to be doing differently and apply it through structured action plans.

You don’t have to be on a course to be learning!

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