As an adult, we believe that we know just about everything. No matter how much schooling we have taken in our lives, there are still so many things we do not know. Today, we don't really know how to learn like an adult. We figure that our learning method that we've have used since grade school is applicable in our adult life today. I'm afraid those methods fail to give us an effective results. Thus, we feel inadequate. And that feeling shatters our confident unfortunately. So, what do we have to do to restore our confident? If you’re interested in learning how to learn new things faster, they I suggest you continue reading. Here are seven methods that will help you learn faster.
7. Listing
Listing is the common note taking method used by adults. It's so simple, I'm sure you've used it today. For example, perhaps you’ve used this morning to write down what you need to today or you used it in taking notes during an important meeting. Whatever it is, you’re already using it. However, sometimes too many things in your list can give you a headache because things in the list are all over the places. It is confusing without some organization.
6. Category
This is where organization comes into place. You can take your long list of to do things and categorize according to urgent, priority, for client and so one. The purpose of category is to get some sense of idea from your long list of things. Category helps you to see things differently. Without organization, your long list will take over your life.
5. Mind mapping
Mind mapping can be used to categorize a long list as well. It help you to make sense of your long list freely without restriction and constraint. When using mind mapping, you have to rely on your brain and instinct to link the ideas with each other. In addition, mind mapping is not only used to organize your thoughts but it can be used to lay down your ideas in an orderly manner. If you like to know more about mind map, you can visit this page where the inventor explains more about how to use mind mapping effectively.
4. Metaphor
Metaphor is a figure of speech that is used to make a comparison between two things that aren't exactly alike but do have something in common. When you're trying to understand a complex concept, it's very common to compare it to things that is known to you. When you're learning on your own, it's not about what others think rather it's about what you understand in your own way.
3. Analogy
Analogy is another method that is used to make comparison between two things to show their similarities. For example, when you're trying to explain the roughness of the skin, you can describe it by saying the roughness of the skin is similar to the feeling of the sand on the beach. This is a simpler example. For more complex example, let's take maintaining a car. You need to take care of your care like you take care of your body. When the care needs a tune up, you take it to the workshop like you would if you are sick in which you go to see a doctor. There are so many analogies out there that you can use. . Feel free to share in the comment below.
2. Association
When you're learning new things, it's a lot easier to understand each concept piece by piece. However, to understand everything as a whole, you need to associate every little thing together so it can form the big idea. And the only way to do that is through association. It's quite simple actually. Based on the things that you’ve listed and the category used in the your note taking, you should find similarities and differences between them. Through the process, you’ll figure out the big idea.
1. Visualization
Once you've figured out everything, it's time to remember them for the rest of your life. You can do that through visualization. When you've understood the big idea, try imaging that idea while closing your eyes. Imaging how each individual things fit together perfectly and how are they differ from each other. If you like, you can even do a role playing in your mind. Visualization is all about imagination and it's the best part about learning.
To sum up, these tools exist to help you understand, learn and remember what you've learned for the rest of your life. This is another way to make your learning experience enjoyable. So I encourage you to embrace learning in a new way. Use these tools to become a better thinker.