Imagine a typical day: waking up at 7:00, navigating through teaching physics while students are distractingly half-asleep or daydreaming, battling migraines as the noise level rises, and then arriving home to domestic duties and family time. Exhausted, you end your day at 11:00 p.m., dreading the repetition of this cycle five times a week. A grim picture, isn’t it? Often dubbed “A 21st-century Bulgarian teacher,” the reality of this routine might resonate with many educators.
The “Aha!” moment
Although learning is widely recognized as a two-way process, enthusiasm is often lacking on both ends due to various reasons. For teachers, stress and personal issues may be culprits, while the student’s disinterest can stem from a more complex combination of factors. Young children, especially, can absorb a wealth of information with minimal effort, thanks to their inherent curiosity and explorative nature. But why does it seem like they learn better and faster than adults?
From an early age, children immerse themselves in exploration. Whether it’s interacting with a spoon, marveling at its shape, color, and function, or engaging in playful activities, every discovery triggers a rewarding “Aha!” moment, releasing dopamine in the brain, which enhances memory through pleasure. So, how can adults, swamped with daily routines and a perpetual information influx, rekindle this intrinsic motivation to learn? Especially when new learning seems to be forgotten within a week?
Use it or lose it
This query takes us to a principle: Use it or lose it. The key lies in applying new information rapidly and effectively to ensure its storage in our memory. Picture reading about effective body language for public speaking, and promptly practicing it, transforming your room into a stage and your belongings into an audience. This immediate application aids memory retention.
Let’s breakdown the learning process into five key steps:
- Commit fully. Engage actively in learning by asking questions, taking notes, and verbalizing your understanding.
- Relate to experiences. Link new information to your past experiences and learnings, especially those derived from mistakes.
- Apply immediately. Implement new knowledge into your daily life or routine at the earliest.
- Reward your efforts. Once you successfully integrate new knowledge, celebrate with a small treat or self-pampering.
- Understand your ‘Why?’. Know the purpose behind your learning journey. How will it contribute to your personal development or professional enhancement?
Though you might feel like new learnings vanish within a week, remember that our brain, consuming 20% of our body’s energy and housing 14 billion neurons, discerningly filters what to retain and what to discard based on our priorities and emotional responses. The control is in your hands. Aligning your learning journey with your priorities, and intertwining emotions and rewards with information, paves the path for efficacious learning, irrespective of age or occupation. This fusion of awareness and active application is where meaningful, lasting learning resides.