Learning strategies change through GCSE - to A-levels - during university and again in working life.
Different mindsets are needed to learn effectively at these four different development stages.
EXAMPLE 1: University
"While revising non-stop all day in the library for my finals, I became increasingly concerned that at the end of each day, I could not remember at all what I was revision in the morning! I then started to go down with flu so went to the doctor who explained to me:
'The amount your mind retains increases over the first few hours of revising - then it starts to reduce until by the end of 6-8 hours you probably only have an hour at most remembered - IF you do not stop every 40 minutes for a 20 minute break....' so I started to do this and my revision went much better!
In addition to my revising problem, I also really only learned how to learn in my final year as well for another reason. Until then, I had an unhelpful mindset that made me approach every exam question or project as having to have a 'right answer'.
As a result, I found passing exams very difficult as I never wrote enough to convince the examiner I understood the question.
I came to realise, that getting to understand the core structure of a subject was critical. If I understood this, then I could hang the detail onto it.
This is like understanding the human skeleton and then being able to picture where the heart and lungs are. This became my exam strategy - to show the marker that I understood the 'bigger picture'. I was then able to add in some detail into my answers. It worked, and I passed exams and gained huge confidence."
This makes perfect sense, doesn't it? For example, if you want to travel to see friends, it helps if you have a good picture of where they live on a map!
EXAMPLE 2: Studying for a Diploma
"Having completed my degree, a few years later I studied for a Diploma in Marketing through distance learning. This meant learning at home rather than in a lecture room.
Marketing is a fascinating and diverse function that fits at the centre of all business activities. It combines hard statistical analysis with a lot of psychology and finance and more.
Sitting down and trying to learn it will never work. You need to understand the bigger picture first.
So, a new approach to learning was required which focussed on looking around at what was going on at work and in the wider business world and trying to understand the concepts in real life.
When looking at a marketing book a new approach was also needed:
This is about understanding the big picture and then hanging the detail onto it - like before at university - but adapted.
Repeat, repeat, repeat until a clear picture of what the book and the chapters within it are all about. Always link this new understanding to real life examples around you.
Once all the core marketing activities were understood and embedded it was possible to take the Diploma exams and pass".
EXAMPLE 3: Masters in Business Administration (MBA)
There will be times when you will attend work-based or academic courses where you are learning with other people. This will involve much more than simply studying on your own...
"The two-year full-time MBA was an amazing experience. It took three terms for us all (one hundred mature students) to learn to listen to each other! We were placed in multiple project teams - often running side by side. All we ever heard each other say was 'When I was at Blah Blah International, I used to...'. "
Eventually we learned to shut up and listen:
It took effort and self-control - but we soon learned the benefits were huge.
Our projects ran so much more efficiently and effectively - the quality of our teamwork became exceptional - way above what even the cleverest of us could have produced.
It was a life-changing lesson.
We learned to build on each others ideas and not trash them.
We learned about 'Yes and...' rather than 'Yes - but that won't work...'
It was transformational to our learning and efficiency as we learned the humility to listen and learn from each other.
Another key lesson was that when you have multiple projects you are working on at the same time (which we always had - and in work-life you will too) - put sustained amounts of focussed time into them - one at a time.
On an MBA course that would typically be 2-3 undisturbed focussed hours. I.E. don't flit about between projects - 20 minutes here, 20 minutes there - you will not make real progress that way (and start to get desperate and stress and panic about deadlines!).
One HUGE learning experience we had all had to face was when we 'hit the brick wall' - the assignment that was going to sink us - the seemingly impossible task...
"In my case it was a case study of thirty pages of financial and other data about a global company (Dunlop as it happens).
The question required a 5,000-word strategy: 'You are a consultant to the Board of Directors - what advice would you give them?'.
I literally went to the toilet, shut the door, sat down, stared at the door - and realised the horrible truth that when I walked out, I was either going to blow the assignment and fail the MBA or do something else - but what?
There was only one alternative I could see - I was going to have to sit down at my laptop and write my personal analysis based on my own personal views. There were no right answers on this one I could see.
This meant I had to find a new confidence that I had not had up to that point.
I had to explain to myself that whatever I thought to the contrary - I had as much right as anyone else on that course - and the ability - to analyse and form a view - which I would have to express with 100% confidence was what I personally felt the Board of Directors should do.
It was life changing (in the working-life sense). It was in a warped way given the pressure, "thrilling" to be free to form my own opinions.
I passed with a B- grade (which was pretty good - in fact a grade C was considered great by all of us - the tutors never marked high).
Through that hard experience I learned to have a view - and to express it - with confidence.
On the last day of the two-year MBA, when we knew we had all passed, the Course Director bid us farewell with this never-to-be-forgotten summary:
'We never intended you to leave here with a toolbox of techniques to go out and fix problems.
We wanted you to learn to see things differently'
It had worked...
I have never looked at any work situation the same since.
I am totally confident now, of two things:
- Firstly, that I know I will form a view on any situation I face.
- Secondly, I know that my view will be improved - or confirmed - by sharing it with others.
Two heads are always better than one."
Learning should never stop - so enjoy the journey - and have fun in the process
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