The problem this solves
“I don't take courses but I learn constantly. Does that count?”
Primary keyword: what is self learning
What you'll learn
- Self-learning vs. certifications
- The four activities that define self-learning
- How to make it visible to future-you
- A monthly self-learning review template
The science behind it: Learning Is a Skill
Learning is the deliberate construction of knowledge and skill so it becomes readily available from memory when you face new problems and opportunities.
Why it matters
Treating learning as a trainable skill, rather than an inborn talent, makes it possible to improve through practice and to recover from early struggles.
How to apply it
- Audit which study strategies you currently use and flag any that have never been tested against evidence.
- Pick one strategy from this graph each week and run a small experiment to compare it with your current approach.
- Keep a short log of the strategies you tried, what you tested, and what improved.
Common mistakes
- Conflating ease of exposure with depth of mastery.
- Treating intelligence as fixed and therefore abandoning strategies that feel slow.
- Reading about learning techniques without ever practising them.
Read the full concept: Learning Is a Skill.
Where this fits
Part of module A New Way to Learn.
More articles in this module
- Why You Forget What You Study : how to remember what you study
- Learning Is a Skill, Not a Talent : is learning a skill or a talent
- What Learning Really Is (And Why It Matters) : what is learning
- Learning Styles Are a Myth. Here's What Actually Works : learning styles debunked
- The 'Multiple Intelligences' Idea Is Not What You Think : multiple intelligences myth