The problem this solves
“I keep 'doing' courses but I'm not sure I've actually learned anything.”
Primary keyword: what is learning
What you'll learn
- Learning vs. exposure vs. entertainment
- Three diagnostic questions after any learning session
- A working definition you can carry into every course
- How to test your definition against a real week
The science behind it: Defining Learning
Learning is the durable change in knowledge or skill that lets you respond to situations you could not handle before, and that survives time away from the material.
Why it matters
A clear definition forces you to measure the right outcome: durable capability, not the familiar feeling of having just read something.
How to apply it
- Define what you want to be able to do after the learning session, in observable terms.
- Plan a delayed check (next day, next week) to confirm the learning actually stuck.
- When reading, ask: what would I now be able to do that I could not do before?
Common mistakes
- Mistaking re-encountering the material for having learned it.
- Optimising for short-term recall instead of durable capability.
- Treating ease of first contact as the success criterion.
Read the full concept: Defining Learning.
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
- 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
- Growth Mindset Without the Buzzwords : growth mindset practical