Unlocking the 5 Secrets of Effective Learning

Learning is a magical place for me. It’s a spa for the person within; the person I call Mikel.

Learning can happen naturally, or it can take a little work. Regardless of which method you are using to learn, you must first do a few things to facilitate the process.

When we are little tykes, we learn by trial and error, mostly error. Then once we reach a certain age, we are shipped off to do some serious learning. For 12 years we are forced to suffer through hours of senseless and useless information five days a week.

We were never shown how to truly enjoy learning. Instead, we were told to pay attention and memorize what they deemed important, preparing for a test later.

Sooner or later, something catches our attention, and we want to learn more about one thing or another. This interest grows into a desire to keep learning. Before you know it, your simple interest has blossomed into a passion.

Learning should feel passionate and enjoyable. It helps you overcome the challenges of picking up something new. When learning to dance, you often face frustrations, mostly due to mistakes made while trying to develop new physical habits.

I tell my students that if they are feeling frustrated it is because they are learning. Then I have them do something I know will make them smile and they can do well.

This is good advice for all of us. When you feel frustrated, do something that lifts your spirits. You can always return to your frustrations later.

The 5 Secrets to Effective Learning are:

1. Shut up! You cannot learn if you are doing all the talking.
2. Limit your questions until the instructor finishes that part of the lesson. Students often think ahead and miss key information, which may require the instructor to repeat themselves. This usually happens due to excitement. Focus on listening and learning.
3. Don’t instruct the instructor! – A student claimed they couldn’t dance to a slow Cha Cha. I needed to observe their basic technique but couldn’t see their mistakes at their preferred speed. Therefore, because I insisted on the slower music they decided to go home instead of learning. Their difficulty with slow dancing was due to poor Latin technique. (That was our one and only lesson.)
4. Practice slowly! Repeating an action helps the brain create habits. Moving slower leads to more accuracy and helps the action become a habit faster.
5. Be Persistent and Consistent! Don’t let mistakes hold you back. Keep practicing consistently to become a better dancer faster.

Peace, Love, and Unconditional Happiness!