How do we learn?
I’m not talking about a scientific question about how our brains develop or what happens inside our heads as we encounter new information, but what physical processes take us from first exposure to proficiency? It seems to happen in three steps: observe, imitate, and adapt.
Child-like learning
I recently spent time with a couple close friends and their 15 month old daughter. They live pretty far away, so I hadn’t seen them in about six months. At that point their daughter could teeter and stumble around, but didn’t walk too well. She could mumble out a few words like “momma” or “dada,” but she didn’t really talk much either. Now, however, she walks confidently and expresses her ever-growing vocabulary at some not-so-convenient times.
As I watched her struggled out of her mom’s arms so she could experience a small measure of independence I thought to myself, “What would it be like to learn for the first time many of the skills and sensations that I take for granted today?” Things like walking,talking and writing now seem so second nature that it is difficult to remember a time when they weren’t easy. So, how did I learn to do all those things?
Think back to when you were in early elementary. During that time you probably had at least one great teacher. Do you remember how she taught and how you remembered? Most likely, she first showed you how to solve a math problem or diagram a sentence (if you went to a school that still did that kind of thing). Next, she probably let you try on your own with some close guidance. Finally, she sent you home with some problems to solve on your own.
You may not have realized it at the time, but she was helping you learn to observe, imitate, and adapt, and you continue to learn like this today. These three habits are important stepping stones toward personal growth and continual learning throughout your entire life.
Observe: watching what others do
Before my friends’ daughter could ever walk or talk, she spent her days watching and listening to her parents walk and talk. Every time her little brain took in this new information, she learned a little more about the motions of walking and the sounds of speaking. She was observing.
Any time you learn something new, observation should be your first step. Remember, self-education is not “all-by-yourself” education. Therefore, you should find someone who is already proficient in what you want to know and learn from them. Watch them do what you want to learn. Listen to them teach it or talk about it. If you pay attention to the resources and techniques they use, you will begin building the foundation for learning that skill.
While in-person observation can be extremely effective, there are other mediums available to you as well online. These can include Skype calls, Youtube videos, seminars, apps, and television. Each medium will vary in its effectiveness depending on its target audience and goal. For instance, if you are a new golfer a youtube video crafted to show you the step by step process of swinging a golf club will be more effective than watching the PGA Championship on television. However, an experienced golfer who wants to improve his strategy in shot placement and club selection may benefit more from watching the pros than from a Youtube video.
Make sure the medium you choose matches your learning goals. Once you have the right resources in place, learning becomes more efficient. Whether you have someone teaching you directly, or you simply watch other people do what you want to learn, being able to observe attentively is essential to your growth.
Imitate: Doing what others do
Have you ever watched a toddler trying to walk? “Graceful” and “effortless” are probably not the first words that come to mind. Each time my friends’ daughter tried to stand up and take a few steps she would wobble precariously until she had her balance then take that first hesitant step or two before plopping back down on her backside. However, she soon would get up and try it again. After a while she would go from one step to three or four, and then even more until she could walk around on her own without falling (most of the time). She was imitating what she had already observed others doing. While she could not yet walk proficiently, she kept trying to do what she saw others doing until she was able to walk on her own.
Similarly, when you begin learning something new you will, at first, imitate the people you observe. This step is important because it allows you to focus on the mechanics of what the other person is doing in order to replicate them. Remember, your mind and body have not yet developed the memory for what you are learning so it is important to rely on someone else’s ability to guide you while you learn.
Your goal is to be a mirror of the other person. You’ll be bad at first, but that’s okay. Just keep going and watch your thoughts and movements become smooth and effortless like your teacher’s. Don’t let the perfectionist inside of you prevent you from learning something new.
The key to imitation is repetition. The more you practice the more proficient you will become. However, don’t stop observing just because you started imitating. Keep comparing your work to the people you are learning from to ensure that you are learning correctly.
Adapt: Changing what others do
As my friends’ daughter continues to grow she will develop a way of walking and talking that is uniquely hers. She will retain many of the influences that she picked up while she was learning, but eventually she will adapt what she has learned to her own strengths and environment.
As you progress in your learning you will eventually come to a point where imitation no longer makes sense. Maybe it is when you’ve reached the same level as your teacher or a circumstance that is unique to your situation. Whatever it is, once you reach that point, you will need to adapt what you’ve learned to your own abilities and environment. Because we are all different we all must learn differently.
Adapting is the step in the learning process where you make your new skill your own. No longer is your focus on doing exactly what you’ve observed. Instead, you should be focused on making it work for your natural abilities and circumstances. Maybe you’ve noticed certain details that don’t work for you, or discovered a method or technique that works even better. As long as you’ve mastered the fundamentals of your new skill by observing and imitating you will be ready to adapt it to best fit who you are.
Where are you?
What are your goals and where are you on the path to reaching them? If you are in the observation stage, don’t get stuck there. I’ve always had a hard time getting out of observation and into imitation. Remember, you don’t have to have everything figured out before taking action. Take the next step and allow yourself to fall a couple times. Eventually you’ll learn to stay on your feet.
If you are already in the imitation step of learning, ask yourself at what point you will be ready to adapt your new skill to your own abilities and environment. Don’t allow yourself to continue to imitate until you look exactly like the person you are observing. Determine what essential elements you need to learn, focus on mastering them, then move on to making your new skill your own.
Once you understand the path to proficiency the journey gets easier. If you are currently teaching yourself something new, let me know by leaving a comment below. If you need a healthy dose of motivation to get you started, sign up for my weekly newsletter. The first thing you’ll get from me is one of my favorite talks about learning, then each week you’ll get helpful tips and stories about different ways for you to Go Teach Yourself.