{"id":34761,"date":"2021-05-25T14:05:55","date_gmt":"2021-05-25T18:05:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=34761"},"modified":"2021-05-25T14:21:35","modified_gmt":"2021-05-25T18:21:35","slug":"learning-how-to-study","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/learning-how-to-study\/","title":{"rendered":"Metalearning: Learning How to Study Properly"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Why should you learn how to study before you start studying? What benefits can metalearning have? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Metalearning, or learning how to study, is the process of building a learning roadmap so you don’t go into a new subject blind. When you fully understand what you need to learn and how, you accelerate the study process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep reading to find out why you should learn how to study properly rather than jumping in unprepared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Metalearning: Learning How to Study<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The only risk of self-directed learning is selecting a poor method of learning. Metalearning <\/em>(learning how <\/em>to study) lessens this risk. This article teaches you how to build a learning roadmap so you can start your learning project off on a solid foundation. A map shows you how a topic is constructed, what types of skills or knowledge will support growth, and which strategies will support you to achieve efficient proficiency. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, let\u2019s say you\u2019re learning freestyle dance. You might research popular freestyle dancers who have achieved your desired skill level and determine how they each reached it.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Do You Conduct Metalearning Research? <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Metalearning research is the first step of any ultralearning project<\/a>. When you have an advanced understanding of what you need to learn and how best to learn it, you accelerate what would normally be a longer process in a formal education setting. In this case, you personalize the learning process, bypassing the challenges of the poor teacher-to-student ratio typically found in a class setting. As you complete more learning projects, metalearning skills naturally improve, as does your awareness of your capacity for comprehension, your best methods for problem-solving, and your most efficient scheduling structure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For each specific project, ask three questions: Why, what, and how?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why<\/strong>?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Asking why gives you clarity of purpose<\/a>, and this enables you to tailor your learning to what is most important to you<\/a>. Any learning project you undertake is going to be rooted in one of two core motivations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Motivation #1: Instrumental<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

This type of learning is motivated by the desire to achieve some kind of (usually external) goal or result. Often, this is a professional goal. For example, if the advancements in technology<\/a> make some of your professional skills obsolete, you might use an instrumental learning project to learn new skills that will keep you relevant in your field. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When learning for an instrumental reason, valuable questions to research are: \u201cWhat is my goal?\u201d and \u201cWill learning this skill or topic support me to achieve that goal?\u201d You don\u2019t want to waste time or money learning a skill<\/a> that won\u2019t benefit your goal. For example, if your goal is to get a well-paying job, and you want to go back to school to increase your chances of achieving that goal, make sure you select a degree that will lead to a well-paying job. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another method you can use to conduct your \u201cwhy\u201d research is to talk to people who have already achieved your goal. For example, if you want to be a lawyer, talk to successful lawyers and get a sense of what that world entails and what their path to success<\/a> has been. If you can, set up a brief face-to-face meeting (and be clear on the purpose of the meeting).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Motivation #2: Intrinsic <\/h5>\n\n\n\n

This type of learning is motivated by personal desire, not achievement-oriented desire. For example, if you want to learn freestyle dancing for the purpose of your own enjoyment, you have intrinsic motivation<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Asking why is valuable here because you want to be sure you\u2019re focusing on learning what is most valuable to you, not what the industry finds most valuable. For example, if you want to learn freestyle dance for your own enjoyment, your learning goals and methods are going to be different than if your goal were to become a professional freestyle dancer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Now that you know your motivation for a learning goal, get a clear sense of what<\/em> you need to learn. Start by breaking down your skill or topic and placing the aspects into three categories: <\/p>\n\n\n\n