I’ve been learning about how to learn recently. Thought I’ll share some of the points that I took from the course.

1. Knowing 

• Knowing is the ability to recognise something we have encountered before (i.e. the ability to distinguish between new and old information). 
• Knowing does not mean that you understand the information at all, just that you remember seeing the information before. 

2. Understanding 

• Understanding involves connecting the new piece of information to something else you already know. 
• Making these connections gives more meaning to the information. 
• Stage 3 involves using the knowledge that you understand. 
• The more you use knowledge in different contexts, the more connections are created. 
• More connections usually lead to stronger memory traces and a deeper understanding. 
• Using knowledge in different ways and contexts means more connections are created. 

3. Mastering 

• When enough connections are created, we finally master the knowledge. 
• We say that this knowledge has become part of our schemas. 
• Schemas are our prior knowledge and learning sets. These act as the platform for new learning to happen in the future. 
• After using the knowledge many times and in multiple contexts, you will have created enough connections to say you have mastered that knowledge. 
• Now, you are ready to learn something new and return to the first stage.