4 Keys to Become an Expert in Any Field

'Learning from experience' refers to times when we go through negative experiences with no guidance for the best way to learn.

Students spend long hours in classrooms, yet they don't learn effective study strategies, attention techniques, or note-taking skills. Using the incorrect learning strategy is the issue here, not that people are stupid or incapable of learning new things.

Effective learning is not innate in humans. The human mind tends to gravitate toward what is easy, not necessarily what is useful. When it comes to learning, things that seem successful might not always work out, and vice versa. The more knowledgeable and intelligent a person becomes, the more they realize how much they still don't know.

In his book Outsmart Your Brain: Why Learning is Hard and How You Can Make It Easy, University of Virginia psychology professor Daniel Willingham outlines a successful learning strategy. This approach can be quite helpful for learning new skills, getting ready for tests, or picking up hobbies. Also, it is helpful for parents who want to educate their children in a way that will get them into prestigious universities.

Ineffective Learning Methods

Most of the commonly used learning methods are ineffective. Therefore, always do the opposite of your mind's desires, as it seeks the easiest and least effective route. For example, highlighting sentences with colors during reading is an overly dramatic technique and ineffective for retaining information. Conversely, taking notes is crucial for effective learning during lectures, watching videos, or reading books. Moreover, speed reading isn't helpful, particularly when learning difficult material.

1. Summaries Cannot Replace the Primary Learning Source

Studies have shown that teacher-provided study guides and summaries are only tools; they cannot replace attentive attention and taking notes. Personal note-taking helps activate memory and enhances learning better than passively relying on others' notes.

Examine past questions to gain insight into the teacher's approach to question writing, but it is not a substitute for thoroughly preparing the subject matter.

2. Reading Information Doesn't Mean Understanding or Retention

This is a critical point. Information that you read and review may seem familiar, but that doesn't mean you've retained it or can recall it on test day.

3. Cramming Information Won't Be Effective in the Long Term

Students frequently employ this ineffective strategy. Surprisingly, it may yield decent results for exam recall compared to the short time invested. However, this method won't solidify information in long-term memory. Rather, spreading out study time over a longer period and using effective preparation techniques yields encouraging outcomes. So, join us as we uncover the key methods and secrets for proficiency in any field.

Key Strategies and Secrets for Proficiency in Any Chosen Field

1. Organizing Information

Organizing the information you intend to study is essential at every learning level:

1.1. Avoid Copying Lectures

Focus and consider the material you are given. After that, write your notes in your own hand. This improves your comprehension and understanding. It may take extra time, but you can write spontaneously without having to strictly follow grammar or punctuation rules. What matters is that you understand the notes.

1.2. Rearrange Your Notes

Afterward, review and reorganize everything you’ve written. This isn't merely preparation; it's a part of the study process. It helps you understand and internalize the information effectively. Organizing the information, noting its connections, and interpreting it are among the most effective methods for retention and memory enhancement.

2. Interlinking Information

It is easier to remember and recall interconnected information. It is comparable to remembering a movie or novel plot with interconnected events. Most of the things stored in your memory came from your understanding of a series of interconnected events and were not intentionally memorized. Therefore, you do not find it difficult to remember them.

Give yourself enough time to go over your notes again, try to figure out what links them, and then ensure your understanding of their true meaning by asking yourself "how" and "why" questions.

This understanding level is an active process that requires careful steps and extra time, and it is a necessary prerequisite in studying difficult subjects like mathematics. As for subjects based on fixed facts like history, memorizing will be much easier when you realize a specific historical period's importance or the causes of war and the fate of those who participated in it.

Recall techniques help link unfamiliar information to something more familiar to give it a meaning that makes you remember it.

Consequently, you should only use these techniques as a last resort, and it is preferable to select meaningful information on its own. Understanding the content generally can help you answer some questions correctly, but it isn't useful in remembering specific information that requires memorization.

The best way to ensure your understanding of a topic is your ability to explain it to another person clearly and comprehensively, not just understand it when explained by someone else. Always remember that knowledge and observation alone do not equate to complete comprehension or memorization.

3. Self-Testing

Students who support their studies with self-tests achieve better academic results. One of the methods of these tests is writing questions on cards that cover the entire curriculum, not just the notes you have written.

Writing these cards is a crucial step in the study process because it goes over all the material that needs to be learned, is refreshed every time, and helps to deeply embed the knowledge even before you take the test.

Self-testing requires you to answer test questions aloud, which may seem strange, but research has shown that this method is fast and efficient in improving memorization and recall. Also, you can immediately check that your answer is correct.

This technique, known as "retrieval practice," works wonders to improve memory because it is based on the idea of periodically and repeatedly retrieving information from memory. A brief review will familiarize you with the material, making it difficult to discern between knowing the material and successfully recalling it.

Poet William Blake said, “The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom,” and this quote can be applied to studying because the goal is not just learning but excessive learning. When completing a task, you should not stop until you achieve an increase of at least 15% over what is required. Even if it seems exhausting, it is important to achieve the desired benefit. Feeling that it is unnecessary indicates that your mind has reverted to its laziness.

4. Being Prepared During Exams

Start by reading the instructions carefully and review all the questions to get an idea of the available time. Then, read each question attentively. No matter how well-prepared you are, it won’t help if you misread the question. Make sure you have time to go over your responses after the given time has passed. Sometimes, answering a question can be challenging. You might know the answer but struggle to remember it.

In such cases, try a slightly tougher technique: recall. Most people don't try hard enough when faced with a difficult question. If your first attempt fails, don’t guess randomly or move on to the next question. Instead, try to recall the answer. Any information you want to remember can be retained with the aid of all the previously discussed techniques, such as organizing information, deriving meaning from it, and self-testing. So, put in the extra effort to remember it.

Research indicates that you will retain more information after every try. Try the recall technique by giving it a try for 30 seconds the first time, then try again later. If you're still having trouble remembering something, consider analogies, concepts, and narratives that might help you figure it out. Change your answers as needed; most of the time, the new response will be accurate.

Summary

To surpass your mental abilities and learn effectively, pay attention to the following:

1. Ineffective Learning Methods

Take notes and avoid just reading or highlighting sentences with colors. Remember that reading doesn’t guarantee understanding or retention. Additionally, cramming knowledge isn't a long-term solution.

2. Organization

Good preparation is part of the study process. Organizing your notes is essential for memory reinforcement. Try taking notes on this article.

3. Interlinking Information

When studying challenging subjects, extract meaning to aid understanding and retention. Create a diagram that coherently connects facts and ideas, going beyond theoretical memorization.

4. Self-Testing

This is the most crucial tip. Create many flashcards and test yourself using them. Remember that excessive learning is the goal, not just learning.

5. Being Prepared During Exams

Don’t let negative thoughts distract you or hinder your abilities. Put effort into the recall process, and don’t hesitate to change answers if needed.

In Conclusion

Learning doesn’t end with the exam. Examine your errors and the reasons behind them once the results are out. It may cause you to doubt yourself or feel inadequate, but don't worry—it signifies intelligence and wisdom.

Students benefit from these article's methods, especially those who are motivated to learn and master something. Effective learning contributes to personal growth and positive life changes. Learning something enjoyable gives you a wonderful feeling and changes your world- and self-perspective.