6 learning activities with examples for better success

Learning is an ongoing process.  Lifelong learning is key to always becoming better than what you were yesterday.  You may prefer formal or informal training…  Either way, personal growth is your ally for better success!

As a self-improvement blogger, I’ve already published some blog posts that help with education.  I’ll link to these related articles below.  In this post, I’ll focus on learning tips while providing illustrations (examples) from my experience. 

1. Reading books

Reading is a must for learning and everyone learns to read since childhood.  I used to enjoy more fiction books as a kid.  E-books and blog posts are great for giving in-depth explanations on topics that I research.

This article on Wikipedia shows the learning pyramid, described as a…

‘group of popular learning models and representations relating different degrees of retention induced from various type of learning’. 

It says that people generally remember 10% of what they read.

2. Listening to podcasts

Podcasts are suitable if you’re more on the auditory side.  They’re helpful when you want to listen without having to watch a video.  However, I find it a bit stressful when I multitask.  For example, when doing some chores, I tried listening to an episode, but then found it distracting to concentrate on both.  Instead, I turned it off, finished with whatever I was doing, and then turn it on again when I was seated and more focused.

According to the learning pyramid, people generally remember 20% of what they hear.

3. Watching videos 

Everyone (or almost) loves to watch videos, although there are differences in what we choose to see, such as our interests and preferences.  I watch more YouTube video tutorials, online courses, webinars and so on to learn blogging skills.  It’s convenient, entertaining, and an informal and fun way to grow my knowledge.

The article says that people generally remember 30% of what they see and 50% of what they hear and see.

4. Online courses

Online courses are convenient, and often more affordable than training held at venues (which was possible before the lockdown in many countries, at the time of writing this blog post).  Online courses are flexible, you can learn at your pace, rewind and replay videos. 

With courses in an email format (such as a 5-day email course), you can still read at your convenience.  The same goes for audio recorded training.  Some webinars are only live with no replay.  However, many do send you a replay link if you’ve missed out.  This is so handy, especially for those in other time zones.

5. Classroom-based lectures

Once more, this may not be practised during the lockdown (depending on the country you’re in).  However, I’ll include it as my blog is evergreen, and face-to-face lectures are normally a common method of teaching.  Lectures, workshops, seminars, and other physical events often require students or participants to interact.  

I attended primary and secondary schools, like most people, and then chose to study for my degree on a part-time basis.  Much of it was online.  This type of study was convenient, as I was in a corporate job at that time.

The Wikipedia article mentions that people generally remember 70% of what they say and write.

6. Learn from experience

Learn on the job, from experience, learn by doing things yourself… Design or perform a presentation.   According to the article that I’m referring to in my blog post, people generally remember 90% of what they do!

I learn more about blogging when I do things.  When I just read for information without taking action, it’s not the same.  I prefer focusing on training that supports my blogging goals.  This way, I’m sure that I put to practice what I’ve acquired.

The learning pyramid model

Here is the screenshot of an image of the learning pyramid from Wikipedia.

You may wish to see some of my related blog posts for more:

10 ways lifelong learning enhances your prospects

6 reasons knowledge is true power!

Find your learning style for success

8 ways speed reading supports your success

3 self-help courses you need in life

Swipe to see this Instagram post to find 6 ways to stop procrastination:

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Download my freebie if you’re keen on better productivity:

Last but not least, learning doesn’t have to be a chore.  On the contrary, if you choose your training carefully and know your best learning activities, then it can be more fun.  Ongoing and lifelong learning should be for everyone… Formal or informal, at any age, and stage of your career/profession/or business.

Conclusion

To sum up, I’ve listed some types of learning activities and given examples from my life to illustrate how I go about them.  Would you like to share your tips or experience?  Please do so in the comments section.  If you know someone who needs to read my article, please share it.  Thank you!!

Resources:

Learning pyramid

Productivity