How did you learn how to learn?

Summary

In this video, Frederick shares his personal journey of learning how to learn effectively as a software developer. He highlights the importance of self-awareness, experimenting through imitation, and actively engaging with real-world examples. Frederick emphasizes that emotional connection and personal interest are key to retention and understanding. While traditional education methods didn't suit his learning style, he found success through a hands-on, iterative approach and the wealth of resources available online. His insights provide valuable lessons for anyone looking to improve their self-teaching methods in software development.

Takeaways

• 😀 Meta-thinking is key: Understanding yourself and your learning habits helps you optimize how you approach learning.
• 😀 Learning by observation: Watching others perform tasks before trying them yourself is a highly effective learning strategy.
• 😀 Interest drives learning: If you're not emotionally invested in the subject, you won't learn effectively. Passion is a powerful motivator.
• 😀 Experimentation is crucial: Repetition and experimentation lead to deeper understanding and mastery.
• 😀 Learning is personal: Different people learn in different ways, so it’s important to find what methods work best for you.
• 😀 Theory isn't enough: You need to combine theoretical knowledge with practical application to truly grasp concepts.
• 😀 Focus on your strengths: Structure your learning environment and process around what works best for you, rather than trying to follow a universal approach.
• 😀 Use multiple resources: Expose yourself to different viewpoints, tutorials, and articles to deepen your understanding and see different perspectives on the same topic.
• 😀 Active engagement over passive learning: Simply listening to lectures or reading about a subject isn't sufficient for deep learning; hands-on practice is essential.
• 😀 Self-reflection is crucial for growth: By understanding your own weaknesses and tendencies, you can tailor your learning approach to overcome challenges.

Q & A

What is the key concept that the speaker uses to describe their learning process?

The key concept the speaker uses is 'meta-thinking,' which involves understanding one's own thought processes and learning preferences in order to structure the learning environment to support personal growth.

How did the speaker learn to learn, and what methods did they use?

The speaker learned to learn through personal reflection and experimentation. They observed others, tried to replicate their actions, and then experimented on their own. This trial and error process helped them solidify their understanding.

What role did University play in the speaker’s learning process?

University did not significantly contribute to the speaker’s ability to learn how to learn. The speaker did not gain learning techniques from formal education, and instead, they learned through personal experience and trial and error.

Why does the speaker say they do poorly with traditional learning methods like lectures?

The speaker struggles with traditional methods like lectures because they find it difficult to learn from theory alone. They need hands-on learning and practical application to effectively understand concepts.

What is the significance of 'passion' in the speaker’s learning process?

Passion is crucial for the speaker's learning process. They explain that they learn best when they care deeply about the subject matter, which makes the learning experience more meaningful and engaging.

What does the speaker mean by 'meta-thinking' in the context of learning?

Meta-thinking refers to the ability to understand how and why you learn the way you do. It involves anticipating challenges and structuring the learning environment to support better outcomes, based on self-awareness of your learning style.

How did the speaker’s learning process evolve over time?

The speaker’s learning process evolved as they discovered that watching others and copying their actions, followed by experimentation and repetition, worked best for them. Over time, they refined their approach through continuous self-reflection.

What learning method does the speaker suggest for others who may struggle with traditional education?

The speaker suggests finding ways to learn that suit your personal style. For those who struggle with traditional methods, they recommend using tutorials, experimenting with what others have done, and engaging in hands-on practice to reinforce learning.

Why does the speaker think that watching multiple tutorials is helpful for learning?

The speaker believes watching multiple tutorials helps learners see different approaches to solving the same problem. This allows them to notice nuances in the process and build a more comprehensive understanding of the concept.

What does the speaker believe about learning something you don't care about?

The speaker believes that learning something they don’t care about is very challenging for them. They explain that without emotional investment, it is difficult to retain information or remain motivated.