How We Can Learn As Adults | Rachel Wu | TEDxUCR

Summary

The speaker explores the disparity in how society views children's learning versus adult learning, drawing from personal experiences in acquiring new skills like painting, piano, and German. They argue for an enriched learning environment for adults, similar to what children receive, to combat cognitive decline. Through studies with older adults learning new skills, they demonstrate significant cognitive improvement, suggesting that optimizing adult learning environments could prevent cognitive decline and enhance life quality.

Takeaways

• 👵 The speaker contrasts the lack of concern for a 72-year-old woman's isolation with the same situation in a 7-year-old child, highlighting a societal double standard regarding learning and isolation.
• 🎨 The speaker shares personal experiences of learning new skills like painting, piano, and German, emphasizing the importance of effort over innate talent.
• 👶 The benefits of an open mind, good instructors, resources, and the belief in one's ability to learn are often reserved for children but are crucial for adults' learning as well.
• 🧠 The study conducted by the speaker suggests that providing an enriched learning environment for older adults can significantly improve their cognitive abilities.
• 📈 Participants in the study showed cognitive improvements comparable to those of middle-aged adults during the intervention and reached levels of young adults within a year and a half.
• 🎨 The improvement in the skills learned by the older adults was remarkable, with one participant even receiving commissions for their paintings.
• 👵 The study's participants reported increased confidence, a sense of purpose, and feeling valued, challenging the notion of aging as a period of decline.
• 🌟 Learning new skills is not only necessary for adapting to changes but also a privilege that requires support and resources, which are often not provided to adults.
• 📚 The speaker encourages continuous learning at any age, suggesting that an optimized learning environment could prevent cognitive decline and enhance the quality of life.
• 🌐 The potential of optimizing learning environments for people of all ages is vast, and it could lead to significant societal and individual benefits.

Q & A

What is the main difference between how children and adults learn according to the speaker?

The speaker highlights that children and infants receive an enriched learning environment with ample resources, time, and support for making mistakes, whereas adults often face a deprived learning environment with limited resources, little time, and a lack of forgiveness for mistakes.

Why did the speaker initially start learning new skills like painting and piano?

The speaker began learning new skills to challenge the common belief that adults are not capable of learning new things as effectively as children, and to explore the potential cognitive benefits of learning in adults.

What was the societal reaction when the speaker started learning new skills as an adult?

People initially discouraged the speaker from learning new skills, suggesting they were wasting their time due to their initial poor performance. However, as the speaker improved, they attributed the progress to innate talent rather than effort.

How did the speaker's approach to learning differ from the typical adult learning environment?

The speaker's approach to learning was similar to that of children, with an open mind, access to good instructors and resources, a belief in their ability to learn, a willingness to make mistakes, and a commitment to learning multiple skills at once.

What was the purpose of the study involving older adults learning new skills?

The purpose of the study was to test the hypothesis that providing an enriched learning environment to older adults, similar to what is given to infants and children, could enhance their cognitive abilities and potentially mitigate cognitive decline.

What skills did the older adults learn in the study, and how long did the learning process last?

The older adults learned skills such as painting, drawing, Spanish, using an iPad, music composition, and photography. They learned these skills over a period of three months, dedicating about 15 hours a week.

What cognitive tests were used to measure the participants' improvement in the study?

The cognitive tests used included tasks like counting blue dots among other shapes and colors, and sorting shapes by color or shape based on changing instructions, which measured attention and memory.

What were the results of the study in terms of cognitive improvement?

The older adults who learned new skills showed significant cognitive improvement, reaching levels comparable to middle-aged adults during the intervention and even up to undergraduate levels within a year and a half.

How did the participants feel about their experience in the study?

The participants reported increased confidence in their abilities, a sense of purpose, and a feeling of importance and value. They expressed a desire to continue learning and contributing, even at an older age.

What message does the speaker want to convey about learning and cognitive abilities?

The speaker emphasizes that learning is a privilege and an intensive process that requires support. They advocate for optimizing learning environments for both younger and older individuals to prevent cognitive decline and enhance cognitive abilities.