How to find your LEARNER TYPE & build a perfect study system
Summary
TLDRThe video script by Dr. Justin Sun, a professional learning coach, delves into the concept of 'learner types' as a key to efficient learning. He differentiates these from 'learning styles' and emphasizes the importance of understanding one's cognitive habits, self-regulation, and mindset. Sun introduces a framework with five key dimensions affecting learning efficiency and explains the most common learner types, providing insights into how individuals can identify their own type and improve their learning strategies.
Takeaways
- 🧠 The ability to learn is a crucial life skill that can be improved by understanding one's learner type.
- 🔍 Learning styles and learner types are different; the former suggests a preference for certain learning methods, while the latter assesses habits and processes.
- 🌟 Dr. Justin Sun, a professional learning coach, emphasizes that identifying a learner type can significantly enhance learning efficiency.
- 📈 Learning efficiency is influenced by five key dimensions: deep processing, self-regulation, mindset, self-management, and retrieval practice.
- 💡 Deep processing is the raw power of the mind to think critically and understand complex concepts, which can be trained through neuroplasticity.
- 🔧 Self-regulation is the ability to monitor and adapt learning methods to achieve goals, requiring self-awareness and metacognition.
- 🌱 Mindset refers to one's resilience and openness to learning from mistakes, with a growth mindset being more conducive to learning.
- 🔑 Learner types are not fixed and can change as one improves their learning processes and habits.
- 📊 The most common learner type is 'Unchained,' limited by mindset, which can experience rapid growth once the mindset is retrained.
- 🌱 'Sprout' learners have a growth mindset but need to develop deep processing and self-regulation skills.
- 🎯 'Trooper' learners have a high growth mindset and self-regulation but are limited by their deep processing abilities.
- 🐟 'Carp' learners have good mindset and deep processing but lack effective self-regulation methods, which can be improved for greater learning power.
Q & A
What is the main focus of the video script?
-The main focus of the video script is to explain the concept of 'learner types' and how understanding one's learner type can significantly improve learning efficiency.
Why is it important to identify one's learner type according to the script?
-Identifying one's learner type is important because it helps individuals understand their learning habits and processes, which in turn allows them to improve more effectively and efficiently.
What is the difference between 'learning styles' and 'learner types' as mentioned in the script?
-Learning styles refer to the theory that individuals have a preferred way of learning, such as visual, auditory, or kinesthetic. Learner types, on the other hand, are about assessing habits and processes that affect learning efficiency and performance.
What are the five key dimensions that determine learning efficiency according to the script?
-The five key dimensions that determine learning efficiency are deep processing, self-regulation, mindset, self-management, and retrieval practice.
How does the concept of neuroplasticity relate to deep processing as described in the script?
-Neuroplasticity is the brain's ability to mold and adapt based on experiences. In the context of deep processing, it means that the cognitive habits related to learning can be trained and improved over time.
What is the role of self-regulation in learning as per the script?
-Self-regulation in learning is the ability to monitor and adapt learning methods to achieve learning goals. It involves having mastery over various learning skills and being able to make adjustments as needed.
What is the significance of having a growth mindset in learning?
-A growth mindset is significant in learning because it allows individuals to be open to making mistakes and learning from them. This mindset is crucial for improvement as it fosters resilience and grit.
What are the four most common learner types identified in the script?
-The four most common learner types are Unchained, Sprout, Trooper, and Carp. Each type is characterized by different levels of mindset, deep processing, and self-regulation.
How can someone determine their learner type according to the script?
-The script suggests taking a simplified diagnostic quiz based on the three key dimensions discussed in the video. This quiz can provide insights into which dimensions are most affecting an individual's learning.
What is the purpose of the diagnostic assessment mentioned in the script?
-The purpose of the diagnostic assessment is to provide a comprehensive evaluation of an individual's learning dimensions. It helps in identifying the learner type and suggests areas for improvement.
How can the insights from the script be applied to improve learning efficiency?
-The insights can be applied by first identifying one's learner type through the diagnostic assessment. Then, focusing on improving the specific dimensions that are limiting, such as developing better deep processing habits, enhancing self-regulation skills, or cultivating a growth mindset.
Outlines
📚 Discovering Your Learner Type
This paragraph introduces the concept of 'learner type' as a crucial determinant of learning efficiency, emphasizing its importance over learning styles. The speaker, Dr. Justin Sun, explains that learning styles, which suggest a preferred method of learning (visual, auditory, etc.), have been largely debunked in favor of a more holistic approach. He outlines his method of identifying a learner's type by assessing habits and processes, which can significantly improve learning outcomes. Dr. Sun's approach has been a professional advantage, and he promises to reveal the 'trade secret' of identifying learner types in the video.
🧠 Deep Processing: The Raw Power of Learning
Deep processing is described as the 'raw power of the mind,' akin to intelligence, and is the ability to think critically and understand complex concepts. It is suggested that while genetics and childhood experiences can influence deep processing, it can also be trained through neuroplasticity. The speaker warns against the ineffectiveness of copying high-deep processing learners' techniques without understanding the underlying cognitive habits. The paragraph underscores the importance of developing deep processing skills and the role of effective techniques in enhancing learning.
🔧 Self-Regulation: Adapting Learning Methods
Self-regulation, or self-regulated learning, is the ability to monitor and adapt learning methods to achieve goals. It is likened to having a range of tools and knowing how to use them effectively. The paragraph discusses the importance of self-awareness and metacognition in academic success. It highlights how high deep processing without self-regulation can lead to inconsistency, especially when faced with unexpected challenges. The speaker emphasizes the need for mastery over various learning skills and the ability to adjust them on the fly.
🌱 Growth Mindset: Embracing Learning Through Mistakes
Mindset is presented as a critical factor in learning, particularly the ability to handle mistakes and uncertainty. The paragraph contrasts a fixed mindset, which fears failure, with a growth mindset, which thrives on learning from mistakes. The speaker explains that a growth mindset is essential for self-regulation and deep processing, as these require practice and the acceptance of making errors. The importance of reframing one's mindset to facilitate learning is highlighted, along with the assertion that mindsets can be trained, albeit with diligence.
🏆 Identifying and Improving Your Learner Type
The final paragraph discusses the different learner types based on the three key dimensions: mindset, self-regulation, and deep processing. The speaker outlines four common learner types: Unchained (limited by mindset), Sprout (beginner learners with a growth mindset), Trooper (high self-regulation but limited deep processing), and Carp (good deep processing and mindset but lacking self-regulation). The paragraph also introduces a simplified diagnostic quiz to help viewers identify their learner type and suggests focusing on improving the most impactful dimensions for one's learning ability.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Learning Efficiency
💡Learner Type
💡Deep Processing
💡Self-Regulation
💡Mindset
💡Metacognition
💡Neuroplasticity
💡Self-Management
💡Retrieval Practice
💡Unchained Learner
💡Sprout
💡Trooper
💡Carp
Highlights
Learning ability is a life-defining skill, but learning methods vary greatly among individuals.
Copying top students' methods doesn't always work for everyone due to differences in learner types.
Learner types are about assessing habits and processes, not just learning styles.
Identifying one's learner type can significantly improve learning efficiency.
Learning styles are different from learner types and are not as crucial for efficiency.
The human brain is better at processing visual information, but learning styles should not limit one's approach to learning.
Self-regulated learning is more important than sticking to a single learning style.
Learning efficiency is determined by five key dimensions: deep processing, self-regulation, mindset, self-management, and retrieval practice.
Deep processing is like the 'raw power' of the mind and can be trained through neuroplasticity.
High achievers may use ineffective techniques due to their strong deep processing abilities.
Self-regulation is the ability to adapt learning methods to achieve goals and requires self-awareness.
A growth mindset is crucial for learning as it allows for making and learning from mistakes.
Learner types are not fixed and can change as one improves their learning processes and habits.
The most common learner type is 'Unchained,' limited by mindset but capable of rapid growth.
The 'Sprout' learner type has a growth mindset but needs to develop deep processing and self-regulation skills.
'Trooper' learners have a growth mindset and self-regulation but are limited by deep processing.
'Carp' learners have good mindset and deep processing but lack effective self-regulation methods.
A simplified diagnostic quiz is available to help identify one's learner type.
Improving learning involves focusing on the key dimensions that are most limiting for an individual.
Transcripts
your ability to learn is one of the most
important skills in your life it is
literally life defining but if you've
ever tried to get better at learning you
probably realize that what works for one
person doesn't necessarily work for
another person like have you ever try to
copy something that some top student
will do but then it just doesn't work
for you or maybe you've heard those
stories about those students that never
seem to study but then they still get
first place how do they do that are they
just built different and if so what are
you meant to do most of the time the
answer lies in figuring out your learner
type once you figure out your learner
type improving is much smoother that's
why one of the first things I do when I
work with any new learner is to find
their learner type and this is not some
weird horoscope thing this is not
talking about learning styles which are
completely different learner types are
about assessing your habits and
processes the type of learner you are
affects what you're good at that what is
holding you back and therefore what is
the thing that if you were to work on
would make the biggest impact for your
performance being able to identify
someone's learner type is actually a
trade secret of mine that has allowed me
to help people improve their learning
efficiency more in Just 4 weeks than
they have been able to in the last four
years combined as a professional
learning coach it's been one of my
greatest competitive advantages and by
the end of this video you'll see why
I've actually never revealed this on
YouTube before not not because I didn't
want to but because it's been such a
core part of my practice for so many
years now that I just didn't really
think about making a video about this
directly like it literally only occurred
to me a couple of days ago that I have
never talked about this which is wild so
in this video I'll explain what a
learner type is and how it's different
to a learning style I'll go through and
explain the different learner types that
I've identified over the last decade of
working with thousands of students and
then I'll go through some
recommendations on how you can figure
out your own learner type and then what
that means for you if you are new to
this channel welcome I'm Dr Justin Sun
I'm a learning coach in the head of
learning at I can study for the last 10
years I have helped thousands of people
learn to learn more efficiently and for
the last few years I have been sharing
my experience and a few evidence-based
ways that you can approach learning on
YouTube before we jump in as always I
would appreciate if you give this video
a like the YouTube algorithm controls my
fate and quality of life and the
algorithm is controlled by how many
likes and comments this video gets so
every like is appreciated okay so what
is the learner type and why does it
matter firstly let me make it clear that
learning styles are a completely
separate thing learning styles is a
theory that became popular in the 7s and
it basically says that the human brain
has a certain style of learning like
visual auditory read and write or
kinesthetic that it is bitter at and
therefore finding that learning style
will make you a bit and more efficient
learner but after Decades of research we
know that that is actually not the case
this is not a dedicated video on
learning Styles let me know if you want
me to make one but the summary is that
all people benefit from using multiple
learning styles and the human brain is
vastly better at processing visual
information than basically any other
type of information all humans and
certainly there are learning preferences
but those are usually because of Prior
experiences and habits rather than
something that is biological or innate
everyone should get better at using
multiple learning styles because number
one it's called cognitively Superior and
number two you just simply can't choose
which style to learn from most of the
time anyway so it creates unnecessary
pigeon H holding and sets limits on your
self-beliefs on how you can or can't
learn efficiently rather than just
learning to make learning work for you
which is called self-regulated learning
and self-regulated learning is my area
of expertise so that's learning styles
and it has nothing to do with learn a
types I just wanted to clear that up
you'll learn a typ type comes down to
the core Dimensions that make up an
efficient learner this is based on a
conceptual framework of learning that I
created which I'm in the process of
getting published uh it's taking a while
but it can be very technical so I'll try
to keep this concise your learning
efficiency is mainly determined by five
key dimensions and they are number one
deep processing number two
self-regulation number three mindset
number four self-management and number
five retrieval practice as an analogy I
like playing video games and characters
and games usually have these stats like
strength agility defense dexterity or
something like that well these five core
dimensions are basically the stats for
your ability to learn the learner types
are just a different combination of
these five Dimensions as a quick and
Shameless plug the icon study.com guided
training program is based on training
you through these core Dimensions which
is why mapping these with a diagnostic
assessment is step one of the program
now in this video I want to focus on
just the first three dimensions because
these are the ones that are I think the
most important and also the ones that
people most commonly have issues with
also this video will just get too long
so starting with deep processing deep
processing is the raw power of your mind
think of a genius that you know or have
heard of what you are thinking about is
probably deep processing it's basically
intelligence deep processing is the
ability to think critically make
connections between ideas extract me
meaningful learning from information and
understand complex Concepts most people
with deep processing are high Achievers
and they have high deep processing
because of a combination of genetics and
childhood experiences here's the
important part of deep processing though
deep processing can be trained your
brain has this thing called
neuroplasticity which is the ability for
it to mold and adapt based on the
pressures that you put on it that's how
we form new habits deep processing is
just a series of habits related to
learning and they can be trained not
every person is going to become the
genius but everyone can get better FYI
many in fact probably most of the videos
that I put out on this channel are
actually about training yourself to be
better at De processing the second thing
and this is
crucial is that if you don't have high
deep processing which most people don't
and you try to copy someone that does
have Pi deep processing you will
probably not have the same level of
success this single fact is the reason
why there is so much bad studying advice
out there people with high deep
processing can use ineffective
techniques and still do well their raw
processing power can compensate for
their bad technique let me explain an
effective technique is one that helps
you think in a way that is good for
Learning and an ineffective technique is
one that does not help your brain think
in a way that is good for learning your
cognitive habits are set by your deep
processing so if you've got high deep
processing you have good cognitive
habits if you have low deep processing
you don't have good cognitive habits and
obviously this is kind of oversimplified
in reality it's more of a spectrum if
you have high deep processing and you
use an ineffective technique you can
usually still make it work obviously if
you use an effective technique it works
even better now if you have low deep Pro
thing which again is most people they
don't have the cognitive habits to pull
this off and overcome it so if they use
an ineffective technique they will not
be able to make it work but the thing is
that truly effective techniques actually
less common and part of that is because
High deep processors don't need to use
the most effective techniques a lot of
the time especially when they're in high
school or things are a little bit easier
most natural high Achievers are doing
well despite their techniques not
because of them that's why you might
find that many high Achievers especially
on social media and Reddit seem to look
down on more deliberate learning methods
because they think it's unnecessary
because for them it genuinely may be
unnecessary it's like someone who is
crazy strong they can lift the weight
even if they have bad form but if you
aren't you probably can't or you might
even injure yourself most high Achievers
are also not experienced learning Cod
coaches so what worked for them doesn't
necessarily transfer to someone else
this is one of the reasons why I always
say take advice from people that have
had personal success and have been able
to replicate that success in other
people again just because you are a
terrific athlete doesn't necessarily
mean that you're a good coach but the
thing is that if you have low deep
processing and you use these techniques
that lots of high Achievers are using
and then you don't do well which is
statistically most people then you can
conclude that you're not smart enough or
you are just incapable which is sad and
untrue so here's the summary if you have
good deep processing good for you you're
probably not going to be limited by this
Dimension you can focus on the other
dimensions if you do have low deep
processing this is something that's
probably worthwhile for you to work on
as well as compensating for it with the
other dimensions so the next Dimension
is selfregulation
self-regulation or in other words
self-regulated learning is the ability
to Monitor and adapt your learning
methods to achieve your learning goals
an efficient learner is like an
efficient Builder they have a range of
tools and they know how to use each one
to achieve the outcome they want if
they're not getting success with one
tool they know to change the tool if one
tool isn't working they know how to use
it differently to get the job done for
learning that means having Mastery over
skills like your note taking your
listening your pre-study and priming
your review and your consolidation
skills all of these things which I talk
about in many of my other videos you
also need to be able to monitor how it's
going and then make adjustments on the
Fly this requires self-awareness and the
ability to think about thinking which is
something called
metacognition one of the most
influential factors for academic success
so if you have high deep processing but
low
self-regulation then you may do well
normally but struggle with consistency
especially if unexpected things pop up
or when things become more challenging
you might suddenly struggle to keep up I
see this a lot with students going from
high school to college or university
where suddenly there's this very big
jump from the amount of self-regulation
they needed and then now there's more
resources to manage the lectures are
faster there's more Content Volume
there's just overall less Direction and
therefore they need a greater
self-regulation ability but they don't
have it and then they start struggling
even if you had the raw power to process
the information it's just an unnecessary
amount of energy that's being spent on
the flip side if you have low deep
processing but you've got high self
regulation then you can compensate for
having lower level of raar power with
just sheer technique and in fact
actually that's what I recommend most of
the time because good technique actually
helps to train your deep processing Over
time however both of these are limited
by mindset which is the third dimension
mindset is about your resilience and
grit how do you react to the idea of
making mistakes or jumping into the
unknown with dealing with uncertainty do
you jump right into it experiment and
learn from your mistakes or are you
Paralyzed by a fear of failure being
afraid of making mistakes and feeling a
sense of insecurity with failure is what
we call a fixed mindset whereas the
opposite where you're open to making
mistakes and you learn from it and you
even thrive in it that is called a
growth mindset because both
self-regulation and deep processing
require practice and time to train
mistakes are unavoidable in fact even if
you could avoid them you wouldn't want
to avoid them because making mistakes is
where you get most of the learning from
so if you are limited by a fixed mindset
it's impossible to improve on anything
and knowing this can make a big
difference what I often see is people
trying to improve their learning methods
which is good by learning about more
methods and more techniques which is
good but they are so afraid of making
mistakes that they don't really practice
them or they practice them a little bit
it's not really working so well for them
and then they straight away just back
off and then they get trapped in the
spiral of wanting to improve learning
methods to improve not practicing them
enough and making enough mistakes to
improve and then being again even more
desperate to improve this is a really
demotivating and anxious spiral to be in
and just knowing that it's the mindset
holding them back rather than the
technique can be life-changing
fortunately mindsets can also be trained
but the research says that it is
challenging and takes a lot of diligence
so those are the three key Dimensions
that I think you should know as I
mentioned we've got two more in our full
program but based on our data less than
10% of Learners are limited by those now
here are the learner types ranked by
most common to the least common these
learner types are not set in stone it's
not some Cosmic Destiny for you they are
just an indication of where you are at
right now and therefore what you should
focus your efforts and energy on
improving next as you train and change
your processes and habits your type will
also change the most common type of
learner is one that we call Unchained
Unchained Learners are limited by their
mindset and the other dimensions
actually don't really matter so much
because they're going to be limited by
mindset anyway we call them Unchained
because even though they are chained by
their mindset right now we found that
once we retrain the mindset they
actually experience a very rapid growth
spirit and I think this is because
they're so used to putting in so much
time and energy and effort into trying
to improve that once we reframe the
mindset they can direct that time and
energy in a way that's a lot more
productive and then they get this big
grow Spike based on our data we have
found that about 60% of Learners are
unch
now I suspect that this number is
actually higher in the general
population because most of the Learners
that we work with in our program are
already pretty proactive to begin with
the next most common one is one that we
call the Sprout Sprouts as you can see
have a growth mindset but they have low
de processing and they have low
self-regulation skills these are usually
people that are very early on in their
learning skills Journey it's not a bad
place to be it just means that Sprouts
need to work on developing good
depressing habits as well as creating a
good foundation of self-regulated
learning skills the third most common is
this one which we call Trooper Troopers
have high growth mindset they've got
high self-regulation but they have
limited deep processing Troopers are
called Troopers based on storm troopers
from Star Wars because Storm Troopers
fire their blasters a lot but they never
really hit anything and so Trooper
Learners they are really used to
experimenting and using lots of
different learning methods which is good
but they're limited by they deep
processing cognitive habits and so even
though they use a lot of methods they
don't really hit the mark they can spend
a lot of time and be quite stressed
about changing and adapting their
learning methods and not it ever being
quite good enough and there's sort of
like a seiling of how good it can be
this can also be pretty demotivating and
frustrating so Troopers need to focus on
developing their deep processing
abilities to get the most out of the
methods that they're using if you think
about your learning methods like
equipment then and you can see how you
can have really Hightech fancy amazing
state-of-the-art equipment but if you
actually don't know how to use the
equipment properly you're actually just
not going to get that much benefit it's
really exactly the same with learning
you can use an effective technique that
is helping your brain think in a very
productive way but if your brain is just
so not used to thinking in that way that
it can't keep up with the technique
that's where the bottleneck is going to
happen and then finally we have carps
which is the least common on here but
still pretty common which have low
levels of
self-regulation but they have good
mindset and good deep processing we call
them carps based on Magikarp from
Pokémon because if you've ever played
Pokémon magic car has like one attack
called Splash and it's not very
effective but they evolve into Gyarados
which is pretty badass so CS are
Learners that don't have very effective
methods but if you give them better
methods then they can become much more
powerful usually very suddenly cars are
actually pretty common among top
Achievers but they are less common in
the general population around 90% of
Learners will fall into one of these
four categories again there is actually
one more type when we introduce the
other two key Dimensions but we're just
not going to talk about that in this
video so how can you actually figure out
your learning type well trying to
explain how you can figure out your own
learning type through a video would be
insane complicated on our program we
have a very comprehensive diagnostic
assessment for all five Dimensions that
we've collected data on and researched
to make it really accurate but I've gone
ahead and created a simplified version
using just the three key Dimensions that
we've talked about in this video that
you can do completely for free it's not
quite as accurate as the full one
because it's missing a couple of
dimensions and the report you get at the
end is not as in depth and personalized
but it's less questions takes less time
to do and I think gives you a pretty
pretty solid understanding about what
dimensions are affecting you the most
and what you can work on next to make
the biggest impact for your learning
ability you can find a link to this quiz
in the description below once you've
figured out your learner type you might
want to know how you can actually
improve on each of those dimensions in
an effective way and if so then make
sure to stick around to the end of this
video where there's a playlist a
collection of videos that I think is a
pretty good place to start alternatively
if you want to do the full diagnostic
assessment and jump into our guided
program you can check that out at I
study . if you liked this video which I
hope you did I really did try make sure
to subscribe thank you for watching and
I'll see you next
[Music]
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