Hands On Learning? How About You?

 Learning by doing is a simple but powerful idea that can transform your career and life. It means that you learn new skills and knowledge by actually performing the tasks, rather than just reading or listening about them. It is also known as experiential learning, and it has many benefits for both personal and professional development.

In this blog post, I will explain what learning by doing is, why it is effective, and how you can start applying it to your own goals and challenges.

What Is Learning by Doing?

Learning by doing is the idea that we learn best when we are actively involved in the learning process, rather than passively observing or receiving information. It is based on the principle that “for the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them” (Aristotle).

Learning by doing can take many forms, such as:

• Practicing a new skill or technique

• Solving a problem or challenge

• Creating a product or service

• Participating in a project or activity

• Experimenting with different methods or approaches

• Collaborating with others

• Reflecting on the outcomes and feedback

Learning by doing is not limited to formal education or training settings. It can happen anytime and anywhere, as long as you are willing to try new things, make mistakes, and learn from them.

Why Is Learning by Doing Effective?

Learning by doing is effective because it engages multiple aspects of our brain and body, making the learning experience more memorable, meaningful, and enjoyable. Here are some of the benefits of learning by doing:

• It stimulates our senses and emotions, which helps us remember and recall information better.

• It connects our prior knowledge and experience with new information, which helps us understand and apply concepts better.

• It motivates us to achieve our goals and overcome challenges, which helps us develop confidence and resilience.

• It exposes us to different perspectives and feedback, which helps us improve our communication and collaboration skills.

• It integrates our learning into our daily lives, which helps us transfer our skills and knowledge to new situations.

According to research, learning by doing can improve our retention and performance by up to 75%, compared to passive learning methods such as reading or listening (The Learning Pyramid).

How to Start Learning by Doing

Learning by doing is not difficult to implement, but it does require some planning and preparation. Here are some steps you can follow to start learning by doing:

1. Identify your learning goal or challenge. What do you want to learn or achieve? Be specific and realistic.

2. Find a suitable learning opportunity or resource. Where can you practice or apply your learning goal or challenge? It could be a course, a project, a mentor, a book, a website, etc.

3. Set a timeline and milestones. How long will it take you to complete your learning goal or challenge? Break it down into smaller steps and track your progress.

4. Do it. Take action and start learning by doing. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes or ask for help. Be open to feedback and improvement.

5. Reflect on your results and learnings. What did you accomplish? What did you learn? What worked well? What didn’t work well? How can you improve next time?

An Example of Learning by Doing

To illustrate how learning by doing works, let me share
an example from my own experience.

A few years ago, I wanted to learn how to play the guitar. I had no prior musical background or knowledge, so I decided to enroll in an online course that taught me the basics of guitar playing.

The course was structured around learning by doing. Each lesson consisted of a video tutorial that explained a concept or technique, followed by an exercise that required me to practice it on my own guitar.

The exercises were challenging but fun. They forced me to apply what I learned immediately and gave me instant feedback on my performance. They also exposed me to different styles and genres of music that I could play on the guitar.

As I progressed through the course, I noticed that my skills and confidence improved significantly. I was able to play songs that I liked and even compose my own tunes. I also developed a passion for music that motivated me to keep learning and exploring.

Learning by doing helped me achieve my goal of playing the guitar in a way that was engaging, effective, and enjoyable. It also opened up new opportunities for me to express myself creatively and connect with others who shared my interest.

Conclusion

Learning by doing is a powerful technique that can help you learn new skills and knowledge faster and better. It involves actively performing the tasks that you want to learn, rather than just reading or listening about them. It has many benefits, such as:

• It makes learning more memorable and meaningful

• It helps you understand and apply concepts better

• It boosts your motivation and confidence

• It improves your communication and collaboration skills

• It integrates your learning into your daily life

To start learning by doing, you need to identify your learning goal or challenge, find a suitable learning opportunity or resource, set a timeline and milestones, do it, and reflect on your results and learnings.

Learning by doing can transform your career and life by helping you achieve your goals and overcome your challenges in a fun and effective way. So what are you waiting for? Start learning by doing today!