Should We Add Depth to Learning?

Learning how to learn could be through different means for different people, depending on what they prefer and the context in which they are.

Some of you might have tried reverse learning without knowing the term, looking at past papers before starting the syllabus to get the hang of what you are supposed to do. Sometimes, you might look at solutions to difficult problems, trying to attach meaning to it. That way, you build your concepts and can relate them when you learn it directly.

At some points, you might not have the space to try out some of these ways in conventional settings. For example, not all of you would have had the liberty to look at solutions and work your way out through them. However, assuming you have a certain level of privilege considering you can use the web to read this, there are always other ways you can try out.

Understand why you are studying what you are, how did it all come into being, what are the processes through which you can choose to explore it more, and the like.

Get equipped with the vocabulary of that subject. Once you have all that material, ultimately, a lot will start to add up, and the significance of the present material would click. Having access to some sort of domain expert, such as an online community of like-minded learners, could enable you to walk yourself through that material.

Before you dive into the intricacies of a topic or rather even a subject, you might want to give unpacking it a shot. Question the very fundamentals of it instead of just memorizing the facts.

In many instances, you often flip through your textbooks and regurgitate the same in exams. And with good results, you might feel that you know that material. But do you really know? Learning is supposed to be a meaningful experience, understanding the development and history of an area, what lies at the heart of equations and formulas, or whatever is relevant to your studying. Knowing the facts is cool! But how about the fundamental of those to make learning a truly enriching experience?