Planning and Prioriziting Learning Projects
Things left to do on this page:
- Spell Check
The Learning Framework
This page is dedicated to planning, organizing and prioritizing learning projects. It is the second part of my five part series detailing my learning framework.
The Learning Framework Series:
- The Learning Framwork
- Planning and Prioritizing (You Are Here)
- Tools and Techniques
- Execution and Practice
- Adapation and Evaluation
Learning Objectives:
- Know how to prioritize and identify what's important to learn to reach learning goals
- Know how to align learning goals with values and things I'd find practical
- Have a clear understanding of whether or not to take on a new learning project
- Have an estimate of how much time/energy a new learning project will take and whether or not it can fit within my life
- Have a learning roadmap/outline for *any* type of learning project.
- Have something to help create a learning roadmap.
Overview
This step is to be completed before you start practicing or working towards the goal. This is the research and planning that will be put into the project beforehand.
This research should provide:
- a specific learning goal
- the level of ability or knowledge needed for this goal
- a clear idea of the steps needed to reach the goal(s)
- an estimate of the time to dedicate towards the goal
- the frequency to check-in and evalute progress
- the list of materials to aquire before starting to practice
- a plan to habitualize, and make time for the practice
Outline:
- Learning Journal
- Research
- Timeline
- Goal
- Break Skills/Goals down
- Evaluate Project
- Roadmap
- Time Managment
- Habitualize
- Aquire Materials
Click Here to see thoughts behind outline organization.
What goes first? The Research or the Learning Goal?
I would say that after some more thought that the Research and Goal can be conducted in either order, however, having an awarness of the potential scope of a learning field can help create a more realistic goal.
Why is the outline organized the way it is?
Learning Journal should be created before doing your research so that you have a place to record what you've found, as well as the timeline, goal, and roadmap.
Research of the skill or thing you are trying to learn should come first. In fact, Research will be used throughout the process in different facets. But some breif research should come before creating a goal and timeline.
The Timeline can change the goal that you set, and therefore should be set in place before your goal.
Goal should be created with the knowledge of the Timeline and information you've found from some light research. Yet should come before making a roadmap or breaking the goal down.
Breaking Goals Down should come after the goal creation, and is technically apart of the Roadmap phase.
Evaluating the Learning Project should come after you have an idea of the scope and potential cost in time, energy and effort. It should also be done early enough that if you decided to come back to the learning project, the first thing you will do is create a roadmap.
Roadmap, should come after having smaller objectives to achieve.
Time Management and Habitualization of the time spent practicing for the goal should come after setting the goal and roadmap. It should also probably be updated after the first interval or two of practice.
Finally, Aquiring the Materials should happen once you have a plan set in place.
1. Learning Journal
The more that I think about this learning framework the more that I think about the concept of a 'learning jouranl'. I could see this as a way to organize and maintain information about your learning.
This could record:
- How much time spent planning/practicing.
- Reflections on progress
- Recall tests
- Evaluations of progress
- The obstacles faced
- Reflections on how to adapt to change with goal or availablility
- A place to store and reference the learning roadmap.
Questions About Learning Journals:
Clean up and condense.
What is a learning journal?
A learning journal is a reflective tool that aids in personal and academic growth by focusing on specific activities such as assignments and development frameworks [3]. It consists of written entries that allow individuals to reflect on their experiences and learning processes [3].
This journal serves as a personal record of learning, often including thoughts on how one's understanding has evolved over time [4]. Also known as Learning Portfolios or Reflection Journals, it's not just about recording what you learn, but also about critically thinking about how you learn [4].
The learning journal is an ongoing collection of writings that supports learning, offering various forms such as creative journals, personal blogs, or structured formats, each tailored to enhance the learning experience [5].
What are the main benefits of a learning journal?
A learning journal serves as a powerful tool for enhancing educational experiences by fostering a deeper understanding and reflection on learning. Its key benefits include aiding in the reflection on past actions to make improved decisions for future actions and monitoring performance, thereby linking activities more closely to coursework [3].
These journals are instrumental in utilizing feedback effectively to enhance work and upcoming assignments. They support a more profound comprehension of learning experiences, enabling their application in future scenarios [3].
Further, a learning journal provides a dynamic representation of one's evolving grasp of a subject or experience, illustrating how learning is progressing [4]. It maintains a record of thoughts and ideas, aiding in identifying strengths and areas for improvement, while also offering insights into individual learning preferences [4].
This encourages reflective thinking about the learning process itself. Additionally, learning journals are beneficial in documenting and promoting thoughtful engagement with material [5]. They can be tailored to meet individual student needs, supporting personalized learning approaches, and fostering reflection, inquiry, and a deeper understanding of topics [5].
What kinds of topics or subjects are typically covered in a learning journal?
Learning journals cover a wide range of topics and subjects, tailored to enhance the educational experience. They often include specific activities, issues, or subjects such as assignments or study topics, and personal reactions to various experiences, which can range from legal issues to experimental work in scientific fields [3].
These journals encourage reflective thinking about coursework, experiential learning, and personal development. They are spaces for expressing thoughts, feelings, and observations about the learning journey [4]. Additionally, they are used for reflecting on changes in understanding and considering the implications for future studies [4].
The scope of topics in learning journals is broad, encompassing personal reflections, specific academic subjects, or more extensive themes like change, connections, or metacognition [5]. There are different types of learning journals, such as Question Journals, Metacognitive Journals, and Connecting Journals, each focusing on distinct aspects of learning and thinking processes [5].
What should be included in a learning journal?
A learning journal should be a well-structured and dynamic tool for reflection and analysis. It's essential to include specific questions that guide reflective thinking, focusing on topics, activities, learning objectives, and critical reflections [3]. Regular updates are crucial, even if some entries are brief, and the writing should favor an analytical approach over mere description [3]. Each entry should clearly outline its purpose, outcome, focus, method, theory, audience, and other relevant aspects [3].
Regular entries that detail thoughts and considerations are fundamental [4]. Organizing the journal with specific headings and sub-headings for each section or task, including dates and possibly times, helps maintain clarity and structure [4]. A learning journal can be enriched with a combination of sketches, diagrams, videos, photographs, screenshots, images, illustrations, audio recordings, and links to useful resources, adhering to any language and formatting guidelines set by the teacher [4].
Entries might range from simple questions and musings to more detailed analyses and connections between different concepts [5]. Incorporating visual elements, like sketches or concept maps, can further enhance understanding and learning [5]. There are also specific types of journals, such as 'I wonder...' or 'I notice/I think...' journals, which encourage different forms of reflection and exploration, facilitating a more comprehensive learning experience [5].
How do I track my progress and development in a learning journal?
To effectively track progress and development in a learning journal, it's important to keep the portfolio current, regularly reviewing, reflecting on, and recording progress [3]. This includes relating activities to coursework and using feedback in a constructive manner [3]. Reviewing journal entries can help identify themes, aiding in recognizing actions needed for long-term improvement [3]. Additionally, evaluating learning through key reflective questions about what was learned, the experience, and its impact is crucial [3].
A consistent practice of spending 15-30 minutes daily adding entries ensures the journal accurately reflects the learning process [4]. Observing changes in understanding and thinking processes also plays a significant role [4].
Specific types of journals, such as Change Journals and Metacognitive Journals, are beneficial for tracking knowledge and thinking over time [5]. Highlighted Journals or Double-entry Journals can be used to connect personal growth with academic learning, while Critical Incident Journals focus on analyzing specific events for deeper understanding and future action planning [5].
Are there specific formats or structures that are most effective in a learning journal?
In a learning journal, adopting a structured format for each entry is highly effective. This includes detailing the topic, activity, date, learning objectives, and reflections [3]. Writing should be used as a tool to explore and understand ideas, with flexibility in structuring the journal to meet individual needs, emphasizing reflective questions for deeper learning evaluation [3].
Formats can be physical, like a sketchpad or notepad, or digital, such as Google Documents or Slides [4]. It's important to follow the teacher's directions regarding specific format and presentation requirements, which may include details on expectations like minimum entries, specific definitions, terms, concepts, and required visual elements [4]. Additionally, adherence to specific font style and size requirements, if any, should be maintained [4].
The effectiveness of a format depends on the learner's needs and learning objectives [5]. Formats can range from digital journals and private journals to more structured ones like the 5 Ws Journal or Concept/Example Journal [5]. Combining different types of journals, akin to categories on a website, can benefit learners by offering varied ways of reflection and learning [5].
Advice from 'Learn Better' [7]
- Use Writing: After an experience, write down reflections to slow down thinking and improve learning by considering what went well and what didn't.
- Learning Journal: Maintain a learning journal to record insights from classes or practice sessions, even if they are seemingly mundane, as they can spark richer learning.
- Talking Out Loud: Engage in reflective self-talk during or after an experience to promote deeper understanding and problem-solving by asking questions like "What do I do next?" or "What am I solving for?"
- Role of Reflection: Reflection is essential for effective learning, as simply presenting content to learners does not guarantee meaningful understanding; intentional reflection is necessary to make connections.
- Structured Reflection: Implement structured reflection initiatives in educational programs to help students engage in intentional reflection, making sense of their experiences and learning from them.
- Example from an Internship: Encourage students to write essays about their internship experiences to force them to step back, think, and reflect on their learning and goals.
Quotes:
After each show, he’ll write up half a dozen pages about the experience. The short essay reflects on how he performed, detailing musical successes and failures, describing what he thought worked—and didn’t work.
The thoughts don’t have to be profound. “In hockey class today, I discovered that I need to use my hips more.” Or, “My acting instructor told me that I need to project my voice more.” Yet even these sort of mundane scribblings can be enough to spark a richer form of learning
Talking out loud can help a lot, too. It’s another way to slow down the thinking process, and after an experience—or even during an experience— people can improve their learning if they talk to themselves in ways that promote reflection: “So what do I do next?” or “What am I solving for again?”
By stopping and thinking, people are more likely to get what they want. In BAM, this activity is known more broadly as “slow thinking,” and in many ways, it’s a matter of putting Immordino-Yang’s research into action. By learning to be more deliberate, by checking our emotions, by being more calm, people make better decisions—and learn a lot more.
Things to include or thing about in the learning journal:
- Reflect Actively: After each learning experience, take time to write down your thoughts and reflections in a journal.
- Detail Your Experiences: Describe both your successes and failures, and be specific about what worked and what didn't.
- Slow Down Your Thinking: Recognize that writing slows down your thought process, facilitating more deliberate reflection.
- Use a Learning Journal: Think of your journal as a tool for recording what went well during your learning activities.
- Mundane Thoughts Matter: Even seemingly mundane observations can spark deeper learning insights.
- Talk to Yourself: Engage in self-talk during or after an experience to promote reflection. Ask questions like, "What do I do next?" or "What am I solving for?"
- Understand the Role of Reflection: Don't assume that reflection happens automatically; intentional reflection is essential for effective learning.
- Give Yourself Time: Allocate focused time to think through a new skill or knowledge area for deeper understanding.
- Incorporate Reflection in Education: Educational institutions, like Northeastern University, are implementing reflection initiatives to help students engage in more intentional reflection.
- Example from an Internship Program: The internship program at Northeastern encourages students to answer questions about their experiences, forcing them to reflect on what they've learned.
- Benefit of Reflection: Reflection allows individuals to make sense of their experiences and consider their future goals.
The Science of Self-Learning [8]
Quotes:
Finally, self-explanation. Do it. When we are forced to try to explain concepts through self-inquiry, we will quickly discover what we do know and what we donʼt know at all. These are called blind spots, and they are far more common than you might like to think. Can you explain why the sky is blue or how gravity works? Probably not off the top of your head, even though you think you understand those concepts. The Feynman technique is an offshoot of self-explanation that helps find blind spots as well, with an added component of using an analogy to explain what you think you know.
Information itself is not going to teach you. You must have a dialogue with the material you discover and interact with it in a way that makes up for not having a stimulating teacher or professor. You must pull information out. You can accomplish this through asking critical and probative questions—the goal is to gain understanding, context, and perspective, not to seek a correct answer. As long as you focus on the overall purpose of finding a nuanced and three-dimensional view of a topic, your questions will be well-guided.
Take information out of quotes and write the way to use the information.
How To Create A Learning Journal
What are the things to consider when creating a learning journal?
Well the first thing to consider is that this will be a place to store your research, goals, timeline, evaluation and progress.
The second thing to consider is the medium through which you will be keeping this learning journal. Will it be online, or a paper journal, or what have you.
Then come up with some questions that will help keep you on track with your learning goal, and help you measure progress, and reflect on the techniques and process.
Finish writing how to create an effective learning journal.
Include example questions and components of a learning journal.
Additional Reading/Links:
Cite notes link to the bottom of the page, the sources specific to this section are listed here as well:
- [3] OpenLearn: Learning Journals
- [4] St Patrick's College: How To Create A Learning Journal
- [5] Teach Thought: 20 Types of Learning Journals that Help Students Think
- Lechtturm1917: Learning Journal
- Lechtturm1917: The Cleer Learning Journey
2. Research Topic
research and learn about your topic in order to get an idea of what the key things are that you need to know in order to be able to do what you would like to accomplish. This should be about setting up a list of stepping stones for reaching your goal. The things that you need to be able to do or know in order to reach your goal. The objectives that you would like to meet over the course of the learning project.
Why Research The Topic Beforehand?
This research will help give you a better idea of whether or not to pursue the learning goal.It will also help you have an idea of the subskills for what you would like to learn.
The reason that I recommend researching before setting your goal is so that you have a clear idea of what is possible and the effort it takes to aquire the skills and knowledge. Looking into how other people have learned what you learned helps you better prepare for obstacles and set better expectations for your own goals.
Advice:
- Research the Skill and Related Topics: Spend time gathering resources and identifying important subskills and tools for the skill you're learning. [1]
- Identify Mental Models and Hooks: Recognize recurring patterns and analogies to help understand and remember new concepts. [1]
- Have I done research into what are the typical ways of learning this subject or skill? [2]
- Have I interviewed successful learners to see what resources and advice they can recommend? [2]
- Have I spent about 10 percent of the total time on preparing my project? [2]
3. Deadline
Part of the learning framework system is shortening the meta-learning feedback loop. This allows for us to improve our techniques, which in turn improve our comprehension and retention of a subject or skill. The shorter the deadline, the more frequent the reflection and the discoveries of our own techniques and methods to see if they are effective.
Learning Framework Projects have deadlines. This is different than most other learning projects which seem to be allowed an infinite number of hours to consume before being re-evaluated. Deadlines allow for pause and reflection. Setting the right deadlines helps keep us motivated.
I go by advice I heard once, which is that anything longer than 6 months out is considered a dream. Anything between 3 to 6 months is a long-term goal, and anything less than 3 months is considered a short term goal.
Deadlines should follow the provided guidelines:
- Deadlines should be no longer than 12 weeks.
- Once the deadline is reached, a post-mortem is conducted.
- A project can be continued past a post-mortem if a new deadline and goal is set.
- Deadlines account for breaks and transition.
- Deadlines account for buffer time and meta-work.
- Deadlines work in conjunction with effective goal sizes.
Research Deadline Specifications from 'Success Isn't An Accident'
4. Goal
Getting clarity on what you would like to accomplish. Setting the rules of the game before playing.
Setting goals or objectives for your learning help us clarify what skills or knowledge we are trying to aquire. Setting aim on an objective helps us be more selective on where we spend our effort.
There was once a study that followed participants and their progress on goals they have set for themselves. One group simply verbally shared their goal with the researchers before the study, and the second group wrote down their goals and shared them with the researchers. I don't remember the specifics, but those who wrote down their goals were 8-13% more likely to have reached them by the end of the study period.
Learning Objectives
Let's discuss learning objectives, as a concept seperate from learning goals for a moment.
Set Smaller Goals
I would like to make the case for setting smaller, more achieveable goals. See: Atomic Habits, Tiny Habits.
Basic concept: Smaller goals means more frequent positive feedback. This keeps us more motivated and interested in reaching our longer term goals, which are functions of our smaller goals.
How To Set Goals:
- Write It Down. Get a peice of paper and begin writing the following down. [10]
-
What's Your Broad Aspiration? Be as vague as you would like, but ensure that you write down what brought you to this idea. Connect this broad goal to your passions and interests for increased motivation. [13]
Don't: I want to pass a test.
Do: I want to be a surgeon.
I want to improve my physical health.
-
Connect To Values. Why is this goal important to you? How does it connect to your values? [10]
Physical health is crucial to me because it allows me to be more active with my friends and live a longer, more fulfilling life.
-
How Good Do You Need To Be? What is your target performance level with this goal? [1] [2] Is this a goal that requires you to be the best there is, or can you achieve your goal at a intermediate or novice level?
I want to win a tournament = I need to be really skilled.
I want to complete a 5K run = I need to have a good endurance level.
I want to maintain a regular workout routine = Consistency is key, not perfection.
I'm just interested in learning and having fun = I don't need to be perfect and can make some mistakes.
-
Get Specific. What are the specific outcomes you hope to achieve?
Don't: I want to get fit.
Do: I want to run a 5K in under 30 minutes by the end of the year.
-
Measure. Determine how you will track your progress toward your goal. This could be through quantitative metrics, such as time or distance, or qualitative assessments, such as self-reflection or feedback from others.
For a 5K run, track your time and distance during each training session.
For improving physical health, monitor changes in your energy levels, mood, or physical capabilities.
-
Use Inversion. Imagine the Opposite of What You Want. What would it look like if you failed to meet this goal? Inverting these elements identifies crucial parts of the goal by considering what would lead to failure. [1]
Failure would look like:
Exercising only once a week.
So it's very important that I:
Exercise more than once a week.
-
Positive and Present Reframing. Reframe your goal in the present tense, and use positive language. [10]
Don't: I'm not sitting around anymore and hoping I'll get fit someday.
Do: I am actively improving my fitness every day and getting closer to running a 5K.
-
Resources Needed. What resources (time, money, tools, skills) do you currently have, and what do you need?
I currently have a gym membership and running shoes.
I need a structured training plan.
-
Potential Obstacles. What obstacles might you encounter?
Time management with work and family duties.
Weather conditions for outdoor running.
-
Support System. Who can support you in achieving this goal?
My family for encouragement.
A friend as a running partner.
-
Realistic Timeline. What is a realistice timeline for achieving your goal? [2] [10]
Don't: I think I can switch from my seditary lifestyle to completing a 5K within 1 month.
Do: I aim to complete the 5K run in under 30 minutes by December 31st, giving myself 10 months to train and improve.
-
Backward Planning. Imagine that you've completed your goal. Work backwards and write down the steps that it took to get there. [10]
I've met my goal of running a 5K in 30 minutes! I had to:
- Hold a pace of 6 mins/km over 5K
- Hold a pace of 6 mins/km for 3K
- Get to a speed of 6 mins/km for 1K
- Improve my cardiovascular endurance
- Get an idea of my current pace
-
Shorten Timescale. Goals with deadlines further than 3 months out can be demotivating and are less likely to be followed through with. Create a smaller more achieveable stepping stone for your goal that you can reach within 3 months. It takes about 8 weeks for new skills to develop. [8]
Don't: In three months, I plan to run 5K every day without focusing on improving my time or endurance.
Do: In the next three months, I aim to consistently run 3K three times a week, improving my pace to reach a 6-minute kilometer for at least 1K of that distance. This milestone will build my endurance and pace towards the larger goal of completing a 5K run in under 30 minutes by December 31st.
-
Impact of Achieving Goal. How will achieving this goal impact your life or the lives of others?
Reaching my goal of running a 5K in 30 minutes will improve my overall health and fitness. Improving my health will allow me to help my family move in the coming months and be more present with them.
-
Lifestyle Adjustments. What adjustments will you need to make to your current lifestyle or priorities to accommodate this goal? Think about the costs in time, energy and money that your goal will take. Think about where this time and energy will come from.
Don't: I will not have to make any adjustments in order to meet my goal.
Do: I will have to wake up 1 hour earlier 3 days a week in order for me to train for my 5K.
-
Implementation Intentions. Create a specific plan for when, where and how you will practice for your goal. [12]
I will do at least [num of mins] minutes of [activity] on [day] at [time of day] at/in [place]. [12]
I will [verb] for [quantitiy of time] after/before [existing routine habit].
Do: I will go on a 20 minute run after I wake up on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
Do: I will run for at least 30 minutes on Tuesday after work at 5:30pm around my neighborhood.
-
Re-Write Your Goal. Re-write your goal with above information, and place it in a visible area that will remind you to stick with it.
In the next three months, I aim to consistently run 3K three times a week, improving my pace to reach a 6-minute kilometer for at least 1K of that distance. This milestone will build my endurance and pace towards the larger goal of completing a 5K run in under 30 minutes by December 31st. To achieve this, I will wake up one hour earlier three days a week to train and follow a structured plan. This plan includes running for at least 20-minutes on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays upon waking up. By achieving this goal, I will not only enhance my physical health but also increase my ability to be present and helpful to my family during upcoming moves.
Advice:
- Define Your Target Performance Level: Clearly articulate what "good enough" looks like for the skill. [1]
- Define the Topic and Scope: Determine what you want to learn and set a manageable scope. [2]
- Talk to Practitioners to Set Expectations: Understand realistic outcomes and the complexity of the skill from those who have mastered it. [1]
- Imagine the Opposite of What You Want: Use inversion to identify crucial elements of the skill by considering what would lead to failure. [1]
- Tip #48: Give a New Skill a Minimum of Eight Weeks - Allowing at least eight weeks for a new skill to develop is crucial for seeing significant progress and changes in the brain. [8]
- Tip #51: Keep Your Big Goals Secret - Sharing your goals can undermine your motivation to achieve them, so it’s more effective to keep them private. [8]
- Duration of the Project: Decide on the length of your project and consider shorter commitments for focus. [2]
- Create Clear Learning Targets: Set specific goals, deadlines, and strategies for your learning process to stay focused. [7]
- Set Realistic Goals: Avoid overly ambitious targets and focus on achievable benchmarks. [7]
- Plan, schedule, and set SMART goals to stay on track. [9]
- Write Your Goals: Transform wishes into tangible goals by writing them down, enhancing focus and likelihood of achievement. [10]
- Present Tense Goals: State goals as current realities to create mental alignment and motivate action towards achievement. [10]
- Positive Statement of Goals: Frame goals positively to ensure your subconscious mind works towards what you want, not against it. [10]
- Alignment with Personal Values: Ensure goals reflect your deepest values and personal mission, fostering growth and fulfillment. [10]
- Specific and Measurable Goals: Define goals with precision to facilitate clear planning, focused action, and tangible progress. [10]
- Time-Bound Goals: Set deadlines to create urgency and motivate consistent, targeted efforts towards goal achievement. [10]
- Reasonable and Challenging Goals: Balance ambition with realism to stimulate growth while maintaining motivation and belief in success. [10]
- Thorough Planning: Develop detailed action plans for each goal, anticipating obstacles and preparing strategies to overcome them. [10]
- Brainstorm Your Dreams: Unleash your imagination without limits to create a comprehensive list of desires and aspirations. [10]
- Create Your Ideal Lifestyle: Envision a detailed picture of your desired future lifestyle, including all aspects of life that matter to you. [10]
- Take the Three-Year Leap: Set specific, measurable, achievable, and written three-year goals that align with your long-term vision. [10]
- Convince Yourself: List the tangible and intangible rewards of achieving your goals to build motivation and clarify your "why." [10]
- Plan on Paper: Develop a detailed plan for achieving your goals, working backward from the future to present, ensuring all actions align with your vision. [10]
- List Available Resources: Identify all resources, including people, information, and tools, that can assist you in achieving your goals. [10]
- List Potential Obstacles: Anticipate challenges you might face, understanding that overcoming these obstacles is part of the journey to success. [10]
- Identify Ways to Overcome Obstacles: Devise strategies and solutions for each identified obstacle to ensure you remain on track towards your goals. [10]
- Following Through: Implement a systematic approach to manage and monitor your progress, using lists to organize quarterly strategies, weekly objectives, and daily actions. [10]
- Understand Expectancy Theory: Motivation hinges on valuing your goal and believing in your ability to achieve it. [11]
- Set SMART Goals: Make goals specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timed to boost their value. [11]
- Practice Future-Focused Thinking: Envision positive future experiences related to your goal to enhance its value. [11]
- Track Your Progress: Create subgoals and celebrate small wins to maintain belief in your ability to achieve the goal. [11]
- Build Buffers Against Setbacks: Develop resilience by preparing for challenges and focusing on action-oriented responses. [11]
- Commit to Your Goals: Counteract deficient intent by scheduling goal-related activities and seeking support. [11]
- Counteract Catastrophizing: Plan for worst-case scenarios and focus on opportunities to restore belief in achieving your goals. [11]
Additional Reading:
5. Break Down Goal
This is where you will turn your goal into easier to complete stepping stones.
Advice:
- Deconstruct the Skill into Subskills: Break down the skill into smaller, manageable parts for focused practice. [1]
6. Learning Evaluation
Before just deciding to take on the learning goal, decide beforehand how much time, energy and money it will cost to reach the goal. Then determine how you will pay for the time and energy costs of this project.
This is where we will determine whether this learning project is a top priority, will be a secondary priority, or will have to be put on the back burner.
Should the Learning Project Evaluation be higher in the steps of planning a learning project?
I ask, simply because it seems like a lot of effort to create a learning journal, research, deadline and goal before evaluating whether or not to pursue said goal.
Focus on faster feedback loops, but balance with having enough information to make an informed decision.
7. Roadmap
The first principle of the Ultralearning process.
8. Time Management
How to set aside time to practice in your daily routine. Ties into Habitualizing learning.
9. Habitualize
The tips and tricks to turn learning into a habit.
Should we have readers fill out the transtheoretical model of change before they get started?
What are the techniques that would help readers get started on a learning project and stick with it?
10. Aquire Materials
Now that you've set yourself up for success it is time to get the materials that you need in order to start practicing. Once you have these materials you should be able to just get started on your learning project.
Footnotes:
- Josh Kaufman: The First 20 Hours Learn Anything... Fast
- Scott H. Young: Ultralearning: Master Hard Skills, Outsmart the Competition, and Accelerate Your Career
- OpenLearn: Learning Journals
- St Patrick's College: How To Create A Learning Journal
- Teach Thought: 20 Types of Learning Journals that Help Students Think
- Jessica McCabe: How to ADHD
- Ulrich Boser: Learn Better
- Daniel Coyle: The Little Book of Talent
- Peter Hollins: The Science of Self-Learning
- Tommy Newberry: Success Is Not an Accident
- Psychology Compass: A scientifically proven framework for achieving goals
- James Clear: Goal Setting
- Harvard University Derek Bok Center For Teaching And Learning: Motivation and Metacognition