Brain Hacks To Facilitate Learning - Part 1

Read time: 3 min

Big Idea

Employ 10 different Brain Hacks to enhance learning.

Top Thoughts

• Ensure the relevance of the content of the learning material, consider its application, your pre-existing questions, and prior knowledge before diving into new material.

• Use reflective learning by representing learning material as shapes: a square, a circle and a triangle. Next to the square, write down points that square with or align with your thinking. Next to the circle, questions are rolling around in your brain, leaving you wondering. Next to the triangle, what to do differently based on what you learned.

• The Principle of Spaced Learning suggests that breaks during focused work periods, like the Pomodoro Technique's 25-minute sessions followed by 5-minute breaks, can enhance retention and learning efficiency.

• Reducing stress and promoting a calm, focused state of mind is essential to enhance learning and performance.

• Following the principle of generative and social learning, seeking feedback through self-reflection and trust-based conversations maximizes learning effectiveness and ensures learning the correct material.

• Creating and answering test questions on new material can significantly enhance memory retention, understanding, and knowledge application.

• Incorporate learning into your daily routine by using habit loops: decide on the habit you want to form, identify a clear cue or trigger, determine the action and attach a reward for completing it.

• Use the principle of contextual learning to link new material to ideas already in your brain by creating analogies. Memories are a collection of related material in your brain and using analogies to create associations and link new and existing knowledge allows you to open your mind, understand and conceptualize new information as well store and retrieve it faster.

• Good storytelling activates 7 different parts of the brain and makes complex concepts more interesting, approachable and memorable by activating 7 different parts of the brain. Stories help us engage, digest and remember material.

• Regular movement and physical activity improves focus, attention, engagement, self-control, cognitive function, creativity, problem-solving, and your ability to learn.

Quick Quotes

• "Research shows that you learn better when the content of what you're learning is relevant to you, that means you know why it matters and you know how you're going to use it."

• "When you spend the time to think about what you've learned, that is, when you reflect on it, it can increase your retention by as much as 25 percent."

• "When you learn, your brain needs some time to stop and rest; during this time your brain's working memory begins to sort out what you learned... it's kind of like sweeping out the neural trash."

• "Better managing our stress means better capacity to learn. Remember, stress less, learn more."

• "When we reflect on lessons learned for just 15 minutes a day, after 1 day we perform 23 times better than someone who hasn't reflected."

• "The stronger the retrieval memory, the faster you're able to pull this knowledge from your long-term memory and apply it to your work."

• "Changes that seem small and unimportant at first will compound into remarkable results if you're willing to stick with them."

• "The brain stores memories in a network of associations - connecting new material with things you already know and things that have been marked as important to you."

• "The more intentional story listener you are, the more you will be able to understand those complex abstract ideas and embed them into memory."

• "Research suggests that including moments of activity or movement throughout your day improves focus, attention, and engagement. It can also lead to a boost in self-control."

Actionable Advice

1. Ensure relevance - Ask three questions to ensure that you understand why the learning material is relevant and how you can apply it: What will I do with what I learn? What questions do I have about it before I start? What do I already know about it?

2. Reflect on learning using shapes - Draw a square, a circle, and a triangle on paper, and next to each shape, write down the key ideas learned: a square - key ideas, a circle - any lingering questions, a triangle - planned actions or changes based on the new learning.

3. Timebox your learning - Use the Pomodoro Technique to box your time into 25 minute focused, distraction-free time slots followed by a 5 minute break.

4. Promote stress management techniques - Practice relaxation methods to reduce stress and reframe the source of your stress, such as deep breathing, meditation, taking a walk and stretching.

5. Self-reflect and seek feedback - Use self-reflection and receive feedback from trusted sources to facilitate personal and professional growth.

6. Create and answer test questions - Answering test questions on new material improves knowledge retention and application.

7. Use habit stacking - Create new learning habits by linking them to existing daily routines or habits.

8. Use analogies - Saying 'This is like...' or 'This reminds me of...' can help lock new information into long-term memory, leading to better understanding, application, and the ability to make valuable connections.

9. Intentional storytelling -Telling stories makes complex concepts more relatable, understandable and memorable.

10. Take regular movement breaks - Take a walk, do desk yoga, or stretch periodically to improve cognitive function, creativity, focus, and self-control, ultimately benefiting their decision-making and overall performance.

Source(s)

Horn, A. (2021, Feb 25). Brain Hacks - Prime your Brain to Learn. [Youtube Video]. Accenture. (Link)

Horn, A. (2021, Feb 25). Brain Hacks - Reflection: What Squares. [Youtube Video]. Accenture. (Link)

Horn, A. (2021, Mar 11). Brain Hacks - Brain Hacks - Timebox your Learning. [Youtube Video]. Accenture. (Link)

Horn, A. (2021, Feb 25). Brain Hacks -Brain Hacks - Stress Less, Learn More. [Youtube Video]. Accenture. (Link)

Lucas, M. (2021, Mar 24). Brain Hacks - Brain Hacks - Feedback and Learning. [Youtube Video]. Accenture. (Link)

Horn, A. (2021, Apr 8). Brain Hacks - Brain Hacks - Use Questions to Learn. [Youtube Video]. Accenture. (Link)

Horn, A. (2021, Apr 26). Brain Hacks - Brain Hacks - Making Learning a Habit. [Youtube Video]. Accenture. (Link)

Horn, A. (2021, May 13). Brain Hacks - Brain Hacks - Learn through Analogies. [Youtube Video]. Accenture. (Link)

Horn, A. (2021, Jun 10). Brain Hacks - Brain Hacks - Be a good Story Listener. [Youtube Video]. Accenture. (Link)

Horn, A. (2021, Jun 28). Brain Hacks - Brain Hacks - Move to Learn. [Youtube Video]. Accenture. (Link)