Learn any subject faster and better – Economical learning techniques 3

I have read a hundred things in Livy that another has not, or not taken notice of at least; and Plutarch has read a hundred more there than ever I could find, or than, peradventure, that author ever wrote.

MICHEL DE MONTAIGNE

This is the third post of the series. In the first and second posts, I started talking about the concept of Economic Learning (EL) as a special accelerated learning technique. The initial stages of the approach involve clarifying your knowledge and skill gaps and deliberating on what your desired outcomes are for your study effort. Now you are ready to engage some educational material whether it be a video, a book, a course, a coach or lunch with an expert. But how do you ensure you get the most out of the session?

In this post, we will get into an important technique you will apply prior to engaging the material you are trying to learn. I will introduce you to a process that will help you accomplish exactly that. I call it Pre-Study Priming (PSP). Let us begin.

What on earth is PSP?

A painter uses a primer to prepare a surface to receive his paint in a manner that ensures he achieves the desired result. PSP is a term I have coined to describe statements that you use to prepare your mind for learning. I mean, what you want is a fine and finished skill-set not blotches and patches of uneven amateurish gloss.

Now, for painting, you use paint primer; for Economical Learning, you use PSP statements. To be clear, PSP statements are not affirmations like “I learn information quickly and easily” or “I can do whatever I set my mind to”. Even though these have their place and many find them useful, PSP is different in that it is a deliberate process.

In this process you use language to set your focus prior to engaging the material you are trying to learn. Also, you can use it to prime yourself before you practice a skill you are trying to master.

In a sense, you are activating your brain to seek specific pieces of information to move you towards your desired outcome. Without PSP, you would find yourself rummaging through piles of relevant and irrelevant information with no way of telling one from the other. It is like trying to put together a jigsaw puzzle with no reference picture of what it is supposed to look like when it is done. Now, you might eventually achieve it, but it will take you twice as long and you will be twice as exhausted! To avoid this, prime your mind using PSP statements.

Examples of PSP statements

Economical Learning is based on the two core questions of “what will I know?” And what will I be able to do? Not surprisingly, PSP is related to these two questions.Below are some examples of PSP statements:

• I am looking for the core concept of this new idea (know)

• I am looking for a way to use this software to balance my financial data (do)

• I am looking for information to help me present a 5-minute talk on this new subject to my team (know and do)

Notice that all these examples begin with “I am looking for”. This is important. In fact, this is the actual priming. By defining what you are “looking for” you are able to recognize it much faster. Feel free to replace "looking for" with "searching for" or "listening for". Keep in mind, it is the principle that matters most - the principle of PSP.

Seek and you shall find

In a previous post, I gave the example of re-reading books in preparation for a speech. There I explained how I might read for the purpose of getting quotes or statistics or stories. Now if I was reading for quotes, my PSP statement may be:I am looking for insightful and concise phrases that skillfully articulate a useful or important idea.Guess what happens when I start to read? I find great quotes on almost every other page.

But what if I had been looking for statistics? Or stories? Well, the interesting thing is, depending on what type of book I read, I will find myself noticing more of what I set out to find than I otherwise would. And for comprehensive and well-written books, it is truly amazing how much I read into them – and like the quote at the start of this piece– perhaps more than what the author ever intended.

That is the power of clear PSP statements. It is true the ancient maxim - Seek and you shall find.

In the concluding post, I will go over the mechanics of using PSP statements.

Till then, be your best and do your best.