Learning is a part of our survival and key to professional success. Understanding its nature helps us to become better learners. In our industry, where technologies and practices evolve so fast, effective learning is an absolute necessity. I explore the nature of learning from learning styles to the tools that we use to learn. I also discuss our motivation for learning and the importance of active learning. It is too important for us to simply stumble through, our approach to learning must be deliberate.

1. Nature of Learning
Mashooq Badar

2. When should we
learn?

3. . . . we can say that Muad’Dib learned
rapidly because his first training was in
how to learn. And the first lesson of all
was the basic trust that he could learn. It
is shocking to find how many people do
not believe they can learn, and how
many more believe learning to be
difficult.
Frank Herbert 1965

4. We are born with a
boundless curiosity.

5. … that is slowly
beaten out of us
throughout our lives.

6. All too often,
learning is
accidental.

7. Our learning is
inhibited.

8. Before we can
learn we must
learn how to learn.

9. Effective learners
are deliberate.
Andy Hunt 2008

10. Effective learners
aim to master the
learning skill.

11. What is in store?
Motivation
Mindset
Practices

12. Feed your
curiosity.

13. Form learning
habits.

14. Avoid targets—
make learning
the goal

15. Find intrinsic
motivators.

16. Find your
calling.

17. Socialise, play,
and have fun.

18. Autonomy,
Mastery, and
Purpose.

19. Teach and
Mentor.

20. Simples

21. Motivation
Mindset
Practices

22. Adopt the
Beginner’s Mind.

23. Maintain your
Knowledge.

24. Become
Creative Active.

25. Tame your
obsession.

26. Relax.

27. Motivation
Mindset
Practices

28. Absorbing
Doing
Interacting
Reflecting
Wertenbroch, Nabeth, 2000 / Dewey 1933

29. Hone your
reading skill.
Absorbing

30. Read and
Repeat.
Absorbing

31. Build habits
around watching
and listening.
Absorbing

32. Observe
masters at
work.
Absorbing

33. Learn at Work.
Doing

34. Find other
experiences.
Doing

35. Hone your skill.
Doing

36. Create
breakable toys.
Doing
Adewale Oshineye and Dave Hoover 2009

37. Discuss.
Interacting

38. Engage with
other learning
minds.
Interacting

39. Blog and
Present
Interacting

40. Engage your R
mode.
Reflecting
Andy Hunt 2008

41. Review, hone,
and test your
knowledge.
Reflecting

42. Separate the
wheat from the
chaff.
Reflecting

43. Create your own
mental models.
Reflecting

44. Don’t just consume
knowledge—create
knowledge.
Reflecting

45. Motivation
lifestyle, habits, intrinsic motivators, learn at and
outside work, teach
Mindset
unlearn, knowledge, create active, obsession, relax
Practices
absorbing, doing, interacting, reflecting

46. The mind is not a
vessel to be filled
but a fire to be
kindled.
Plutarchos 45-125 AD

47. Ignite your fire!

48. Thank you
… for learning with me.
@mashooq