Describing something with accuracy forces you to understand it and learn more about it.
An accurate description needs the following:
<ul>
<li>Observation</li>
<li>Curiosity about what you are seeing</li>
<li>Refraining from drawing conclusions based on assumptions.</li>
</ul>

Description is a tool for learning

We find complex systems in many aspects of life, and solving these challenges requires understanding their various dimensions.We can start understanding complex systems by describing them in detail from different angles. Complex systems have many parts that are difficult to identify and define. They usually show unpredictable characteristics. But we can understand them by describing what we see.While none of the parts will produce complete information, combined, a full picture emerges.

Understanding complex systems

Describing something with accuracy forces you to learn more about it. In this way, description can be a tool for learning.

personaldevelopment

Personal Development

health

Health

education

Learning & Education

problemsolving

Problem Solving

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Science & Nature

How Description Leads to Understanding

In this age, make yourself indispensable by being ‘pretty good’ in two or more skillsets, making yourself among the top 25 percent with some amount of effort. That’s easier than putting in 10,000 hours in one skill to attain mastery.
Taking the example of Scott Adams, the creator of the Dilbert comic strip and the author of many books. He is not the best cartoonist, and not the funniest person. However, he can draw better than many of us, and is funny enough. These two skill sets (1 and 1) create a talent stack and become 11, instead of 2.

Make Yourself Rare

It’s never been easier to learn new skills than in the present age. One can become a polymath by simply identifying the key skill sets that are doable and interesting (depending on one’s background and inclination) and learning them by taking up online courses. It’s not about the degree or certification, but the actual learning.
Example: If you are a programmer, you could become a polymath by learning about User Experience and Design of applications.

Digital Learning

The new reality of success: embracing a diverse range of skills and experiences to thrive in the increasingly complex world.
Great men like Benjamin Franklin, Steve Jobs and Leonardo Da Vinci were not masters, but had a ‘talent stack’ of a range of skills. These Polymaths were having cross-discipline expertise, which turned out to be infinitely better than having complete knowledge of one single field of work.

Talent Stack: Skills For The Future

"The world is most interesting when we can see the complex patterns that connect its different parts to one another. And we can’t truly do that unless we look beyond the boundaries and the compartments of singular disciplines and singular ways of thinking about reality."

Our present education systems are domain and subject specific, making it hard for us to explore multiple domains. Most of us give in to the rigidity of developing a certain skill, unable to build complementary skills and learning agility.
We need to connect knowledge of different domains and make it fluid, accessible and flexible. Then, just like a kaleidoscope design pattern, we will become unique and beautiful.

From Rigidity To Fluidity

Range over mastery — people who embrace diverse skills, experiences and perspectives will increasingly thrive

career

Career

The Polymath Advantage

Once you've learned something, review it regularly to make sure you don't forget it.It is not necessary to actively watch a lesson you've already seen. However, it can be useful to have one on in the background so you can tune in and out as needed.

Revise in the background

Once you've learned a new skill, try it out for yourself. You will make mistakes. When you do, review your notes and keep going.
You'll learn the most from your own early errors.

Practice on your own

Have an end goal in mind when you're learning. 
<ul>
<li>What do you want to do with this information?</li>
<li>How is it going to improve your life?</li>
</ul>
Even if you just want to do it for fun, find a project you can't do without learning the skill.

Have a reason to study

Watch the lesson through once. Then watch it again while following along. You can also follow along from the start.Take notes. Write down important steps, tips and tricks.

Follow along and take notes

Watching online tutorial videos can become addictive. Keep in mind that you are trying to learn something, not get distracted.
How long you would be able to study depends on the density of the subject and the level of your knowledge about the subject.

Don’t binge

Find out the ideal time you can dedicate to learning, and also resting. Don't try to push yourself and to fill your mind with too much information in one session. Try to learn over multiple days to let the information sink in.

Time matters

Set some time aside to see what courses are available. Take advantage of any free lessons, watch the introductions to their classes and see if the instructor will be a good fit for your skill level and speed.

Find the right instructor

There's a lot wrong with the internet, but one of the best things about it is how easy it is to learn new skills. It's actually one of the big reasons I have this job: I taught myself photography and photo editing, and I got my break writing about it.

productivity

Productivity

How to learn new skills online

<ul><li>Spaced Practicing: Break the practice tasks into chunks and regular time breaks to give your mind the time to relax.</li><li>Overlearning: Overlearn the skill to learn faster and practice enough to retain it for longer periods.</li></ul>

Spaced Practicing & Overlearning

<ul><li>Eliminate the Distractions: If bored, go for a walk instead of scrolling social media. Use regular breaks to your advantage by giving your mind time to relax by not engaging in any activities.</li><li>Create a System: Plan the day to avoid postponing the task. Understand "The Compound Effect" and use it to your advantage for increased productivity.</li><li>Progressively Train for Focus: Start with small goals and eventually build up. </li></ul>

Brain Focus & Productivity

<ul><li>Active Learning: Engage yourselves completely in the learning activity and use "The Feynman Technique" to revise the concepts and practice regularly.</li><li>Frequent Feedback Cycles: Learn to take feedback positively to help you learn faster and more efficiently. </li></ul>

Active Learning & Feedback Cycles

<ul><li>Decide your Constraints: Limit the scope of what you are learning to make "SMART" goals & not overwhelm yourselves.</li><li>Develop a Dedicated Routine: Regular & consistent practice is what sets us apart.</li><li>Limit Material and Methods: To avoid getting overwhelmed, limit your material and branch out only during failures.</li></ul>

Project Design & Planning

The ability to learn faster and retain it longer is a skill very few of us have mastered. Here are 4 strategies you can use when you are learning a new skill. <ol><li>Project Design & Planning</li><li>Brain Focus & Productivity</li><li>Active Learning & Feedback Cycles</li><li>Spaced Practicing & OverLearning</li></ol>

Strategies to Learn Faster and Retain Longer

books

Books

Why Ultralearning? Learning is the foundation for success in nearly every aspect of life. First you start in school. Clearly learning matters here - learning well allows you to get good grades, get accepted to the best schools and graduate without the grind. Then you start work. Learning becomes a path to improvement - it gives you valuable skills so you can be a leader instead of just another cog in the system. Learning matters for your health. You need to learn what to eat, how to work out and how to maintain good habits. Learning matters for your relationships. Learning how people are, the best way to build connections and deepen them. Learning defines how you see yourself in the world, your sense of purpose in life and meaning. Given that learning underlies so much of life, why not start with learning how to learn better? Ultralearning is my approach to learning things well. There's no one exact method for ultralearning, but there are some common principles amongst all ultralearners: 1.Self-education. Even if you're in school, a self-education mindset puts you in the driver's seat, controlling how and what you learn. Ultralearners don't passively absorb education, they create it. 2.Deep focus. Ultralearning isn't a passive task. It demands hard, intense focus. The rewards for this effort, however, are large and it allows ultralearners to quickly develop skills that other people spend years unable to get a grasp on. 3.Scientifically informed. Ultralearners don't treat learning as a mystery. Instead, they use the best available understanding of the science of memory and skill-aquisition to use an approach that makes learning anything a step-by-step process. Ultralearning takes many forms, and the best way to recognize it is to first see some examples, so I'll start by sharing my ultralearning projects, then move to explaining how you can start your own.

Scott Alexander Young was a Canadian journalist, sportswriter, novelist and the father of musician Neil Young. Over his career, Young wrote 45 books, including novels and non-fiction for adult and youth audiences.

How Description Leads to Understanding

The Polymath Advantage

How to learn new skills online

It's time to
Read like a Pro.

7 Must Know Strategies to Learn: Time to Achieve

CURATED BY

How Description Leads to Understanding

The Polymath Advantage

How to learn new skills online

It's time to Read like a Pro.

7 Must Know Strategies to Learn: Time to Achieve

CURATED BY

It's time to
Read like a Pro.