If you are sitting in a classroom, or workshop, seminar and have a question, ask it. More than likely there are numerous other people in the audience with the same question. Plus, because you were the one to ask, you are the one most likely to remember the response. This is the difference between being an active learner versus a passive learner.
Same if you are at a demonstration, whether it at you local Home Depot and they are showing how to fix a leaky faucet or at a cooking demonstration. When the presenter asks for volunteers, volunteer. This is being an active learner. By actually performing or helping performing a task you will be more likely to remember what you learned. This is the difference between being an active learner versus a passive learner.
What if you want to teach? Do you love baking bread, building birdhouses, fixing cars? Want to teach a class? You still need to be an active learner. Just by virtue of having to organize your thoughts in a way to teach someone actively engages all of your senses.
And, when teaching you also have another opportunity to be an active learner. When a student asks a question and you don’t know the answer, admit it, but promise to find out. And, when possible, invite the student to help you find or discover the answer. You are an active learner and you are encouraging your student to be an active leaner.
How else can you become an active learner?
Do something you’ve never done before.
Volunteer to take on a new project at work, one no one else wants, or is afraid to tackle. Then go for it. Research the problem. Find the answer. Ask questions. And, just do it. Will it be perfect first time out of the box, maybe not. But, the only person who will know is you. If anyone else knew how to do it, or wanted to do it, they would have.
Start a new project. Always wanted to created a butterfly sanctuary in your backyard. Research it. Read about it. Ask your local garden club members questions. Attend a workshop or take a class. Then start applying your knowledge and build your sanctuary. Will you get everything right at first? Probably not. But, when things don’t work, or you fail, the opportunity to figure out why engages all of your senses and you are an active learner all over again. Our failures often teach us more than our success. Solving problems is an active learning activity.
Be an active learner. You’ll have more fun and remember more.
