instruction-based learning.
In university, I always prepared for exams by collecting information and exercises and going through them over and over. I tried to memorize everything. I tried to memorize all steps to solve a given exercise. Learning was like a drill. I thought if I memorize enough sets of instructions I will be fine.
And I was. As long as the tasks in an exam were similar to what I learned, I was fine. I knew which steps I had to take to solve them. But soon something changed. If I was presented with a slightly different problem, I got stuck. No set of instructions I memorized helped me.
I realized that learning doesn’t happen in drills. Learning can’t happen with a set of step by step instructions.
drills are easy.
Yes, drills and step by step instructions are easy. They are easy to educate. They are easy to memorize for the learner. Everything is prepared in bite-sized information and ready to be memorized. The logical steps are already defined. But memorizing isn’t learning. Learning is not supposed to be easy.
Learning has to rely on the students own logic and thinking. Letting the student find the steps through self-inquiry, self-interest, and self-thinking.
drills automate.
Neither do drills train thinking. They train to comply. They train to automate. Once presented with a slightly different problem, the set of instructions from the drill doesn’t work. And we have no idea what to do.
Learning is about thinking and augmentation. We need to be in a place where we can make decisions, tinker, and reflect, instead of following a set of instructions. We have to understand the problem and the possible solutions. Only by understanding, we can adjust if presented with a slightly different problem.
drills are forced
Drills are also often forced. We force ourselves to learn. This forced learning comes with a lot of downsides. We start lacking interest. We don’t learn with attention. We start procrastinating. We depend on memorization. We drain energy. We have no motivation.
Learning should come naturally, not forced. If you want to build a reading habit, it is not about forcing yourself to read. Start reading what you enjoy and you will naturally build a reading habit. The same is true for learning. Learn with interest and curiosity and learning will come naturally.
changing my learning style.
So realizing all of this, I started to change my learning style. I moved from drill-based learning to inquiry-based learning. I prioritized understanding over memorization.
I tried to understand the problem or question. I thought about possible steps and the answer. I tested my idea by either executing the steps or self-explaining the answer to myself. I reflected on my execution or explanation and tried to find gaps in my understanding.
Instead of memorizing instructions, I started learning how I can navigate through problems, questions, and obstacles. Training your understanding and thinking is much more valuable and flexible. The flexibility comes in handy if you are presented with new obstacles. You can rely on your thinking and understanding without getting stuck.
