In-Depth: A Learning Environment that Works - Part 3

5 Key Essentials for Meaningful, Powerful Learning

Ever heard the phrase, “education is wasted on the young”? It often feels true, as many people don’t really begin to enjoy learning until long after they’ve left school - sometimes decades later.

What’s really going on here? Is it wasted on the young, or are we misunderstanding how learning actually works?

You see, learning is what we humans do from the moment we're born. We're wired for it. So when a child says, “I hate learning,” something’s standing in the way of that natural drive. I think what they mean is 'I hate the really boring stuff I'm made to do but have zero interest in.'

True learning is never boring. Sure, sometimes we have to do things we’re not entirely interested in to reach a bigger goal - but it’s a shame if that’s how we learn all the time.

So, what gets in the way?

Over the years, I’ve noticed five key elements that unlock learning at its best - learning that’s enjoyable, memorable and genuinely transformative. These are nothing new, in fact they're quite obvious, but it's surprising how often they're missing from many learning environments.

Let's take a look at them, and how you can build them into your approach: