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The Idea of the Week
Learning does not have to be life-changing or completely new. Sometimes learning means practicing a skill over and over: like practicing roller-skating or practicing an instrument. Learning can also be collecting tiny bits of information, like learning that you can still recover that unsaved Word document (In Word, you go to the File tab, click “Open”, then look for the “Recover Unsaved Documents” button at the bottom of the screen).
Learning is also re-learning. Let’s say at one point in your life, you learned to wake up early in the morning so you can watch the sunrise with a cup of coffee. At some point, you stopped doing that, and now it seems you have “unlearned” how to wake up early. However, you can still learn this habit again.
Zone of Proximal Development
As you learn, it is helpful to understand Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development (a 10-minute article). Think of a skill or something you are trying to learn right now:
- Is this something that is really difficult to accomplish even with assistance? Then the task is too difficult.
- Is it something you can accomplish without assistance? Then you have the skills to accomplish the task without an expert.
- Is it something you can accomplish with assistance? Then you still need the guidance of an expert and the skill set to accomplish the task independently.
Once you know where the task rests within your zone of proximal development, you can take stock of the resources and strategies you need to master the skill. If it’s too hard, then you will need to break it down into smaller steps or learn the foundational skills. If you need assistance, what kind of assistance do you need? What resources will you need, and so on.
Another way to look at learning is through the 4 Stages of Competence (a 4-minute video). First starting from “I do not know what I do not know” to “I am capable of doing this with ease, like I’m on autopilot.”
The Practice of the Week
Fill your summer full of learning by challenging yourself to practice for 10 minutes (or adjust the time as you need) on your desired skill.
Don’t know where to start? Here are 20 ideas you can learn:
- Learn a New Language: Use language apps or flashcards to practice vocabulary and phrases. YouTube is also a great resource to learn new languages. For instance, Bill Vicars has hundreds of videos on learning American Sign Language.
- Play a Musical Instrument: Practice scales, simple songs, or chords on an instrument like a guitar or a piano. Don’t worry about sounding “good.” Try experimenting and playing with the sounds. It’s okay to sound bad.
- Meditation: Practice mindfulness or guided meditation to improve focus and reduce stress. Pick a ten-minute guided video on YouTube or a podcast. Set aside 10 minutes in your work day to sit without stimulation.
- Gardening: Learn about plants, practice pruning, watering, or planting seeds. Check out our workshop on Connecting with Spirit Through Herbs on July 21st. Registration is below in the News of the Week section.
- Drawing or Sketching: Draw daily sketches or practice specific techniques like shading or perspective. Draw a bunch of circles or lines. Trace over other art or lines. Again, it does not have to look good.
- Cooking: Try a new recipe, learn knife skills, or practice cooking techniques like sautéing or baking. You can find recipes from blog articles online or follow along in a YouTube tutorial.
- Yoga: Follow a short yoga routine to improve flexibility and mindfulness.
- Writing: Write a journal entry, a short story, or practice creative writing prompts. If you become overwhelmed by writer’s block, then try breaking through the block by writing “I don’t know what to write” again and again.
- Photography: Take daily photos, experiment with different angles, lighting, and subjects.
- Public Speaking: Practice speeches, read aloud, or use apps to improve speaking skills. Talk to yourself in a mirror, or record yourself talking. If you’re shy in a camera, you could start with audio recording, then move to video recording.
- Coding: Use coding apps or tutorials to practice programming languages like Python or HTML.
- Dancing: Follow online dance tutorials or create your own dance routines. Put on some music and dance your heart out.
- Fitness: Do a short workout, stretch, or strength training exercises. Do jumping jacks, squats, or push-ups. If you find yourself avoiding it, start small—really, really small. If you want to do push-ups, start with 2 push-ups. If that feels too much, then start with 1. Or start with a negative push-up (where you lower yourself to the ground but don’t “push” yourself back up).
- Origami: Practice folding paper into different shapes and figures.
- Mental Math: Solve math problems or use apps to improve mental arithmetic skills.
- Knitting or Crocheting: Work on small projects or practice different stitches.
- Playing Chess: Solve chess puzzles, play a quick game online, or study strategies.
- Calligraphy: Practice different lettering styles and improve handwriting.
- Singing: Practice vocal exercises, sing along to songs, or learn new techniques.
- Learning Facts: Memorize new facts or trivia about a subject of interest, like history or science. You can go on most socials and search for “Today I Learned” to find random interesting facts.
Final Thoughts
As you may notice, you can learn a lot of new skills on YouTube. YouTube is a great source for learning from others. It’s a great place to start, AND we encourage you to find people in your life to learn the skill with. Tell your family, your coworkers, and friends. Invite them on the journey and learn together, or learn something from them.
As a final tip: give yourself permission to fail and to do it stupidly. You are not expected to be perfect on the first try. But you can’t get to your 100th drawing, song, line of code, sentence, fact, etc., without your first try.
What are you currently learning? Comment below!
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The Thought of the Week
Wishing you a peaceful week!
