Learning Nerd’s Diary #69

Welcome back Learning Nerds!

This week we deep dive into different learning tools you can use as learners and learning designers. Tools are great to help you get started with something - but don't forget to modify and make them your own!

That being said...

👀 Sneak peak

Here is what I have in store for you this week -

💭 Learning About Learning: T-shirt Sizing For Learning

🥜 Learning Nugget: Experience Greatness

💥 Coolest Thing I Learnt This Week:

8 Ways to Spice up your L&D for L&D
The L&D Pros Toolkit
Learning Styles

🔦 Spotlight:

Unscripted Podcast on Learning Museums
Learning Habit Loops at the CTRL > CLTR Conference

Let's jump right in!

💭 Learning About Learning

Just like how t-shirts come in different sizes, learning experiences also come in different sizes to cater to diverse learning needs. Let us understand what these sizes mean for learning & how you can make the most of it…

Small (aka Quick Knowledge Gains)

Small-sized learning is designed for quick and efficient knowledge gains. Small-sized learning is great when you have a specific goal because it is concise, targeted and quick.

Example:

You want to know how many teaspoons make a tablespoon while you’re cooking something
You are planning a workshop at work and need to know what icebreakers you can use to kick-it off
You are learning a new software because you know it is critical to you finishing a project at ease

Here is how you can make most of small-sized learning:

Set specific learning goals: Don’t put the pressure of learning everything at this point - focus on what you need to get done in order to reach your goals efficiently.
Use reliable sources: Often trying to get to something quickly can lead to misinformation. Rely on credible sources or people in order to learn at this point

Medium (aka Balanced Learning)

Medium-sized learning is designed for well-rounded and comprehensive learning experience. Medium-sized learning is great when you seek an in-depth exploration of a topic.

Example:

You want to know how to cook Indian food
You want to learn how you can run ideation sprints at work
You want to learn how you can improve your decision making skills

Here is how you can make most of medium-sized learning:

Find some sort of structure: While you’re starting of learning something like this, it is important to find some sort of structured curriculum. This will help you understand different aspects of the topic in the right sequence
Learn with people: Whether it is peers, mentors or facilitators - engaging in discussions and collaborating with people is key to getting a holistic understanding of something. This will help you strike a balance between depth and breadth
Define the scope well: While the scope of this might not be as narrow as small-sized learning. It is important to define what you’re hoping to get out of this exercise so that it doesn’t become large-sized!

Large (aka In-Depth Mastery)

Large-sized learning is designed for deep diving into a subject. This is great when you want to become an expert in something and have a lot of time to dedicate it it as well.

Example:

You want to know how to cook healthy food for yourself
You want to become a better facilitator
You want to learn how you can become a better manager

Here is how you can make most of large-sized learning:

Give it time: Mastery takes time and effort. Recognise that and account for that time when you pick a large-sized learning project
Break it down: Given that it is a deep dive into a subject - there are chances you might get demotivated and want to give up. Break up the larger goal into smaller milestones that are easier to achieve
Reflect-reflect-reflect: Mastery on a subject also means having your own point of view on it. Reflect on what you’re learning and try to relate it to your own experience

Summary

In conclusion, just like t-shirts come in different sizes, learning experiences also come in small, medium, and large sizes to cater to different learning needs. Small-sized learning offers quick knowledge gains, medium-sized learning provides a balanced approach, and large-sized learning allows for in-depth mastery.

By understanding what each size represents and when to use them - you can make the most of each learning size and unlock your learning potential.

Happy learning!

Read the full article →

🥜 Learning Nuggets

The best hack to become a better learning designer?

Experience stellar learning experiences. Creating great learning experiences requires knowing what can great look like.

Snack on other Learning Nuggets →

💥 Coolest Thing I Learnt this Week

8 Ways to Spice up your L&D for L&D

An article that in a way inspired this week’s Learning About Learning article :) Paradoxically, as learning experience designers, sometimes prioritising your own learning can seem incredible hard! Some great ideas for when you’ve hit that lull can be found here

The L&D Pros Toolkit

I absolutely love everything on this page! From how to build a skills map to how to navigate your career and everything in between - this toolkit is a great resource for anyone working in learning.

Learning Styles - the ultimate anti-tool

This post by my friend Lavinia is hands down the funniest thing I saw on the internet this week!

Unicorns are better than learning styles. ✨

So next time you design a learning experience think wisely. Should I integrate unicorns? Or should I integrate learning styles? Should I integrate unicorns? Or should I integrate learning styles?

My advice? Go with unicorns. Always go with unicorns.