Learning Nerd’s Diary #74
Welcome back Learning Nerds!
This week we’re celebrating 500 people subscribing to the Learning Nerd’s Diary - wohoo! 🥳 I’m so grateful to all the people who keep showing up week after week here. Do you think we can reach 1000 people? What’s say?
If you can even think of one person you’d like to share this with, here is the link you can share with them. Learning grows by sharing 🌱
👀 Sneak peak
Here is what I have in store for you this week -
💭 Learning About Learning: Great Learners Copy
🥜 Learning Nugget: Facilitation = Style
💥 Coolest Thing I Learnt This Week:
The curse of being an expert
Community engagement through a value creation lens
Information vs Communication
🔦 Spotlight: Getting to know you better :)
Let's jump right in!
💭 Learning About Learning
Charlie Munger once said -
“I believe in the discipline of mastering the best of what other people have figured out.”
One of the best ways to do that? Copy.
How does a bird learn how to fly?
How does a baby learn to walk?
The answer is the same - through copying.
But how do can we use it? Here are 3 easy ways:
1/ Watch & Learn 👀
A great way to copy is by observing people who are experts in the field. By looking at actions, techniques and approaches that masters use - you can learn a lot!
When you start learning something curate your information diet around it. Follow experts in the field - look at their writing, talks, podcasts.
Example: The LxD Starter Toolkit that my friend Harsh Doshi curated for people wanting to get into this space
If you have access to one of these experts around you - ask if you could shadow them for some time. Internships can be a great option too!
Example: This article on Day in the Life of a Design Researcher
2/ Replicate What Works ✅
Analysing what is working for others and trying to replicate what works is another great way to copy to learn.
Look at the best work that exists in the field you’re trying to learn more about - try to copy what works while building something of your own.
Example: Copy your favourite writer’s style while starting with your first few articles
3/ Use a Template 📁
Another great way to learn is to copy successful methods, frameworks, processes. Templates provide a structured framework that you can follow while adapting it to your own needs.
Look at existing frameworks and methods in a field and try to use them to build something of your own.
Example: While learning about design thinking, trying to use the desirability, viability, feasibility framework to see how that works
A note for the copier
It's important to note that while copying can be great for learning, it does not mean blindly replicating things without understanding. Analysis & reflection are the secret sauces here!
Copying can be a great foundation, but you need a healthy dose of critical thinking, experimentation, and the willingness to explore unchartered territories.
The idea should be to build something that is worth copying :)
The famous Leonardo Da Vinci knew a bit about learning - he was a painter, draughtsman, engineer, scientist, theorist, sculptor, and architect. In his words:
“He who can copy can do.”
Curious to know more about this?
🥜 Learning Nuggets
Facilitation is like your dressing sense.
There is no one right way to do it. You need to find out what you’re comfortable with.
💥 Coolest Thing I Learnt this Week
The curse of being an expert
I came across this amazing post & visual earlier this week. A lot of experts these days are increasingly becoming teachers. Being an expert does not make a you a good teacher! Here is why -
Community engagement through a value creation lens
There is no learning without community. My friend Anamaria shared this amazing framework on how we can look at community engagement through a value creation lens:
🌟 Start with value
🎯 Narrow it down
💪 Enter the (co)creation phase
🎁 Reward once the desired value is created
💬 Give them ownership to bring their own ideas
Information vs Communication
If you're designing learning experiences, ask yourself - are you just pushing out information or are you communicating with your learners?
🔦 Spotlight
We’ve hit a major milestone this part week and I would love to learn more about you. Here is a form that will take only 2 mins (<10 questions) but will help me improve this newsletter in the future!
Love & Learning
Until we meet next week!
Can you promise?
You can get this directly in your inbox!