Real learning starts when teaching ends, says our memory expert, Jonathan Hancock
MY FRIEND JAMES did some first-aid training at work last week, to learn the fundamentals of CPR, and he asked if I’d ever done the same.
“Yes,” I said, “…and no.”
Because, yes, I’ve attended several resuscitation sessions over the years. But no, I don’t exactly feel “trained” to save lives. In fact, despite being shown all the key information at various points in my career, I don’t think I can remember any of it now.
What’s the problem? Every time I’ve had this type of training it’s been a perfectly good opportunity to learn: an important topic, taught well, in a focused environment, with plenty to see, hear and do. I’ve always taken it seriously, too, and been focused.
And I’ve always come away with a wealth of information. Yet virtually nothing has ever made it to my long-term memory.
Here’s what I should have done—and what you can do now—to make sure any training doesn’t go to waste.
• Test yourself before you start.
You might be surprised to find that you’ve got some foundations of knowledge to build on. Pre-testing sparks your curiosity and puts you in a frame of mind to remember.
• Write questions as you learn.
Don’t waste time making notes
