Yet Method 1
(Monday)
Context:
Many students feel overwhelmed with school and school work when they fail to understand a subject or concept quickly.
Most students feel that they must keep up with other students when it comes to understanding what's being taught in class. This can cause frustration, fear, and anxiety if they aren’t comprehending what's being taught as quickly as others.
Most students view wrong answers on tests, quizzes, and homework as indications that they are failing. Some may even feel they are not smart enough.
What it is: The Yet method gives you a simple way to be patient with yourself when learning something new.
Why it’s important: Even after leaving school, you’ll need to keep learning. Your employer may expect you to learn new technology, concepts, or processes once hired. Learning to lower your stress associated with learning now, will allow you to easily face new learning challenges in the workplace and life in the future.
Primer Questions
Would you say you’re hard on yourself? Do you or others expect a lot from you?
Do you enjoy learning? Even if it’s something difficult?
How do you feel if you don’t get a ‘good’ grade on an assignment, test, or final grade?
Write down your answers and observations in your journal.
“
Our minds influence the key activity of the brain, which then influences everything; perception, cognition, thoughts and feelings, personal relationships, they’re all a projection of you.
”
— Deepak Chopra
Learning on a schedule
When you begin school, the speed at which you learn becomes very apparent. In school, learning is tied to a daily, weekly, and monthly schedule. If you happen to need more time to understand a concept or learn or memorize something specific, you might feel pressured to keep up with the rest of the class. Some might be labeled as being ‘ahead’ or ‘behind’ other students, or ‘slow learners’.
When people around you seem to grasp ideas quicker or have an easier time with a certain subject, you can become impatient with yourself.
Watch the video then answer the questions below, or discuss them with others.
Questions for reflection
When it comes to how quickly you learn something new, do you compare yourself with others?
Is there a subject or topic in school that was difficult for you at one time, but is much easier now?
How can acknowledging that learning anything takes time, help you to become a better learner?
Write down your answers and observations in your journal, or discuss them with others.
When you are expected to learn something by a specific time, this can lead to internal pressure and anxiety.
Studies show that it is harder to learn when you are in a state of anxiety or fear (See How Anxiety Affects Learning).
In addition, when you constantly feel under pressure when learning, those negative emotions can attach themselves to learning anything. If this happens, you may experience more than the usual amount of anxiety when you get a job and are asked to learn something new.
Using the ‘yet’ method helps you understand that you learn at your own pace, and that’s ok. It allows you to maintain a positive view of the learning process.
REMEMBER: Everyone learns at their own pace.
You may axcel at some subjects and require more time learning others subjects. That’s ok!
Metacognitive Goals
From now until Wednesday, notice how it feels to have deadlines for learning vs. learning at your own pace.
Compare how you feel about learning something by a certain time (end of the week quiz or test) versus learning something that you can take your time with. For example, have you learned how to do something by following a tutorial on Youtube? or by being taught by a friend or relative?
Note how when you learn at your own pace, you are more patient with yourself. Or you may note that when you teach yourself something, you adopt the same type of time-based learning as in school, “If I don’t learn how to play this song on the guitar by the end of the weekend, I’m an idiot.”
Thought of the day.
The best way to love learning is to spend time every week learning something you choose to learn. Something that interests you.