Learning How to Learn

Learning is a scientific process, and for students to learn optimally they must be taught (Bjork, 2013: Dunlosky 2021). Students use ineffective techniques such as highlighting and re-reading, with limited success. Such strategies are rooted in the misconception about learning (Bjork & Bjork, 2011). These habits stem from common misconceptions about how memory and knowledge actually develop.

When students instead understand the principles behind effective learning they gain the ability to manage their own learning, adapt to new challenges, and think critically about how they learn best. These are the very capabilities that support success in higher education and beyond.

The Skills Gap

The most valuable skills in today’s economy aren’t the ones most schools are designed to teach. At the base, classrooms focus on content mastery and academic performance. At the top, employers and colleges seek durable skills like critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communication.

Between the two lies a persistent gap: the cognitive skills that enable higher-order thinking. These skills such as processing skills, managing skills, applying skills, monitoring skills and affective & behavioral skills are rarely taught explicitly, yet they are required to make durable skills possible. Strengthening them transforms classroom knowledge into lifelong learning capability.