Learning is all about optimizing energy efficiency

Learning is all about optimizing energy efficiency - 6 cool ideas

- Antropomorphism

When you play with a toddler... "tschuu tschuu.. do you want to join?" the train asks the puppet in the toddlers hand. The train is humanized, reflecting back human nature on the toddler making the concept of a train "graspable".

This animistic learning was a core part of earlier civilization. We had "gods" who represented something. "God of Nature", "God of Water" which were surrounded by stories of insights. Today we have also nobel price winners for core concepts. But for many topics we only have pure de-humanized empty words.

- Perception of Meaning

When you look at your phone you dont see the phone,

you see what you can do with it. "i need to take a picture", "i need to show you this... let me google.." .. then... you.. picking your phone.

Objective reality comes after the filter of meaning. First you see what something means to you. Only at second, you see objective reality.

- Memory is driven loss aversion

You are not made to thrive, you are made to survive. Bad stuff is at the center of our attention because why should the brain waste energy on the good stuff that works? The next time somebody tells you about his/her holidays notice that- very fast they will tell you a story about some negative/unexpected thing that happened and came in their way.

- Social Connection

Learning is a social thing as it drives emotions. We usually don't want to be perceived badly so we think twice when we share something. Also it makes you accountable to your words. Also when you give advice.. questioning.. is it some arrogant advice you just tell me or do you live it yourself?

Also for social media its very cool when you have friends in all kinds of domains, sharing content you watch together with your thoughts. This helps learning to express your ideas and in the best case you get challenged. ... For example content creators, even if they dont nail it on the first attempt, get a lot of feedback which drives their learning. This needs a courage to fail and an openness from both to allow "not perfect ideas" to circulate. ... I see many people taking everything personal all the time or withholdiing everything because fear of judgement. This kills learning.

As educator I love to facilitate a meaningful conversation where open exchange can happen. And people really like to have those conversations. They find connections between them and even forget about the pause.

- Motivational Drivers

There are two main motivational drivers: Profession & Trauma.

Either you are good at something and you get reinforced on that (by somebody clapping) and seeing the next peak of milestone. (extrinsic)

OR even better. When you had personal problems, overcome it for yourself, and help others with your solution. (intrinsic)

- (bonus) Introverts Fallacy

We say introverts need a lot of energy in social interactions. But why? Because they are not very good at it. But why? Because they train it less through avoiding social interactions. This leads to a self-reinforcing cycle. When you get better at it, it gets easier and you need less energy so you are not so drained from it.