Training Industry Magazine - Winter 2023 - 69

SCIENCE OF
LEARNING
SRINI PILLAY,
M.D.
PRACTICAL TIPS FOR OPTIMIZING
SELF-DIRECTED LEARNING
Intentional learning is a critical
competency. But despite the
importance, learners still struggle to
find the time for learning. Although
self-directed learning (SDL) sounds like
it allows for flexibility, it often places
demands on people to learn outside
of work when they are recovering
from tiring days. As a result, learning is
often ineffective and people may feel
burned out with learning demands.
How can brain science help us
improve the formats and contexts for
self-directed learning?
Factors that enable SDL include reflection,
self-determination, motivation, resilience
and positive learning behaviors and skills
such as growth mindset. Brain science can
show us how to facilitate SDL as it relates
to each of these factors.
Reflection: It helps to connect learning
to who people are as individuals.
This requires tapping into the selfnetworks
in the brain, a component
of which is the default mode network
(DMN). It's hard to find time to reflect,
but
there
are
can improve
a
few
workarounds
to consider. For example, doodling
activates the DMN, and when it does,
it
memory
by 29%.
Many people have a difficult time
meditating on learning but providing
a five-to-10-minute experience such as
video or virtual reality can be helpful
for reflection.
Self-determination and motivation:
Self-determination and motivation
are connected by self-determination
theory, which teaches us that the brain
Growth mindset: The growth mindset
is one in which the learner believes
that the brain will get stronger as
their learning progresses. This
contrasts with a mindset of " learned
helplessness, " where the learner has
already given up on enjoying learning
or on improving in any way. Having a
growth mindset means that the brain
does not screech to a halt after an
Dr. Srini Pillay is the CEO of
NeuroBusiness Group. He is a Harvard
trained psychiatrist and neuroscientist,
on the Consortium for Learning
Innovation at McKinsey & Company,
and author of " Tinker Dabble Doodle
Try. " Srini is also co-founder, chief
medical officer and chief learning
officer of Reulay. Email Srini.
changes to enhance motivation when
three criteria are fulfilled: autonomy
(give people the freedom to learn
when they can), competence (allow
them to measure how their learning
has improved, and social relations
(allow them to share the learning and
connect with others).
Resilience: Resilience is the " capacity
to prepare for, recover from and adapt
in the face of stress. " When stress
escalates, there are progressively
diminishing returns until it starts to
work against you. In the brain, this
can show up as a lack of cognitive
flexibility, making it very difficult to
absorb and manipulate information.
For this reason, you want to suggest
that
any SDL be scheduled
after
deliberate stress reduction if someone
is feeling overwhelmed. There's no
point pushing through a mountain of
information just to get to the other
side because you will likely not retain
it. Organizations would do well to
connect anxiety and stress-reducing
apps and platforms to their learning
platforms so that people who are
learning can de-stress if they need to.
error is made. Instead, the learner is

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Training Industry Magazine - Winter 2023

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