This article presents various learning models and techniques with practical examples. We have all used some of these methods to learn how to learn. Many times it is the teacher who, without telling you, has used a specific method. It is ultimately up to you to decide which one fits you best.
The guide includes seven main sections:
Kolb’s Experiential Learning Model: Illustrates a learning cycle that includes Concrete Experience, Reflective Observation, Abstract Conceptualization, and Active Experimentation.
Bloom’s Taxonomy: It presents six levels of progressive learning: Remember, Understand, Apply, Analyze, Evaluate and Create.
Pomodoro Technique: Explains the time management method that alternates 25-minute work periods with short and long breaks.
70:20:10 Model for Learning and Development: Divides learning into three ratios: 70% hands-on experience, 20% developmental relationships, and 10% coursework and training.
Dweck’s Growth Mindset: Outlines four key aspects of how to approach learning and challenges from a growth perspective.
VAK Student Learning Model: Explains the three main learning styles: Visual, Auditory and Kinesthetic.
Feynman Technique: Presents a four-step process for learning and understanding complex concepts through simplified explanation.
1. Bloom’s taxonomy
Bloom’s Taxonomy is a list of objectives or levels that evaluate the learning process of students. It was created in the 50s by Benjamin Bloom, psychologist and pedagogue at the University of Chicago, and divides educational objectives into three areas: cognitive, affective and psychomotor.
A simple example of the application of Bloom’s Taxonomy could be the following:
In the first level, which is “Remembering”, students could be asked to recite something they have been taught, such as memorizing a poem or remembering the main European capitals. To assess this level, simple multiple-choice questions can be asked to check if students remember specific facts from the material studied.
This example shows how the most basic level of the taxonomy is applied, focusing on students’ ability to remember and reproduce learned information.
2. Tomato Technique
The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method that seeks to improve productivity and concentration. The technique involves working in 25-minute intervals without interruptions, followed by 5-minute breaks. After completing four intervals (called “pomodoros”), you can take a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes.
The basic steps are:
- Decide on the task to be performed
- Set the timer to 25 minutes
- Work in a concentrated and intensive way
- When the alarm sounds, mark the completed pomodoro
- Rest for 5 minutes
- Repeat the process
After 4 pomodoros, take a longer break of 20-30 minutes. A day’s work might look like this:
- From 8 am to 1 pm: 8 pomodoros
- From 2 pm to 5 pm: 6 more pomodoros
In total, approximately 6 hours of effective work, which would normally take 10-12 hours without this technique.
3. 70:20:10
The 70:20:10 model is a learning and development approach that proposes that 70% of learning comes from hands-on experience (daily work), 20% from social interaction (mentors, peers), and 10% from formal training (courses, seminars).
Simple example:
An employee wants to learn how to lead projects. According to this model:
- 70%: Participates in the management of a real project, solving problems and making decisions.
- 20%: Receives feedback from their supervisor and collaborates with experienced colleagues.
- 10%: Attend a course on project management or leadership.
4. Dweck’s Growth Mindset
The growth mindset is a concept developed by Carol Dweck that maintains that skills and intelligence are not fixed, but can be developed through effort, learning, and perseverance. People with this mindset see challenges as opportunities to grow and failures as learnings.
Simple example:
A student who does not understand a mathematical problem thinks: “I still do not know how to solve it, but if I practice and ask for help, I will learn it”. This approach reflects the growth mindset by prioritizing effort and continuous improvement over initial constraints.
5. Modelo VAK
The VAK (Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic) Model is a learning approach that classifies students based on their sensory preference for processing information. This model divides learners into three main categories:
- Visual: Students who learn best through visual stimuli.
- Auditory: Students who learn best through auditory stimuli.
- Kinesthetic: Students who process information through the senses (touch, smell, and taste) and movements.
It is estimated that approximately 40% of people are visual, 30% auditory, and 30% kinesthetic. However, this does not mean that students exclusively use one of these ways to process information, but that they have an easier time retaining and reproducing it if they acquire it through their preferred learning path.
Simple example:
Juan, a mentor, works with Maria, a young woman who struggles to assimilate information in mentoring sessions. To determine Mary’s learning style according to the VAK model, John prepares three different activities:
- A presentation with diagrams and graphs (visual).
- A detailed oral (auditory) explanation.
- A hands-on exercise with object manipulation (kinesthetic).
By observing how Maria performs in each activity, Juan will be able to identify his learning preference and adapt his future sessions to maximize Maria’s understanding and retention of information.
6. Feynman technique
The Feynman Technique is a method of learning and study developed by Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman. This method focuses primarily on understanding and explaining complex concepts in a simple and effective way. It is based on the premise that, if we cannot explain a concept in a simple way, it is likely that we have not understood it perfectly.
The four main steps of the Feynman Technique are:
- Choose your topic: Select the concept you want to master.
- Explain the topic as if you were going to tell a child: Use simple language, analogies, and everyday examples. Avoid technical jargon.
- Identify gaps: As you try to explain the concept, you’ll notice that there are parts that you can’t simplify or that are confusing to you. These are the areas you need to strengthen.
- Review and simplify: Go back to your original sources and study those weak points until you can explain them clearly and concisely.
Simple example:
Let’s imagine that we want to apply the Feynman Technique to learn about diacritic accents:
- We chose the specific topic: “Diacritical accents”
- We try to explain it simply, as if we were telling an 8-year-old child.
- In doing so, we identify the parts that are difficult for us to explain.
- We go over those pain points and simplify our explanation until we can convey it clearly and concisely.
7. Kolb’s Experiential Learning Model
Kolb’s Experiential Learning Model, developed by David A. Kolb, describes learning as a cyclical process composed of four stages: concrete experience, reflective observation, abstract conceptualization, and active experimentation. This approach emphasizes that knowledge is built from the transformation of lived experiences.
Simple example:
A biology student wants to learn about plant growth:
- Concrete experience: Plant seeds in a hands-on experiment.
- Reflective observation: Analyzes changes in plants and records data.
- Abstract conceptualization: Develops a theory about how light affects growth.
- Active experimentation: He applies his theory in a new experiment by changing the light conditions.
This cycle allows learning to be consolidated through practice, reflection and application.