Learning :: A Lifelong Adventure

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Yes, I consider myself to be a perpetual student; learning isn't simply confined to the school room. It happens to be an everday occurence in life, from birth to the grave. I'm hoping to learn as much as I can in order to attain enlightenment. I was wondering how the other Asperger people around here have to share about their learning experiences; how do you learn?

We all know that information can become obsolete as new discoveries are constantly being made everyday; however, learning how to learn is a lifelong skill that stays with you forever, if put into practice. I'm talking about learning information that is retained within your memory and sharpening your mind for easier recall. However, there are different sensory inputs that can be employed to learn something; these faculties are known as the seven intelligences (or eight, if you like to include the naturalist intelligence). These include:

Linguistic
Logical-Mathematical
Bodily-Kinesthetic
Spatial
Musical
Interpersonal
Intrapersonal

Using as many of your intelligences as possible gives you more sensory input; therefore, you are more likely to remember the subject you're learning about. Another note to keep in mind is that learning isn't a passive experience; we are the creators of our own realities, therefore, we should always make an active effort to create the experience you want. Nobody else can do that except for yourself.

The reason why I set this up is so that other people can help each other out with their unique learning abilities; every Asperger's individual has a differently wired brain. In order to learn effectively, we must learn about ourselves to employ our thinking to the best of its capabilities.

Does anyone else have contributions to make to this post?

I would appreciate commentary/advice/etc.

~Heather

It always brings excitement to my heart to meet a fellow erudite. I too consider myself to be something of a perpetual student like yourself. Ever since an early age I have had an intense fascination with learning everything from history to math to languages and art. Even now that desire resides deep within the parts of my mind which I associate most closely with enjoyment and pleasure. Whenever I encounter a question I don't know the answer to or a subject I know little about, I am instantly compelled to read about that subject as much as I can, or speak with people who know more about it. I've always been full of questions, and from a very early age and indeed up through today I've gotten quite a lot of my enjoyment directly from the pages of encyclopedias.

Howard Gardener's theory of multiple intelligences is something I haven't encountered in a long time. In fact, I had forgotten a few of them. I once took a fairly unrealiable (but still fairly accurate) online test which scored me highest with linguistic and mathematical intelligences, and lowest with kinesthetic and intrapersonal. I find myself wondering if you've ever taken any such test and if so, how did you score?

Over years and years of researching random things, places, people, processes, et cetera and so forth, as well just random bits of fact and trivia; I have come to realize that the way that I learn best is with reading. Not just one source, but multiple sources about the same subject. After I'm finished reading an interesting bit, I talk about it within my head, reminding myself what I have read and adding it to my scene. Take beekeeping for instance. After reading about a new process for storing the hives, I'll put my source down and remember everything else I know about beekeeping. I'll go over the scene in my mind of what I've learned, as if I were a beekeeper learning a trade secret from a respected master. Occasionally, I'll be the one explaining it to an imaginary beginner.

I don't know if I've explained my point very well, but they say that we retain only 50% of what we learn. However, we retain 90% of what we teach to others. (My numbers are not reliable, I haven't got any studies nor remember who I'm quoting from.)

In any case, I appreciate your bringing this topic up. This thread has not even started and I'm already excited about it.

I'm glad to know that somebody else appreciates this type of post. If I were to contribute my own opinions to a wonderful site such as this, I figure it should be something of worth. I am very pleased to meet you, MrWizard; you may call me Heather. Quick intro short, I'm seventeen years old, an aspiring writer, and an adopted Asian. I find it fascinating that you've always had a passion for learning; in fact, intellect has always been a quality I have admired in various individuals. Another thing is that you happen to be versatile; I try to remain as open-minded as possible when learning subjects (I think that no subject is truly boring if you manage to put yourself in the right mind frame), though math has never been a speciality of mine. I was wondering if it was possible to help enhance your mathematical skills along with logical reasoning (I need help with that too xD). I do have an innate sense of wishing to learn, though sometimes I lose motivation to do something and that just isn't good. However, I figured that talking to other people about this would be a good way to get back into action, so here I am.

Ah, reading. That's something that I learn the best as well, which is good. It certainly made things easier for my academic career, which is basically an environment that solely focuses on the linguistic and mathematical-logical intelligences. However, I'm not too shabby with the musical and artistic intelligences as well =3 Yes, I've learned about Howard Gardner's multiple intelligences at a younger age because I was interested in reading books like that (you know, self-help books...I admit it...hehe). I agree about the multiple sources, and I find it interesting that you would mention that. When I started getting my brain out of its stagnant state, I read from a trusted book source, before going on the internet and comparing the information from various websites from there. About the multiple intelligences test, I never really took one, though after going through a book that studied about the seven intelligences, I've determined myself as a linguistic, spatial, and musical individual. Mathematical-logical happens to be one of my weak points, along with interpersonal (never been good with handling other people). Also, my body coordination has never been so great either. xD

So, it's good to know that you piece together all your knowledge that way; when starting out, do you go from beginning to end in a book or do you like skimming through, find something interesting to you, then build off from knowledge there? I'm not sure if I have the motivation to sit and read an entire history book from front to cover in one sitting in chronological order; I've skipped around quite a bit, reading bits on the World Wars, pieces of the Cold War, and other things. Even though I think this spontaneous approach probably works for me better rather than tackling the book strictly beginning to end, I don't like the idea of 'missing out' on anything.

Hrm. What to do.

Also, how much time do you put into studying every day? Do you do it all in one sitting, or do you divide it up into manageable parts? I heard that breaking it up into chunks is a much more effective method rather than reading it all in one sitting; concentration is an elusive thing, yes. However, I envy you if you can retain about horde of 80-90% information after reading over five hours; it's an applaudable achievement, actually. It's good that you reflect in your mind after learning something; actively asking the questions makes for an effective learner, rather than letting the information sift through your brain. I also find it easier to retain information if I read a passage, then put it in my own words after digesting the contents.

If you wouldn't mind, I'd like to have a personal tutor for learning. I'm willing to learn about anything, just to gain knowledge for its own sake. However, I will understand if you respectfully decline; real life can take up a chunk of your internet time. ^-^;;

Also, I'm glad to know this topic intrigues you; most of my other topics ended up failing and garnering no responses whatsoever. <<;;



~Heather

Why, that is so true!

I agree! I consider myself a lifelong student as well...I learn a lot from reading, watching DVDs/documentaries and taking classes...

I have so many degrees that I want to earn! It's very unrealistic but I'll just go ahead and list them...

I want to earn 3 PhDs in different but similar fields which I choose to keep secret for now...
I want to earn MFA in fine arts and dance
I want to earn MA in dance therapy, art therapy, somatic psychology and drama therapy
I want to learn how to make clothes(associates degree from FIT), I want to learn make up art & hair styling & skin care (Aveda Institute) and I want to learn how to cook (culinary schools)
I want to be a certified Jungian analyst...
I would like to learn how to make dolls...

*giggle* I know, I know it's all very unrealistic but I could dream about it and try to make some of it come true...



I know, it's not easy to get responses...although I am grateful and content with the response I get here, I don't think I make terribly interesting posts...nor are my posts popular or do they get many responses... I think you post interesting topics...I hope you keep it up!

One simply can't help but learn. A life without would be pure boredom.