Learning Cycles 2

Fragments from imaginary dialogues

“How can I increase learning-density [<link; short length] – the amount of learning done during a day?”

“Learning is a feedback loop. It’s a cyclical iterative process.

We’ve spoken before about the Stoic practice of reflecting on the day at the end of every day, which Doland Robertson called learning cycles [<link; medium]. That is a feedback cycle. 

The essential characteristic of a learning cycle is reflection – looking backwards and analyzing a past time-frame. The time-frame can vary. It can be one year, one month, one day, one hour, or even one minute.

To increase learning-density on the daily time-frame, you need to get more cycles in. 

More cycles means faster iteration. 

In addition to the daily learning cycle, do as many as possible micro-cycles during the day.

Every little experience is a potential learning micro-cycle, an opportunity for micro-reflection.”

“Doesn’t this fragment the experience?”

“I see it as actually enriching the experience.

Any experience is actually an aggregate of micro-experiences. Between micro-experiences, there is a natural transition-space. It is in that space where micro-reflection can grow.”

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