Unleash Your Potential: The Benefits of Making Learning Fun
What happens when you make learning fun? By incorporating fun you can increase motivation, engagement, and memory retention, leading to a happier and more successful life.
Read Time: <5 minutes.
Content Shared: 2 Books, 1 Youtube Video from a science teacher, 1 Podcast, a happy GIF, and some actionable tips!
Ah, Learning!
Too often, learning is portrayed as something we have to labour through. Something you have to push yourself to do. In reality, learning should be a positive and enjoyable experience, leading to increased motivation, engagement, and memory retention. I want to give you some of the reasons WHY, but also HOW you can start having more fun in your learning.
The Science Behind Fun and Learning
A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about why having fun is so important, but I want to hyper-focus on what it does to learning. Research has shown that enjoyable activities stimulate the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with positive emotions and reinforcement of learning. This leads to increased attention, participation, and better information encoding into long-term memory.
"Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood." - Fred Rogers
But It’s Not Just For Kids
Before I go any further, I want to make something incredibly clear. This isn’t just for kids when they are learning. These examples and information can help adults as well! So if you are in any teaching or leadership position. Pay extra close attention.
The Long-Term Benefits of Having Fun While Learning
It’s not just that you will have more fun while you learn. The positive impacts will carry on. Its been proven that having more fun when learning can lead to—increased confidence and self-esteem. Improved persistence and goal attainment. Reduced stress and increased positive emotions. Lifelong learning and personal and professional growth
Actionable Tips for Incorporating Fun into Learning
So how do you do it? How do you make learning more fun? Well, I wanted to include some tips!
Make it interactive: Games, simulations, and group projects are more engaging and enjoyable than passive activities.
Use humour: Incorporating humour into learning can reduce stress, increase motivation, and make the material more memorable.
Personalize the material: Customizing learning activities to your interests, goals, and strengths can increase engagement and motivation.
Provide instant feedback: Immediate feedback, such as quizzes or self-assessments, can help reinforce learning and increase motivation. (or gummy candy)
Set achievable goals: Setting realistic and achievable goals can increase motivation and provide a sense of accomplishment.
BONUS Special Shoutout -
I was inspired to write this by a fantastic person I met online who truly understands this—Colleen Kelley, who founded Kids’ Chemical Solutions. I had a fantastic chat with Colleen, and I am incredibly inspired by her work. I think it’s incredibly important! I recommend checking out what she is accomplishing.
www.kidschemicalsolutions.com
Let’s Keep The Learning Train Running
If you’ve been reading for a bit, you know I love to include further learnings. I feel this is more important on this one than ever!
"Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us" - Daniel H. Pink
The 4 Ways Your Mind Learns & How To Strengthen Your Focus - Jay Shetty
Thank You And A Favour
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If this is your first time here, THANK YOU! I do hope you subscribe to keep learning!