Maximise Your Learning
Are you attending a course? – Congratulations!
You have been given an opportunity to grow and learn something new—an investment that benefits both you and your organization. The date is set, and you know the location, but have you thought about how to make the most of the course? By reflecting on your goals beforehand, you can focus better and gain more from the experience. During the course, enhance your learning by being active—ask questions, engage in discussions, and participate! And afterward, how will you apply your newfound knowledge in real life? Here are some simple yet effective tips to help you get the most out of your next course.
“As long as I find the way there, I will be fine.”
How do you prepare for a course?
Reflect – What do you want to gain from the course?
Thinking about what you want to achieve helps you set clear goals and expectations. This makes your learning more focused and meaningful while increasing your chances of actively seeking and acquiring the knowledge most relevant to your professional development.
Review the course materials! – Get ready for active learning.
Make sure you are familiar with the course content and perhaps even skim through any materials sent out in advance. Preparing and reading beforehand gives you a basic understanding of the topic, making it easier for your brain to process and integrate new information during the course. This helps improve retention and promotes more active learning.
You are the one learning. Make the most of your potential.
"Is it coffee time yet?"
How do you engage during the course?
Ask questions and discuss! – Active participation helps your brain process new knowledge.
The brain works best when you are engaged and active. When you participate in discussions, ask questions, or try to explain something to someone else, you are forced to organize your thoughts and understand the topic better. This ensures that new knowledge is not just stored in the short term but also embedded more deeply, making it easier to apply in practice.
Listen to what others share! – It may open up new perspectives.
When other participants share their experiences, thoughts, and questions, you get to hear different viewpoints and applications of the subject. These new perspectives may offer insights you wouldn’t have arrived at on your own. People interpret and relate to information differently based on their unique backgrounds and experiences.
Learning is an active process.
“Well, that’s another course completed.”
How do you make use of your new experiences?
Sharing with colleagues is both repetition and passing on your learnings to others.
When you’re back at work, share what you’ve learned with your colleagues. By discussing and explaining your new knowledge, you not only reinforce your own learning but also contribute to raising the overall competence of your team. This type of peer learning fosters a culture of continuous development and knowledge exchange in the workplace.
Expand your network! – Connect with other course participants.
Build connections with both participants and instructors, for example, via LinkedIn. By forming a network of people with similar interests and expertise, you can continue exchanging ideas, asking questions, and receiving support even after the course ends. This network can also create opportunities for future collaborations and career development.
Practice like a pro
– or at least give it a try!
Once the course is over, don’t just put away the course materials and forget everything. Instead! Now is the time to put theory into practice. Try to implement what you’ve learned in your daily work. Start with small steps and gradually build your skills. Remember: Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither is an expert! And if you stumble along the way? That’s perfectly fine—it’s how we learn.
Lena Mårtensson/Läkemedelsakademin