Maximizing Your Learning: The 60 30 10 Method
As the world becomes more and more competitive, it’s crucial to stay ahead of the curve by learning new skills or enhancing your existing ones. However, with so many distractions around us, it can be tough to dedicate time to learning, let alone retaining the knowledge we gain.
That’s where the 60 30 10 method comes in.
What is the 60 30 10 Method?
The 60 30 10 method is a straightforward yet effective approach to learning and retaining information. In a nutshell, it involves breaking down your time for learning into three categories: 60% for new information, 30% for reviewing what you’ve learned, and 10% for application.
How does it work?
Let’s say you want to learn a new skill or subject. You can start by dedicating 60% of your time to learning new information. This can be anything from reading books, watching instructional videos, attending webinars, or even taking courses.
Once you’ve absorbed the new information, it’s time to dedicate 30% of your time to reviewing what you’ve learned. This could involve taking notes, revisiting materials, or quizzing yourself to ensure you’ve retained the information.
Finally, you allocate 10% of your time to applying what you’ve learned. This is where you put your newfound knowledge into practice, whether through hands-on experience, projects, or even teaching someone else.
Why does it work?
The 60 30 10 method is based on proven principles of learning and retention. Studies have shown that we are more likely to remember and retain information if we review it within 24 hours. Additionally, applying what we’ve learned helps us retain the information even better.
Breaking down our learning time into these three categories ensures that we don’t just gain new knowledge but also retain it in the long term.
Examples of the 60 30 10 Method
The 60 30 10 method can be applied to any learning scenario, whether you’re a student studying for exams or a professional looking to enhance your skills.
For instance, let’s say you’re attending a one-hour webinar on marketing. You can allocate 36 minutes (60%) for taking notes and absorbing new information, 18 minutes (30%) for reviewing your notes and going over the key takeaways, and 6 minutes (10%) for brainstorming ways to apply what you’ve learned at work.
Alternatively, if you’re learning a new language, you can dedicate 6 hours a week to learning new words and grammar rules (60%), 3 hours a week to practicing through quizzes, listening exercises, or watching videos (30%), and 1 hour a week to conversing with a native speaker (10%).
Final thoughts
The 60 30 10 method is a simple but powerful tool for maximizing your learning potential. By breaking down your time for learning into focused categories, you can ensure that you not only gain new knowledge but also retain it in the long term.
Whether you’re a student or a professional, implementing this method can help you learn more effectively and efficiently, ultimately leading to greater success in your personal and professional life.
