I saw these quotes on Internet Pillar: Fun is just another word for learning – Raph Koster. I never knew that learning could be so much fun. Now I can’t wait to learn more. ~ Chandan Negi. I wanted to decipher these.

Let’s try to understand fun. Can we say that fun is the unexpected, the delightful detour from routine. Is it similar to joy, an enduring and underlying sense – a deep wellspring of delight ? If you do something new, is it likely to give you a feeling of enjoyment? Does creative activity like painting or writing lead to joy? I believe it does.

One way to retain what you learn is by practicing it. So if you learn something new and practice it, which is the same as doing something new, it will give you joy. The brain associates pleasure with learning, which makes the process rewarding and enjoyable. When learning is interactive and applies to real-life situations, it becomes more enjoyable and memorable.

Storytelling

Some teachers use storytelling as a way to convey information and make it more memorable. Incorporating narratives, anecdotes, or real-life examples to contextualize the material makes it more relatable. Listening to stories is fun.

Teachers also integrate elements of games into learning activities to make learning joyful. This could involve points, badges, leaderboards, or levels to create a sense of achievement and progress.

Similarly, field trips to different locations can be fun, and provide firsthand experiences or expertise related to the subject.

Learning in Groups

Working with others can make learning more enjoyable and provide opportunities for social interaction. Indulge in peer-to-peer learning through group projects, discussions, or debates.

Celebrate

Celebrations are fun. Celebrate achievements and milestones while you learn. This could be through rewarding yourself, or showcasing your work to the wider community.

Yesterday, I started learning about Generative AI. It is the flavor of the day, and Is being used in various ways by companies and individuals. I took up an online course and found it quite interesting. Yet, as soon as I completed 25 minutes, I remembered the Pomodoro technique which results in effective learning. I stopped immediately, and did some light exercise. As per advice from experts. I rewarded myself – with a chocolate. Suddenly I felt like dancing, and did some steps. Literally, learning became fun for me.

VLOGs and Videos

Quite often I learn from videos on Youtube, and on VLOGs. TED and TEDx videos, and other posts, on Youtube cover a variety of subjects and topics. Some presentations are very interesting and learning from them is fun. VLOGs often have interviews with experts in subjects, bestselling authors, or influencers. Many of them have charisma and watching them is enjoyable.

Conclusion

We should not equate learning with seriousness. Learning can often be fun, and we can make it so ourselves.

Photo by Bailey Burton- on Unsplash