Some think of them as different phases / stages of learning. In reality, sequencing is not mandatory and therefore I would like to think of it as different aspects or angle of learning – sequenced or simultaneously. Each aspect have its own pros and cons. Awareness of its differences and applying it smartly probably yields the best results.
Explore
Openness to ideas and possibilities. Willingness to see things from more than one angle. The story about “blind men describing their version of the elephant from just touching one body part” explains it well. Exploration may be trigger by curiosity or a need to solve a problem. Problem solving can be linear or lateral. Openness and stimulation via multiple sources can lead to unexpected solutions. On the contrary, those that keep exploring without ever practicing / focusing will never produce any tangible results either.
Practice
Practice usually mean focused repetitions or making something real. The intent is to streamline, remove doubts, hesitations, strengthen the neural / muscular movement patterns and to produce something tangible. We drill math, piano, ballet and grammar into young kids and yes, it will definitely produce visible results. However, on a longer term basis, some students who learn just via memorization and drills may not appreciate what they have learn or why it is even relevant.
Experience
I am talking about the “Ah-ha” moments. That is part of the fun and “pay-off” for all the hard work. Enlightenment, appreciation and realization of the significance and applicability of a principle / skill in different real life personal situations take you to a new level of understanding. When this happens, what you learned is yours and nobody can take it away from you.
Exercise
Pick one of the following and complete:
- Give examples of the pros and cons of each aspect.
- How you force yourself to see what you are doing or learning from a different angle.