If you’re sitting on the dock, watching the swim class without getting wet, it’s more accurate to say, “I’m just watching.”

There are plenty of theories on how different people learn.

Online, we’re in the middle of the biggest learning experiment in history, with countless videos, podcasts and interactive courses teaching just about anything.

In my experience, there are two uncomfortable pedagogical methods that lead to better learning outcomes:

• Doing it poorly on the way to doing it better
• Engaging with others in mutual support and exploration

It’s certainly possible that you’re the rare learner who actually absorbs new ideas and techniques simply by reading a summary.

If it’s important, though, I hope you’ll try the two most effective methods instead.