THE LEARNING PROCESS OF THE POMODORO TECHNIQUE AND BEYOND

TUĞÇE YAZGAN
Education Specialist

The Pomodoro technique works as “working intervals separated by short breaks.” To elaborate, you should set your time to focus on the subject you are interested in for 25 minutes and then proceed with 5-minute breaks. You should do this using a timer and ensure that you do nothing else during these breaks. During these breaks, your brain will continue to learn the information you receive in the background.

For those who yearn to learn, the ultimate aspiration is to master the art of learning itself, to swiftly grasp information and retain it indefinitely. But what exactly is learning? How do we facilitate the learning process? How can we make learning more efficient and effective? Are the methods of learning fixed, or do they vary from person to person? Or is learning an inherent skill that we all possess?

THE BRAIN PROCESSES, STORES AND RETRIEVES INFORMATION

Although many scientists have described the learning process, the majority emphasize its uniqueness and that it works differently for everyone. Learning is the formation of new connections between neurons in the brain. Millions of neural networks are formed in our brains from birth, and repeated experiences strengthen these neural networks. Thus, learning becomes more permanent. During learning, the brain processes and stores information through the senses and recalls it when necessary.

LEARNING FASTER AND MORE ACCURATELY BY FOCUSING

When we think of learning as "the process by which changes occur in an individual's knowledge and behavior," we are "uniquely processing data." According to Bar" ara Oakley, who studies learning at Oakland University, focus is "an important medi" ting variable in the learning process." People learn faster and more accurately when they are focused. Therefore, the learning process can be disrupted when focus is affected, such as when stress is high.

FOCUS AND DISTANCING GO HAND IN HAND

Think about a topic you have been working on for a long time but have not fully mastered. You will realize that the more you dwell on it, the more complicated things get. At that very moment, you will find it easier to focus and comprehend when you move away from the subject, do a different activity, and then return to it. Oakley says that in the learning process, "focus and distract" ion go hand in hand." The brain processes the information back and forth between these two systems. Even though you are distanced, the networks that Oakley calls 'spillover' work in the cognitive process, and the "processing and le "ring" of the information" received continues.

GETTING TO KNOW OUR BRAIN MAKES THE LEARNING PROCESS MORE EFFICIENT

"People often don't know how their brain learns—knowing how the brain works can give you a more accurate approach to learning. You are more likely to learn more accurately and retain information than someone who learns faster. Your brain becomes a more efficient tool as you get to know it." Based on this, there is a method we can try to "get to know our brain and make our learning process efficient": "Pomodoro Technique." Developed in 1992 by F. Cirillo, this technique, known as a time management technique, explains that productivity and cognitive learning processes are directly related.

25 MINUTES FOCUS 5 MINUTES BREAK...

The Pomodoro technique works as "working intervals separated by short breaks." To elaborate, you should set your time to focus on the subject you are interested in for 25 minutes and then proceed with 5-minute breaks. You should do this by using a timer and take care not to do anything else during the time you have allocated. To refresh the mind, stepping away from the subject and allowing the networks Oakley talks about to "spread" is critical. During these breaks, your brain will continue learning the information you received in the background.  

INFORMATION PERCEPTION STYLES: VISUAL, AUDITORY AND TACTILE

Although each individual follows similar approaches in the learning process, especially "differences in the perception of information" provide information about which learning area is dominant. The dominant regions of our learning style are divided into three groups: visual, auditory, and kinesthetic (tactile) learning. The most common learning style is visual learning, with 65 percent. This is followed by auditory learning with 30 percent and kinesthetic learning with 5 percent. We all have learning styles, but we predominantly use one and build our learning on it.

CHARACTERISTICS OF LEARNING STYLES...

We can briefly summarize the characteristics of learning styles as follows:

-Visual learners learn by looking at or reading material, and they like to write. They need to see the trainer's body language and facial expressions to understand a subject as a whole.

Auditory learners are sensitive to sound and music. They learn more by talking and discussing, and they have no difficulty remembering what is said.

Kinesthetic/tactile learners value physical sensations and touch. They want to move constantly and tend to remember their feelings.  

OUR STYLE MAY CHANGE OVER TIME

Focus on your learning style now if you wish. You may think you were a tactile learner when you were a child, but now you are more of a visual learner. This means that our learning styles can change over time. Our dominant learning style is characterized by our brain perceiving messages from some sensory organs more closely than those from others. When this innate style is discovered, the determination has a significant impact on the person's self-perception and success.

Although individuals have one dominant learning style, two or three learning styles can sometimes be active. The important thing is to discover the learning style that "works best for us in our environment."