They use phrases like “practice makes ................” without really considering the learning strategy at play. However, does practice mean repeating the same skill over and over again? Does practice require feedback?

A growing body of research is making it clear that learners are made, not born. Through the deliberate use of practice and dedicated strategies to improve our ability to learn, we can all develop ............ faster and more effectively.

Here are three practical ways to build your learning .........., based on research.

1) Organize your goals: Effective learning often boils down to a type of project management. In order to develop an area of expertise, we first have to set ......... goals about what we want to learn. Then we have to develop strategies to help us reach those goals.

2) Think about thinking: When a specialist works through an issue, they’ll often think a lot about how the problem is framed. They’ll often have a good sense of whether or not their answer seems ........... : Do I really get this idea? Could I explain it to a friend? What are my goals? Do I need more background knowledge? Or do I need more practice?

3) Reflect on your learning: There is something of a .......... in learning. It turns out that we need to let go of our learning in order to understand our learning. For example, when we step away from a problem, we often learn more about a problem. Get into a discussion with a colleague, for instance, and often your best arguments arrive while you’re washing the dishes later.

The good news from all of this — for individuals and for companies looking to help their employees be their best — is that learning is a learned behavior. By .......... organizing your learning goals, thinking about your thinking, and reflecting on your learning at suitable times, you can become a better study, too.