Repetition spaced out over a long period of time is the fastest way to learn something and make it stick.

It also happens to be an incredibly slow process when compared to the norms of our educational systems, which attempt to fit as much curriculum as possible in a short amount of time. Master teachers have learned how to work around this problem to create a class that is meaningful to students.

It’s also difficult for us to lament how useless most information was in school on the basis we forgot it all when we never gave it a fair chance.

The confusion of our world today is mistaking instant access to information as instant learning. While an incredible boon to temporary needs (“How do I…?”), we are failing to see the information is quickly lost once it’s used.

Then there’s the obsession with growth hacking, which is another term for shortcuts. Finding a better way is one thing, but cutting corners to achieve an end that won’t accomplish what you need it to only leads to disappointment.

Packages can be ordered online and delivered to our homes in as quickly as an hour. Taking the time to deeply learn something in a way that is meaningful works much slower. The route you take depends on whether you want to listen to science or marketing.