Advanced dynamics, Faculty of engineering, Ljubljana 2011/12, 2nd semester. An assistant stops with Lagrangian formulas for a second, turns to us: "It is OK, if you don't understand, what I am talking about. I didn't know, what I was doing, until I started teaching others."
Hmm. Wait. What is the best way to learn new things?
take a class
Being in a classroom, listening to some crap, you are not interested to = difficult times.
Taking a class on a topic, you want to know more about, why not?
Classes: group/individual, live/online, one time/series of events.
Hear it from the first hand of a master with experiences. Avoid mistakes, ask questions, ask for demonstration, make notes, meet people with the same interest, discuss ideas, lift your motivation.
Downside: it costs money, no rewind button, a lecturer dictates the tempo (too slow = boring, too fast = no time to digest the info), a possibility of diverse groups (differences in knowledge, motivation, energies).
study by yourself
Get yourself a material: text/audio for explanation; picture/video for demonstration.
You are the manager, lecturer, motivator and a student. It is up to you: when, what, how much you are going to study. Go fast/slow, study in the morning/evening, skip material, if not interested. Adjust everything to your own needs.
Downside: slower progress? Who to ask/discuss, if getting stuck?
do it / do it many times
Sometimes it is better not to think and just go for it. Learn new things simply by giving it a try. Less theory, mucho practice. It doesn't work? Mistakes are part of the process, learn from it. Try again, until it works.
So called "Trial And Error" method. First hit on the internet (Wikipedia) says: "Trial and error is a fundamental method of problem-solving. It is characterized by repeated, varied attempts which are continued until success, or until the practicer stops trying."
It can be fun, creative and effective.
Downside: do you have enough energy and motivation? Without any guidance, you might learn to do things wrong/no proper technique.
explain, teach others
To confirm, you understand a certain topic, explain it to your comrades. Read again the intro of this article.
Teaching others = learning.
That is why, in a modern era, you create a website, where you share your thoughts and knowledge. Something like frlan.xyz. Explain it to people, get feedback. If they learn, you learn. Win—win.
Downside: is there one?
Some people don't like to share, because they are afraid, the fellow colleges will outgrow them. Poor, insecure mentality. You will never reach your full potential. If you are one of them, chew on this info.
combination of all
The best way to go, when learning a new thing? Combination of all.
Read, do your own research.
Listen, get advise from a lecturer/mentor (someone with experiences).
Discuss a topic with colleges.
Put your knowledge to a test. Give it a try.
Try it many times, errors are part of the learning process.
Expand your depth of understanding. Explain, teach, share your knowledge with others.