Ep 298: Maximizing Teen Potential

Scott H. Young, author of Get Better at Anything, joins us to
demystify the true essence of learning, improvement, and mastery,
shedding light on how parents can guide their teens to excel both
academically and personally.


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Full Show Notes


Parents face the continual challenge of helping their teens
become proficient learners. With teens constantly navigating the
realms of academics, sports, and personal interests,
understanding how they can master new skills is invaluable. So
how can we, as parents, support our teens in their quest for
mastery—whether it's in school subjects, sports, or their
personal hobbies?


This week we have the privilege of speaking with Scott H. Young,
author of Get Better at Anything. Scott is an expert in the
domains of learning and mastery, best known for his pioneering
research and practical guides on how individuals can achieve
excellence in various life fields. With a background deeply
intertwined with education due to his parents being teachers,
Scott’s insights are grounded in both personal and professional
realms.


In this episode, we uncover effective strategies to help teens
become better learners and improve their skills more efficiently.
Scott shares fascinating insights about retrieval practice—a
method that solidifies memory retention better than repeated
exposure. While traditional beliefs suggest problem-solving
without guidance builds deep understanding, Scott reveals how
observing and emulating can often yield better results.


Mastery Through Examples


For Scott, learning isn’t just about trial and error; it’s about
studying examples and getting comprehensive practice. The perfect
balance involves ‘See, Do, and Feedback’—a cycle that ensures
effective learning. Scott also touches on cognitive load theory,
explaining how our limited working memory plays a role in
learning and offers practical advice for leveraging this
understanding to aid teens in their academic endeavors.


Failing Forward


Facing challenges is essential for growth, but Scott emphasizes
the need to strike a balance between challenges and successes.
Early failure without appropriate support can demotivate teens.
Instead, Scott advocates for building confidence through small
wins before presenting more complex challenges. This method not
only helps teens stay motivated but also prepares them to handle
tougher problems with resilience.


Creating Practice Loops


A significant part of Scott’s methodology is designing practice
loops. Ensuring that teens get enough variability in their
practice sessions is crucial for long-term retention and
generalization of skills. Rather than sticking to blocked
practice where the focus is on one type of problem, Scott
encourages mixed approaches to help teens become flexible and
adept problem solvers in various contexts.



Fear and Learning


Fear is another major obstacle in the learning process. Whether
it's test anxiety or fear of public speaking, these emotions take
up cognitive resources that could be better used for
problem-solving. Scott discusses exposure therapy as a way to
help teens gradually face their fears, thereby reducing their
anxiety over time. He underscores that persistent effort in
overcoming fears is key to long-term mastery and success.



In the Episode…


Our conversation with Scott yields numerous actionable strategies
that can be beneficial for parents looking to boost their teens'
learning potential. Beyond the highlights mentioned above, we
also delve into:


- Why early assessment in classrooms can be demotivating and how
mastery learning can help.


- The importance of creativity and productivity in achieving
mastery.


- Strategies for unlearning bad habits and adopting better
techniques.


- Real-world examples of how small adjustments in teaching
techniques can lead to big improvements.


For those interested in diving deeper, you can explore more of
Scott’s insights at scotthyoung.com where you can also find his
books and podcast. 


Tune into this episode to learn how to foster an environment
conducive to mastering new skills and to encourage your teens to
reach their full potential. Don't forget to share, subscribe, and
review so more parents can benefit from these insights!





Sponsored by Equip: Eating disorder treatment
that works—delivered at home. Visit equip.health/talking for more
information, and a free consultation.