"Most people define learning too narrowly as mere 'problem solving'"
Chris Argyris, Teaching Smart People How To Learn, HBR

The very first assignment of the CCA program is to read Teaching Smart People How To Learn:

https://hbr.org

Teaching Smart People How to Learn

The Idea in Brief Problem solving is an example of single-loop learning. You identify an error and apply a particular remedy to correct it. But genuine learning involves an extra step, in which you reflect on your assumptions and test the validity of your hypotheses.

The first lesson inside the Guardian Academy is Open Loops and Learning. It also links to the HBR article.

https://guardianacademy.io

TGA Foundations 1: Open Loops And Learning

Welcome to the first The Guardian Academy (TGA) Foundations article. In this training we will cover open loops and how to teach smart people how to learn. We have a saying within TGA: In order to participate and get the most out of TGA we need to be able to learn and experience things as we learn them.

Why?

Well, read the two articles and watch the video embedded above. The monkey mind tries to make sense of things quickly because if it "makes sense" we believe we are smart. This is called "closing a loop". Our brains will fight like hell to close a loop to avoid the pain of uncertainty. Uncertainty threatens our identity of being intelligent.

Ever heard something that was new to you and immediately try to google it? When you do this, you're looking for an answer that you can accept. This alleviates the uncertainty you are feeling faced with something new.

Your monkey mind is telling you:

"Whoa. There's a gap here. I don't like gaps in knowledge. Fill it with something. I don't care if it's helpful or not, just find something to fill this gap"

That's the brain trying to close a loop.

What would be more effective, for learning, would be to allow that loop to stay open. Yes, it exposed a gap in your knowledge. That's not a bad thing. It's an opportunity to learn. Instead of filling it as fast as possible, leave it open. While it's open, reflect on it. Observe your reality while you sit with this little uncertainty.

You can come back to it and make a decision later. What's important is that you engaged with the world without making a decision.

Journaling is one way to do this.

People that journal tend to be more open-minded and flexible. They wrestle with their thoughts and experiences on paper. It's powerful stuff.

Here is another: