I was delighted to be a guest speaker on the ICAEW Student Insights podcast. It was a chance to talk about how people learn and what helps information stick. The conversation with Jag Dhaliwal and Ashley Boroda was very relaxed and we explored memory techniques to the communication habits that shape how we learn.
One of the areas I focused on was learning strategies. These are the approaches that genuinely help people move information into long term memory, and they come up in my work all the time. I talked through spaced practice, interleaving, retrieval practice, elaboration, and the value of getting good sleep. They sound simple, but when learners start applying them they notice a real difference.
Retrieval practice in particular is one of my favourite strategies. Many people still rely on rereading and highlighting, but those habits do very little for memory and actively recalling information is far more effective.
We also spent some time talking about learning styles. It’s still common for people to describe themselves as visual, auditory, kinesthetic or read/write learners, but our preferences do not always match the way we learn best. Strategies give learners a much stronger starting point. Once you move away from the question of what type of learner you are and start asking how you can learn something effectively.
Another part of the discussion that stood out was the shift from student learning to continuing professional development. Once someone qualifies, learning becomes something that happens in shorter moments, and consistency becomes more important than intensity. The same strategies still apply, but the mindset changes. Seeing yourself as a lifelong learner makes it easier to build small habits that support long term growth.
Being part of the episode was a great experience and I really hope there are students out there who benefit from hearing that learning can feel more manageable with a few simple changes. I always appreciate opportunities to make learning feel a little clearer, especially for people who are balancing study with the early steps of their career.
If even one listener tries spaced practice instead of cramming, or feels a bit more confident about how they study, then the podcast has done what it needed to do!