Why Learning By Doing Matters When Working Remotely
Have you ever noticed that the best way to learn something isn’t just by reading about it or watching a video but by actually doing it? That’s the idea behind the 70-20-10 model of Learning and Development (L&D). According to this model, 70% of our learning comes from hands-on experience, 20% from social interactions, and only 10% from formal training like courses or textbooks. In other words, most of our professional growth happens simply by trying things, problem solving, and applying what we learn in our daily lives.
Let’s focus on the 70%, which is learning by doing. Our brains learn better when we engage with the material. That’s why traditional training, which is mostly passive, isn’t enough on its own. When you apply knowledge, your brain connects with the material more strongly, making it easier to recall the information and apply it later. Plus, learning by doing—even remotely—encourages you to actively solve problems, think more critically, and be better prepared to adapt to different situations. And with modern workplaces and industries changing fast, you couldn’t gain more useful skills than these.
But how do you practice remote learning by doing? In the office, this happens by watching others work, joining problem-solving sessions, or learning new tools. In remote work, although these can’t happen in the way we are most familiar with, it doesn’t mean they can’t happen at all. With the right strategies, you can create hands-on learning opportunities from anywhere. Below, we’ll guide you through how to practice learning by doing as a remote employee so you can start making the most of your learning opportunities.
How To Practice Learning By Doing As A Remote Worker
Identify Learning Opportunities
Working remotely can sometimes feel like there’s a limit to things you can do. But that doesn’t mean you can’t grow and develop new skills. The key is to spot learning opportunities in your daily work and treat them as hands-on training. Start by paying attention to challenges you may face during your workday. It can be a difficult client email that will help you improve your communication skills or a tricky software you’ve been avoiding to figure out that you can watch a tutorial about. Another way to find learning opportunities is to observe your peers. For example, if a coworker is good at creating reports, examine their approach and try to mimic their techniques.
Take On More Tasks
One of the best ways to practice remote learning by doing is to volunteer for tasks that seem challenging. When you’re in an office, you usually pick up new skills by watching what your colleagues do, joining meetings, or doing last-minute projects. In a remote setting, though, you have to be intentional. First, look for stretch assignments. These are tasks that are beyond your skills but will help you develop them. Second, join cross-team collaboration tasks. If you work in marketing but want to improve your data analytics skills, offer to help the analytics team with reporting. Lastly, don’t avoid side projects. Whether it’s a team or a personal project, take it on. The more you have to do, the more learning moments you’ll have.
Real-World Problem Solving
The best way to learn? Solve real problems. Sure, theory is nice, but nothing is as effective as dealing with real challenges. When working remotely, you can begin by leveraging your existing knowledge gained by formal training to solve actual work problems. For instance, if you’ve learned data analysis, analyze real company data, even if you need to refresh your memory by redoing a course. Passive learning isn’t ideal for knowledge retention, so instead of letting all your training go to waste, use it in real-life problems and see the impact immediately.
Self-Directed Learning
When you work remotely, there’s no one checking your progress in real time or scheduling training sessions. You have full control of your learning, so make sure you stay proactive to actually see results. When it comes to remote learning by doing, you need to set some goals first. For example, you may want to learn coding, so you will complete a coding course by the end of the week. This will keep you motivated and organized. You can also start exploring microlearning. Small lessons are ideal on a daily basis, and they can also be hands-on, like spending 15 minutes per day watching a tutorial about a new software.
Apply New Skills Online
We’ve discussed how applying skills you learn is the core of learning by doing, but how can you do that in a remote setting? It all depends on what you’re learning. If you take a course on communication skills, lead a meeting. Similarly, if you learn about Google Ads, volunteer to start a campaign. The key is to apply your skills immediately. Sharing what you’ve learned can also help you retain knowledge, such as by explaining the concept you’ve just read about to a team member.
Track Progress
Finally, document your progress. Whether you do it by keeping a journal or through formal methods like progress tracking in your training platforms, this improves your work. It gives you confidence to see your learning goals achieved and, over time, motivates you as you see how far you’ve come.
Conclusion
Remote learning by doing isn’t impossible. You don’t need an office or in-person training sessions to build real skills. Every project and even every mistake is an opportunity to grow. All you have to do is seek opportunities for experimentation and real problem solving so you can apply what you’ve learned. So, pick a skill you want to learn and act on it.
