It's not even close and it's always been this way.
In school, I really had trouble following lectures. Taking notes helped. It was hard to focus reading at night. Writing in the book helped. For homework, whenever I wrote or solved problems, I retained it forever (it seems).
At work, I rarely understand what someone's talking about when explaining or demonstrating something new to me. So I invariably say, "Stop! Tell me what to do and I'll do it." If they go too fast, I tell them to slow down. This has been the single most important thing I've done with learning in business, for myself and with others. I never teach by lecturing or writing (except here one the internet, of course); I always make the student do it while I tell them what to do. This is the only real way I've ever been able to assure myself that they'll remember.
Just this morning, I had trouble with the credit card swiper at the store register and asked for help. The attendant jumped in and starting hitting buttons. As usual, I yelled, "Stop! Tell me what to do and I'll do it. How else will I learn?"
I absorb information fine by reading but I get too bored to keep focused. Usually I already know what I want to build so I like to just be shown a reference documentation, example usage welcome. I can't do books on programming languages/webapps/technologies because it's such a slog through dense material, usually with a boring example project, and at the end of hundreds of pages you only end up knowing enough to "get started".
Videos are usually better for "big picture stuff" for me. Broad views on the architecture of a service, advice, or the story of why things are the way they are. I hate having to go through long tutorial videos and screencasts.
Very good advice, at least I feel the same exact way. My brain has very efficient filters, it doesn't bother even hitting any memory if the stuff to process isn't "important" (can't be important if I don't do anything with it) on top of that there is ruthless garbage-collection going on at all times. I need to do. It's the only chance I have to become and stay motivated to even RTFM of anything and remembering..
There is no alternative, at least with my wetware.
Your anecdote regarding the credit card swiper is also interesting in a different way because it goes to show how our day-to-day procedures are often still designed in a bad way. IMHO a very distinct indicator for stuff to think over again and to find better solutions for.
It's not even close and it's always been this way.
In school, I really had trouble following lectures. Taking notes helped. It was hard to focus reading at night. Writing in the book helped. For homework, whenever I wrote or solved problems, I retained it forever (it seems).
At work, I rarely understand what someone's talking about when explaining or demonstrating something new to me. So I invariably say, "Stop! Tell me what to do and I'll do it." If they go too fast, I tell them to slow down. This has been the single most important thing I've done with learning in business, for myself and with others. I never teach by lecturing or writing (except here one the internet, of course); I always make the student do it while I tell them what to do. This is the only real way I've ever been able to assure myself that they'll remember.
Just this morning, I had trouble with the credit card swiper at the store register and asked for help. The attendant jumped in and starting hitting buttons. As usual, I yelled, "Stop! Tell me what to do and I'll do it. How else will I learn?"
As the old Chinese proverb said: