Learning at the Speed of Thought: Reflecting at the Pace of Patience and Why Some Lessons Need Time

I enjoyed reading this blog from Garland called 'When the Feedback Hits Too Late: Learning at the Speed of Thought' and found that it stimulated my own thinking juices by putting into words things that I also feel but don’t always know how to express. Watching kids dive into creative platforms like Roblox Studio, coding worlds with ease and intensity, is exciting but for me, it’s also a bit unsettling. They’re clearly learning in the fast lane, yet many traditional structures around them seem stuck in a slow-motion movie. The notion that children crave immediate feedback and challenges at a personal level certainly rings true. I remember my own children (now grown up) expressing similar frustrations: “Why do I have to wait for everyone else to catch up?” But to be fair, in some subjects, it was the other way around.

The Need for Personal Pace

On reflection, here’s what I’d add. While fast, self-paced learning is vital and often joyful (and clearly encouraged by today’s gamified platforms), there’s still value to be had in sometimes slowing down. Patience is more than the ability to wait; it’s a quiet strength that sustains our efforts when rewards are delayed. Patience can help build endurance, empathy for others and reflection. Studies have shown that patient individuals are likely to experience lower stress, fewer negative emotions and better physical health in life*.

The Strength Found in Slowing Down

Consider music. Private violin lessons can be wonderful; they are tailored to the individual, focused and precise… and AI will doubtless have the opportunity to amplify that individual precision. But playing with others in an orchestra represents a different kind of mastery. You have to listen, adjust and interpret what you are hearing and more. To tune into the rhythm of others, speed plays a key role but even more important is the connection. Maybe the same is true in education, when subjects and moments learning together combined with hearing others’ interpretations, helps open us towards new viewpoints and understanding.

Patience as a Form of Mastery

It is worth noting that in Eastern martial arts, patience is not on the sidelines but more or less fundamental to the discipline itself. Progress comes slowly, through repetition that refines both body and mind. Beginners are eager to master advanced techniques, while instructors struggle to slow them down, emphasizing posture, breathing and control. In traditions such as karate, aikido or tai chi, mastery is measured not by how fast one can strike, but by how calmly one can wait… a meditation in restraint as you learn to read the rhythm of your opponent, conserve energy and act when the moment is right. Over time, this cultivated patience becomes mental steadiness, representing the ability to respond rather than react, and that’s a valuable lesson for life.

Making Space for Shared Understanding

Coming back to the subject matter: Could this be relevant to the school setting, at least in certain subjects? Maybe history, where there isn’t always one “right” answer? It is said that history is written by the winning side but there are always many different ways to interpret the available written documentation. Hearing different viewpoints, challenging assumptions and building mutual understanding can be those times that best shape how young people think about the world and prepare them for their place in it. These slower, more discursive moments cultivate critical thinking helping them to understand complexity and nuance.

Balancing Speed with Wisdom

So yes, let’s make space for learning that moves at each child’s natural pace. Let’s embrace platforms that deliver instant feedback and spark creativity. But let’s also preserve the slower, more human kind of learning that grows through conversation, collaboration and community. One of the real gifts of our AI-enhanced future will be flexibility… to learn faster or slower, alone or together. The trick is to remember that knowledge accelerates with speed, but I have a sneaking suspicion that wisdom matures with patience.

*Studies show that patient individuals experience lower stress, fewer negative emotions and even better physical health outcomes (Schnitker & Emmons, 2007; Krause, 2012; Schnitker, 2012).