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3. OVERCOMING BARRIERS

3.1 Short introduction on the aims and background information of the section
Barriers are as natural in the path to learning as roots, streams and the occasional boulder are
on a forest trail. The expectancy of barriers to learning and positive apprehension thereof can
be reached through methods of perspective change and learn-to-learn skills. Such a shift can
make learning barriers a meaningful and interesting aspect of the process, just as the roots,
streams, and boulders are part of what makes hiking enjoyable. The overcoming of barriers and
fears as presented in this toolkit entails two facets that will constitute the two blocks.
1. Amassing motivation to break barriers through clarifying why, imagining the
consequences of doing it, and “flipping fears”.
2. Providing learn-to-learn skills, including the splitting of tasks, the 15-minute rule, and
basic problem-solving.

The skillset provided is firmly rooted and validated in scientific psychology. In clinical
psychological science, the overcoming of barriers and fears to increase adaptability and well-
being is the core task. The skills provided here have been tried out on a variety of populations
facing barriers of all and any kind. Beyond facilitating learning, they will be of use in facing any
problem and thus provide the target group with well-needed abilities which will help them
orient more successfully from the position they’re in. The “Why” tasks focus on having students
elaborate on the meaning of them doing difficult activities. It makes students remind themselves
of why overcoming goals are meaningful, thereby increasing motivation.