Beyond the Grade: The Power of Learning to Learn
- Nov 21
- 3 min read
By Melissa Williams
For much of my life, I felt like I was broken. School was a struggle, and I was given all the usual labels: “needs to apply herself,” “good in class but can’t apply herself to exams,” “not living up to her potential.” While I wasn’t a troublemaker, the entire system just didn’t fit me. The rote learning and regurgitating information for a quiz never worked. I felt like I was a square peg being forced into a round hole, and I carried that feeling of dread about formal education with me for years. It was an intensely private struggle, and a part of me believed for a very long time that I just wasn’t smart enough.
It wasn't until I left school and started my career that I had a breakthrough. I realised my struggles had nothing to do with my intelligence. The problem wasn’t me; it was the education system. This realisation, a quiet rebellion against the narrative I’d been told, became the purpose behind my life’s work. My passion for understanding how people truly learn became the foundation of my professional journey, and it led me to an audacious goal: to change the way we approach adult education.
This commitment led me to find and work with Dr Bernice McCarthy, the creator of the globally recognised 4MAT instructional methodology. I was fascinated by her work, which is based on the idea that there is a natural cycle of learning that everyone follows, regardless of age, background, or ability. We just need to find the right way to connect with the content. I immersed myself in her work, travelling the world to study with her directly, and I am now one of only a handful of master trainers in her methodology.
My own experience became my most powerful tool for empathy and understanding. When I stand in a room with a client's team, I can spot the person who's had a similar journey to me. I see that same look in their eyes – the fear of being called on, the dread of a formal learning environment. My mission, in every single workshop, is to bust that belief for them.
When I took over Learning Dimensions Network, a company I first joined as an employee back in 1993, I made it my personal mission to embed this philosophy into everything we do. I’m really proud that we don't do 'off-the-shelf' training. We design every single program from the ground up, tailored to the client and, most importantly, to the learner. I’ve always said that if you teach something that can’t be applied in the workplace, people should go read a library book instead. Our training is about making the complex simple. What’s simple to understand is easy to do, and what’s easy to do is easy to repeat. That repetition is what creates lasting behavioural change.
This approach has allowed us to deliver training with an average of 94% participant satisfaction and to help 89% of participants achieve their learning goals. We work with large organisations, often in industries like construction and infrastructure, where a person's life depends on what they learn. My team and I are trusted to help fill vital skill gaps and to build a culture of safety.
Recently, after a significant investment, my team and I cracked the code on online learning. I’ve always been frustrated by the 'tick and flick' nature of most online training, which values compliance over true learning. This frustration isn’t just mine; it's a recognised issue in our industry.
Recent data shows a significant portion of learners are dissatisfied with online courses, with some surveys indicating that as many as 78% of students find online experiences are not engaging. The most common reasons for this dissatisfaction are a lack of meaningful interaction, poor course design, and feelings of isolation
So we’re now developing a new type of program that simulates face-to-face interaction, using AI and interactive platforms, allowing people to practise skills and get real-time feedback. This is our next big step in making quality, impactful education accessible to a wider audience. It’s a way to scale our impact without sacrificing the integrity of what we teach.
I'm writing my first book, "Learning About Learning," because my story and my company's journey are about more than a diploma or a qualification. They’re about the power of learning how to learn, and the freedom and confidence that comes when you realise that you were never broken. It was the system that was flawed.
It's a message I want to share with everyone, especially those who, like me, once believed they weren't good enough. My dream is to create a ripple effect, inspiring others to realise their potential, both at work and in life. It’s an honour to be able to share my journey, and in some small way, help shape the world for others.
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