Education

WATCH: How do people learn new skills like skateboarding or extreme sports?

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — You don't need to be stuck in a classroom to learn something new.

Whether it's learning how to hit a baseball, land a kickflip or beat a video game, people are always taking in new knowledge and adapting. Ty Hollett, associate professor of learning sciences in the Penn State College of Education, studies how people pick up new skills through exploration and repetition — like skateboarding or riding BMX.

By tapping into their interests, Hollett is able to help students imagine new possibilities in learning.

Last Updated January 28, 2026

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