I recently determined that quantum circuitry is extremely interesting and that I would like to learn as much as I can about it. Unfortunately, every introductory paper I can discover on the subject contains a lot of words I don't know, like "unitary matrix" or "eigenspace." Wikipedia tends to use more complicated math to explain any math concept, so that doesn't help a lot. Instead of trying to crush all this information into my brain, I believe I need to step back from quantum mechanics and get the linear algebra skills first.
Thus came a system for pushing out the zone of proximal development. Pick a length representative publication of some field or skill you want to learn more about and start trying to read it. As you read, create a list of things that it mentions that you don't know about, probably specific words/phrases but optimally concepts. Find a short paper or lesson on the new concept and try to read it. If you succeed and fully understand it, apply your understanding and continue reading the original document. If it mentions more concepts you don't understand, repeat the process and research the additional challenging concepts. It may take quite a while (maybe even years if you really know nothing to start), but you will eventually learn enough to get through the paper and learn the skills. After completing one document, you may find it helpful to find more, rounding out your knowledge in the field.
Personally, I would like to see this strategy used in high school education. Have each student pick an advanced topic and start researching it. Let this process branch out over a year (or more) and watch as students learn all the things. The result: a class of experts, far above their grade level, in many fields.
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