Infinite ways to learn exist. Human beings adapt to learn through 'trial and error.' This is finding the courage within yourself to take risks and choose what is worth retaining from each experience. It is all part of a positive process that awakens your awareness.
At a given moment, you do not realize the depth of the many choices you make. Down to the cellular level, conscious and unconscious parts of you are learning all the time. Your blood flows as it will. Physical and non-physical sides of you learn, regenerate and grow.
This is mind, it is useful to recognize that perceived mistakes are valuable as any other experience. Sense value in things you would not choose to do the same way again. You collect insights, even at every crossroads. It is the way you evolve to piece them together that gives you a clearer sense of who you are and what you believe you know.
It is said a spiritual person makes 30-50 mistakes each day and communicates with Higher Forces in some form to reflect on how to perceive and respond next time. Toltecs would view this as the way of the Warrior. Mindsets flow in your veins. You think and learn by focusing on what hooks your attention. You choose what to learn or, what to disregard.
How you view education may be traditional or alternative. You always have repeated chances to decide what you wish to be, do and have next. Self-directed learning may seem like a conscious choice, but its also unseen. Your awareness changes as you learn.