To start to understand something, ask structured questions about the topic. Ask "what questions does this raise for me? Use the six “journalist” questions: who, what, when, where, why, how? “How?” and “Why?” are the best questions. Good questions are those that tend to have more than one answer.
Four very powerful questions: 1. So what? Why is this significant? 2. Says who? Fact or assumption? 3. What if? What would happen if? 4. What does this remind me of?
Shoot for a dozen or so questions about a topic, prioritize them and then answer them.
Robinson, A. (1993). What Smart Students Know: Maximum Grades. Optimum Learning. Minimum Time. Crown.
This is one of a number of learning templates. Others include the Feynman Technique and Metalearning.