Learning skills are extremely important and should come after you've trained your core skills to around level II or III and can use all of the modules you want to when doing basic missions. Do not feel that you need to concentrate on Learning skills from Day One or that they are more important than other skills you need now. While they are vital in the long run, having fun now is what matters. :)

There's two levels of Learning skills, basic and advanced. You should train them in stages. Get your basic skills to level IV first, than take some time off from Learning Skills. After you're comfortable with a Cruiser and able to go level 2 missions with ease, and most of your upcoming skills are weeks long, then take a MONTH off to train Learning Skills to Advanced III or IV. Training them to Adv V rarely pays off. Learning Skills Train as you can to speed up longer skill training.

Skill Name - Bonus per level of skill

* Basic Skills
      o Instant Recall [+1 Memory]
      o Analytical Mind [+1 Intelligence]
      o Learning [+0.2 to all Attributes]
      o Spatial Awareness [+1 Perception]
      o Iron Will [+1 Willpower]
      o Empathy [+1 Charisma] 
* Advanced Skills [Each costs 4.5 million ISK, so save up!]
      o Eidetic Memory [+1 Memory]
      o Logic [+1 Intelligence]
      o Clarity [+1 Perception]
      o Focus [+1 Willpower]
      o Presence [+1 Charisma]

Learning skills should be trained in a leapfrog fashion like so: Instant Recall -> Analytical Mind -> Learning -> Instant Recall -> Analytical Mind -> Learning till all three are at level IV. Then you can train the other two or three skills. This is because Learning skills are dependant on Memory and Intellience, so raising those first raises the others faster.

Each section of skills trains faster based on a primary and secondary attribute, which are raised by the Learning skills. Below you'll find the table of which attributes to raise to train which type of skills faster.

Skill Type Attributes Corporation Management Memory, Charisma Drones Memory, Perception Electronics Intelligence, Memory Engineering Intelligence, Memory Gunnery Perception, Willpower Industry Memory, Intelligence Leadership Willpower, Charisma Learning Memory, Intelligence Mechanic Intelligence, Memory Missiles Perception, Willpower Navigation Intelligence, Perception Science Intelligence, Memory Social Charisma, Intelligence Spaceship Command Perception, Willpower (for most skills) Willpower, Perception (for elite ship skills) Trade Willpower, Charisma (for basic skills) Charisma, Memory (for more advanced skills)