Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Learning Moments

Never Stop Learning
One of the biggest fallacies in life is that we learn all we need to know between Junior Kindegarten and University. Nothing could be futher from the truth. Each day the world changes whether we like it or not. The challenge is to stay ahead or at best even with the changes.

This effort to keep up requires an ongoing learning outlook. Think back only say one month. What do you know now that you did not know this time one month ago? Whatever it is, it is part of your new knowledge base. Perhaps it is a shortcut to get to work. Perhaps it is a new way to make something or do something you enjoy. Regardless it is knowledge and it was learned.The key is to make as many moments of each and every day a "learning moment". Of course, this is greatly assisted by participating in learning programs.

Notice I did not say 'training programs'. The difference while subtle is significant.You are trained to do something by rote and repetition. Perhaps it is how to improve your golf swing. Your muscles and mind are trained to work in a specific way by repetition. It has been said that a new swing can only be created by practicing a minimum of 21 times for 21 days. Not sure if that is true because I never lasted the 21 days.

Learning on the other hand is the experiencing of something and creating from that experience your own understanding. In other words it is to internalize the data, synthesize the data and then be able to analyze and come to some conclusion.

Of course, the presenter would greatly appreciate if you could take the experience and come to his / her conclusion but that is not always the case. Nor should it be. Each of us is a unique combination of the training we have had and the learning we have undertaken. Therefore, the result of the internalizing; synthesizing and analysis will often lead each of us to a different conclusion, all be it, many will be almost indistinguishable from the other.

The intent of this item is to make the very reading of it a learning moment.What was your most significant learning moment? Why would you say that?

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