Learning is a continuous lifelong process. There are three levels of continuous learning; social, personal, and professional learning levels. Whether a baby, a young child, teenager, young adult, middle aged, or young at heart (old age), learning will continue throughout whatever stage of life.
Beginning as a baby, one learns to sit, crawl, hold a bottle on their own, and even learns to walk and talk; early life development. As a young child, one learns to speak better, read, and write and learn new educational skills in schools, and yes, even learn manners. When the child becomes a teenager, learning is now a bit more complex. For example, teenagers not only must learn new levels of classes particularly science, such as Biology then Chemistry, as well as in| math for instance: Prealgebra then Algebra, and then Calculus. As each growth year, so does the school class levels, learning at a higher level per year. Teenagers must also learn to deal with puberty and learn social skills. Some teenagers sadly have to learn about social stigma. Life learning lessons is a never-ending story.
As in any stage of life, social learning is a big way of life in today’s society. Social behavior can impact how an individual learns. For example, when a child watches what a parent does, the child starts to imitate the parent.
Throughout adolescence, behaviors and attitudes are influenced by many factors such as adult family members, television, friends, and other classmates an individual wish to be like. “During the tween and teenage years, attitudes and behaviors are easily influenced by social peer groups. Even learning about new friends, or about love and heartache and social stigma. During this time, life is definitely a learning experience for most teenagers. While social learning deals with behavior learning; personal learning deals with what style of learning is needed to be most effective and successful.
When it comes to personal learning, identifying what style of learner an individual is will be helpful throughout life. learning about what style of learner an individual can be will assist in how one learns whether in education or employment.
Once an individual can identify and understand what style of learner they are, it carries over into every aspect of life. Some teachers use learning styles when teaching young children to identify what type of learner they are, which in turns helps the teacher teach according to the child’s learning style. Identifying what style of learner will assist how one will learn.
As with each stage in life, there are times when adults want to make a change and learn a new skill or skills, or want to improve or refresh their current skills, the individual can research what is available on the internet. There are courses available to help gain the knowledge needed to further advance your career, or to change your career completely; once you identify and understand want you want to do.
As a professional interested in honing their skills to be more valuable to an employer, one should begin by asking some questions: What is the goal; What classes or training would be needed to achieve the goal; Change career or advance in current career; How will the classes or training be paid for; then make a pros and cons list, and seek advice from a trusted colleague or mentor, all will help to determine the next steps in advancing one’s profession.
Once an individual has understanding what their skill strengths are, and what areas that need improvement, and setting some professional achievable goals, then they can start by researching the internet for training courses, seminars, or development courses. Observing a mentor or experienced coworker, can also be another way an individual can to increase their knowledge. There are different ways to learn in the workplace; A professional taking responsibility of their own learning is very important, and shows they have the will to learn and be successful, advancing their skills, ultimately becoming a happier person, in turns is a valuable employee to any employer.
There are some key factors to becoming a successful learner once the style of learner has been identified. Work Professionals that are respected in the workplace tend to learn best. Having important principles and rules mentioned at the beginning of a training course will be effective on the individual having a good behavior during the session. Having a “I can do it!” attitude is a great way to keep the learning opportunities positive. Self-awareness and understanding are essential when learning; a negative learning experience can hinder learning or an individual can have a negative failing outlook. (SkillsYouNeed, https://www.skillsyouneed.com/learn/learning.html).
For success in employee training or learning advancement is important to today’s workplace. When individuals are comfortable, and are encouraged by their employers to be self-directed and setting goals, this motivates employee commitment
After considering a course or seminar, there are different activities or techniques that help retain what one learns, such as the use of flash cards learning, writing notes, creating diagrams or charts, and the use of acronyms. These techniques all are ways to help an individual retain information from the course, class, workshop or seminar. As one style of learning, listening to classical music also helps with retaining informing when reading. These methods are very effective in learning. Learning techniques can vary to cover all styles of learning and all help to motivate the learner.
In conclusion, whatever stage of life, learning never stops. Learning does involve discipline, and will; more than just thinking. Individuals need to have the will to learn to make it be worthwhile, and to be a successful learner. Taking seminars or workshops, and reading self-learning material, working with a mentor, attending conferences and even traveling can broaden the learning experience. There are websites that can assist in identify different methods and options available for continuous learning, one just needs to start by taking the first step to knowing and understanding what it is to advance or change their skill set.
