Effective Life Long Learning

Most of us realize that effective lifelong learning is a crucial key ingredient to our being successful. Most of us want to learn things to help improve ourselves, but we typically don't use the most effective methods to do so.

From my experience with Toastmasters (an international organization dedicated to improving speaking and leadership skills, and as a training instructor at a large company, I'd like to share the three keys that I've found that are needed to have effective lifelong learning.

First, you must focus on what you want to learn. Having written goals will help you with this. For example, I have a short term goal to take Microsoft courses to make me more skilled with my computer. Having this goal helps me focus on the actions I need to take to achieve my goal. In this instance I determined that I could enroll in Microsoft courses thru my local technical college, as well as thru my employer. I enrolled in, and I'm currently taking those classes.

If you don't focus on what it is you want to learn by having written goals, you will probably be like most people who aren't able to determine what it is they need to learn to be successful.

Second, you must seek out good learning situations. This need not be in formal classroom settings. In fact I've found that the majority of my most effective learning situations have come from other than classroom situations. As an example, I've learned more from my Toastmasters participation about communication, leadership and listening, than I ever learned in structured classroom settings.

Another great learning source is from informal one on one instruction from a subject matter expert. I've especially found this to be true in regards to computer training. I've been able to learn more from this type of situation than I was able to learn from the the more structured classroom settings. The reason I learn more in these less formal settings is because it's easier to ask questions, and to focus on the items that I specifically need assistance on.

Besides, not all instruction is condusive for learning. Classes that are being taught by intructors who aren't good at the subject matter, or who aren't good at getting across the material, can sometimes do more harm than good. For example, I had an Alegebra teacher who was so bad, that she went so far as to say that the reason I couldn't understand her teaching instruction was because I wasn't smart enough. Don't let this happen to you. If you are having trouble learning from an instructor, make sure that you do everthing you can to elicit their help. If they aren't willing to help you, get out immediately, and find someone who will. Sometimes, especially in school settings there are times where that may not be an option. If that's the case, be sure to avoid being discouraged, and do everything you can to succeed dispite having the bad instructor. This can include asking a lot of questions in class to help you understand the material, working with study groups or perhaps hiring a tudor.

We all learn in different ways. I learn best by asking a lot of questions, by having hands on experience, and thru a lot of repetition. Find how you learn things the best, and seek out those type of learning situations.

Finally, you must be committed to lifelong learning. This commitment needs to include what you do on your job as well as on your personal time.

The alternative is to be like most people who have a job that they despise and a personal life that's unfullfilling. I've made the commitment to myself to only work at jobs that promote learning growth. If I ever get a job that doesn't promote learning growth I will get out of it as soon as possible. In my personal life I will always seek out new learning opportunities such as my Toastmasters participation that will help me grow as a person. I will never again settle for less.

Being committed to lifelong learning is important so that no matter how hard things get, no matter how tired you get, your attitude will be one of never quiting your lifelong quest for learning.

Lifelong learning is a crucial key ingredient to our success. We'll have effective lifelong learning if we determine what we want to learn, seek out good learning situations, and make a commitment to life long learning.