Learning is a Process, not an Activity !

Monday Greetings !

“Learning is the jewel casting brilliance into the future.” - Marie Evans

 In today’s ‘knowledge-based economy’ and constantly changing world, a key to success is no doubt the ability to learn.

Think of something you are now learning and find out which stage you are in.

Awareness

In the first stage, you take notice of the concept/idea because it raises your interest. You probably received the information from reading or hearing about it. For example, when you first heard about the internet, you probably had a vague notion of what it might be, but had no direct experience with it.

Comparison

In the second stage, you often seek to compare it with something else you know something about. This helps you to categorize and place it logically. When you learned of the internet, you probably compared it with other forms of technology or communications as a means of filtration and organization.

Exploration

In the third stage, you begin to play around with the concept/idea. You try it on for size in your mind to see if and where it fits. When you first went online to explore this thing called the internet, you began by “playing” with it, not taking it too seriously, in an effort to make the learning more enjoyable.

Application

In the fourth stage, you want to see how it applies to your own life. You start to do things with the information, such as write, talk, take a class, or somehow experience it. Now when you go on the internet, you are navigating to find useful information for your life.

Integration or Rejection

In the fifth stage, you either integrate or reject the original concept/idea. If you find the new knowledge useful, you will integrate it into your every day life. Again, if you found the internet valuable, you will be motivated to use it and integrate it. If not, you will decide to stop the learning process.

Creation

In the last stage, you have now developed additional insights about the original idea, and have a need to add, delete, or create something new based on your own storehouse of knowledge. For instance, you are now an internet freak, and decide to develop a software that allows people to make commissions from other people’s products or enables them to share their  “blog.”

Knowledge is like a seed that you plant. If you value the learning process, you will plant your ideas and ask your questions with positive attention and conscious intention. You will enjoy watching your tiny seed grow into a big tree that continues to grow and branch out for an entire lifetime.

Have a great week ahead.