Geography. It is my weak subject. (You remember those blue pie pieces on the Trivial Pursuit board – well, I was usually missing those!) I am now purposely trying to learn more about world geography through practicing on quiz apps, watching Jeopardy, talking to world travelers, and traveling. I know I will never be an expert in world geography (does Jeopardy allow “phone a friend”?), but I also know I will always have something to learn. What do you still want to learn and how will you make it happen? How can you encourage life-learning in your clients? ~ Melanie Reinersman, editor@careerdevelopmentalliance.com
Photo by Bethany Legg on Unsplash
FOCUS ON: Learning in the Workplace
Employers may encourage learning a variety ways and not just by offering monetary incentives. Modeling learning and track the learning aid in the success of employees’ growth. Read more about this optimal workplace behavior from this Kubicle blog.
YOUR LIBRARY: Seek Advice From Former Students
A book (available on Amazon) that provides advice from former students is “The Smart Way to Your Ph.D.: 200 Secrets from 100 Graduates”. Recommended by Academic Chatter on Twitter, the title alone makes sense when trying to learn about learning. Also check out a blog on the topic: “15 Things I Wish I Knew Before Starting Graduate School”
FOR PRACTITIONERS: Travel to Conferences
The number one reason to attend a conference is to learn. Obviously. However, to be truly valuable, the learning must be shared and applied. You can’t learn if you sit in a session that isn’t helping you. Read more about how and why learning is valuable when you travel to conferences. Read More.
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS: Professional Development for Members
Surf any professional organization’s website for professional development and you will see the word “learn” many times! ASCA (American School Counsel Association) website lists six learning options, including school counseling training that is individualized or site or district-wide. They even encourage going “back to school” to gain an ASCA Specialist designation! Similarly, NCDA (the National Career Development Association) website lists eight different options for professional development, including webinars and a leadership academy.
TOP TEN: Simple Ways to Be a Lifelong Learner
Reading books and keeping smart company are possibly the simplest ways to always be learning. Another less obvious way is to teach – yes, teachers learn from students too! Read all 10 and watch the videos from TeachThought.
QUOTES
“Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at 20 or 80. Anyone who keeps learning stays young.” - Henry Ford
“Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death.” - Albert Einstein
“We now accept the fact that learning is a lifelong process of keeping abreast of change. And the most pressing task is to teach people how to learn.” - Peter Drucker
“You can teach a student a lesson for a day; but if you can teach him to learn by creating curiosity, he will continue the learning process as long as he lives.” - Clay P. Bedford
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.” - Michel Legrand
“You’ll never know everything about anything, especially something you love.” - Julia Child