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LEARNING at WHS
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Learning Is For All Of Us:
Abraham Lincoln said, "I do not think much of a man who is not wiser today than he was yesterday." This opens the premise that learning is a daily adventure that one carries and explores throughout life. Learning doesn't stop just because school does. People who are truly effective generally did not get that way by sitting still, they apply themselves to constant learning and competing against themselves to grow and learn day by day. Making a commitment to yourself to learn something new every day, you will not only enjoy what you discover, but you will be able to apply your knowledge and become a teacher to future generations.
Here’s How:
Learn how you learn.
Determine your own preferred learning style or styles. Note what learning techniques are most efficient for you and use them as much as is practical, such as viewing online tutorials on websites like YouTube if you're more of a visual learner.
Most people learn through multiple methods but favour one or two. Use your preferences to your advantage.
Learn where your talents and interests lie.
Try many different things so that you don't box yourself into believing you're only good at a few things. It's probable that you're good at many things but you won't know until you've tried.
Be wary of past memories that tell you to stay away from certain things. This can soon inhibit you from trying a lot of new things if taken to an extreme.
Look at learning as an exploration and opportunity, not a chore.
Don't just force yourself to learn things because they're important or necessary. Instead, learn things that you need to learn alongside things you love to learn. Follow your heart, as well as your sense of duty.
Even when you're learning the things you have to, such as on-the-job knowledge, seek to go beyond what you're being asked to learn. Look at the history, case studies, different applications, etc., to make your learning experience much more well-rounded.
Learn the basics.
Read books by people who experienced difficulties with the basics of math, science or other subjects but have still managed to find workarounds without giving up. Their ways of learning might help you to improve your own.
Read, read, read.
Make friends with your local library and new and used book sellers. Reading is a portal into other worlds and into the minds of your fellow human beings. Through reading you will never stop learning and being amazed by the incredible creativity, intelligence of the human species. Wise people read lots of books, all the time.
Read all sorts of books. Don't limit yourself. Recognize the educational value in whatever you read.
Newspapers, magazines, manuals, and comic books are all reading. As are websites, blogs, reviews and other online sources of information.
Broaden your definition of learning.
Take a look at the Theory of Multiple Intelligences if you don't know it yet. Consider how you might fit in, and where you can improve.
Refine your existing skills. Are you already good at fly fishing? Computers? Teaching? Playing saxophone? Hone these skills and take them to the next level.
Try new things, both inside and outside your preferred skill areas.
Create.
Not all learning comes from outside you. In fact, some of the most powerful learning happens when you are creating or formulating something for yourself. Creation, like intelligence, can be artistic or scientific; physical or intellectual; social or solitary. Try different media and methods and refine the ones you like the most.
Observe.
Look more closely at your world, and examine both the usual and the unusual. Also, look at the world from different levels. Respond to what you observe, and be mindful.
Ask questions.
Asking the right questions can be more important than having the answers. It can also turn just about anybody into a teacher. Keep a journal or notebook to record what you learn and what questions you still have. Questions can teach as much as, or more than, answers. A journal or notebook can also record your progress.
Evaluate and reflect on what you learn.
Does it make sense? Is it true? Who said so? How was it determined? Can it be verified? Is an argument or piece of advice logical, valuable, applicable?
Read How to develop critical thinking skills and How to improve critical thinking skills for more ideas on ways to evaluate what you're learning.
Apply what you learn.
This is the best way to test it and it will help you learn it more completely and retain it longer. It will also help you to discover flaws and strengths in your learning, which is how we progress the sum of human knowledge. Who knows what you may be about to discover, uncover or link together?
Teach others.
Teaching is a wonderful way to learn a subject better and improve your own understanding of it.
Joseph Joubert once said that "To teach is to learn twice." In teaching others how to learn things, you will find that you learn even more than the students.
Abraham Lincoln said, "I do not think much of a man who is not wiser today than he was yesterday." This opens the premise that learning is a daily adventure that one carries and explores throughout life. Learning doesn't stop just because school does. People who are truly effective generally did not get that way by sitting still, they apply themselves to constant learning and competing against themselves to grow and learn day by day. Making a commitment to yourself to learn something new every day, you will not only enjoy what you discover, but you will be able to apply your knowledge and become a teacher to future generations.
Here’s How:
Learn how you learn.
Determine your own preferred learning style or styles. Note what learning techniques are most efficient for you and use them as much as is practical, such as viewing online tutorials on websites like YouTube if you're more of a visual learner.
Most people learn through multiple methods but favour one or two. Use your preferences to your advantage.
Learn where your talents and interests lie.
Try many different things so that you don't box yourself into believing you're only good at a few things. It's probable that you're good at many things but you won't know until you've tried.
Be wary of past memories that tell you to stay away from certain things. This can soon inhibit you from trying a lot of new things if taken to an extreme.
Look at learning as an exploration and opportunity, not a chore.
Don't just force yourself to learn things because they're important or necessary. Instead, learn things that you need to learn alongside things you love to learn. Follow your heart, as well as your sense of duty.
Even when you're learning the things you have to, such as on-the-job knowledge, seek to go beyond what you're being asked to learn. Look at the history, case studies, different applications, etc., to make your learning experience much more well-rounded.
Learn the basics.
Read books by people who experienced difficulties with the basics of math, science or other subjects but have still managed to find workarounds without giving up. Their ways of learning might help you to improve your own.
Read, read, read.
Make friends with your local library and new and used book sellers. Reading is a portal into other worlds and into the minds of your fellow human beings. Through reading you will never stop learning and being amazed by the incredible creativity, intelligence of the human species. Wise people read lots of books, all the time.
Read all sorts of books. Don't limit yourself. Recognize the educational value in whatever you read.
Newspapers, magazines, manuals, and comic books are all reading. As are websites, blogs, reviews and other online sources of information.
Broaden your definition of learning.
Take a look at the Theory of Multiple Intelligences if you don't know it yet. Consider how you might fit in, and where you can improve.
Refine your existing skills. Are you already good at fly fishing? Computers? Teaching? Playing saxophone? Hone these skills and take them to the next level.
Try new things, both inside and outside your preferred skill areas.
Create.
Not all learning comes from outside you. In fact, some of the most powerful learning happens when you are creating or formulating something for yourself. Creation, like intelligence, can be artistic or scientific; physical or intellectual; social or solitary. Try different media and methods and refine the ones you like the most.
Observe.
Look more closely at your world, and examine both the usual and the unusual. Also, look at the world from different levels. Respond to what you observe, and be mindful.
Ask questions.
Asking the right questions can be more important than having the answers. It can also turn just about anybody into a teacher. Keep a journal or notebook to record what you learn and what questions you still have. Questions can teach as much as, or more than, answers. A journal or notebook can also record your progress.
Evaluate and reflect on what you learn.
Does it make sense? Is it true? Who said so? How was it determined? Can it be verified? Is an argument or piece of advice logical, valuable, applicable?
Read How to develop critical thinking skills and How to improve critical thinking skills for more ideas on ways to evaluate what you're learning.
Apply what you learn.
This is the best way to test it and it will help you learn it more completely and retain it longer. It will also help you to discover flaws and strengths in your learning, which is how we progress the sum of human knowledge. Who knows what you may be about to discover, uncover or link together?
Teach others.
Teaching is a wonderful way to learn a subject better and improve your own understanding of it.
Joseph Joubert once said that "To teach is to learn twice." In teaching others how to learn things, you will find that you learn even more than the students.