L is for Learning
I graduated from college, having touched a computer exactly three times. I remember touring the library my senior year, where they explained the internet to us but informed us that it was only for the librarians. And my first professional job–as a Marketing Manager–required the secretary to show me how to start Windows. (You had to type in “Win3.”)
Yet today, I make my living by helping design and brand WordPress websites, I write search engine optimized copy and I help businesses and authors launch social media campaigns.
I had to learn all of these skills on my own, through a variety of means. And even though I have been writing fiction since I was seven, I am still learning.
Neverending Learning Curve
A worthwhile question to ask yourself if HOW do you learn?
We each learn through a unique combination of modalities. The basic, recognized methods of learning are:
- Auditory
- Visual
- Tactile
- Kinesthetic
I can not learn through audio explanations. I lose most of what is said, and because of hearing damage, I didn’t hear most of it anyway. As much as I love the idea of books on tape and MP3 files, I don’t utilize them often.
I prefer to sit down with an expert and have them walk me through a process, explaining and showing the steps. But that is not always possible, or feasible for some topics, like writing.
I can absorb a lot through visual methods, even recalling exact page placements. Since I own an eReader and a boat load of book, I have been testing my comprehension between the two. I have to admit, I retain less reading an eReader.
But for something like writing or creating art, I think the only worthwhile method is DOING. I have learned more from my failed novels and stories than I have learned from a conference or a book.
Noting your own learning methods is crucial for taking your education to the next level.
I am definitely a visual learner! I never did well in spelling bees unless I could” write” it out on my hand. That usually was not acceptable. I will even taken the written directions from Mapquest and sketch them out. Show me how to make something and I can reproduce it. Thank goodness our pastor gives us handouts to fill in or I wouldn’t remember any of the sermons!
I think “doing” is probably the best way to learn anything… Followed by reading… or maybe a combination of the two is the optimal choice.
When I reflect back on college, I really didn’t learn that much. There were a few classes still effect me to this day, and I’ll be forever appreciative to those teachers… but I still think, you go to school to learn how to learn. Most of the valuable stuff I know I taught myself.
Hands-on is the best way to learn most skills. reading helps, but theory can only take you so far. Thanks for this insightful post.
My primary learning mode is auditory (which is tough now that I’ve lost some of my hearing). When I take courses, I make it a point never to miss a lecture because I’ll lose so much.