Steps towards Learning with Interest

                      

 What is Learning ?

                            Learning is the process in which a learner utilizes his capacity to understand and interpret the happenings in his vicinity or the topics he find interesting, by using logical reasoning and analytical abilities. A real student is a lifetime learner and he may or may not be formally educated. 

                Learning can happen anywhere, any time and from anybody. The one you learn from need not necessarily be a formal teacher/tutor, but can be a stranger, a child, a friend, a subordinate, a colleague, a superior, a non-human or it can even be your life experiences. Remember ! 'Experience is the best teacher !!' Also, it is not necessary to be in a formal classroom or in a 'Google Search' to establish the real learner in you. You just need to have the mindset to learn, to be a life long learner. 

The 5 important qualities of a good learner are coined here as  'LOTUS' of Learning. 

    1. L for Listen 

• Paying keen attention to what the other person has to say. 

• Forms the first step towards educating oneself (in daily life, school/college classroom, group discussions or in team building). 

• Forms the foundation of communication skills 

• Helps in establishing successful interpersonal relationships. 

• Non-judgmental active listening is a must for being a good learner.

2. O for Observation

• A smart learner is a good observer of situations, experiments, methodology, happenings as well as his own experience. 

• Observing the nature of changes occurring in surroundings and taking necessary actions such as fight or flight is quite an intelligent way of adaptation and learning adopted by the brains of animals, birds as well as early humans. 

• Practicing observation will eventually make you an understanding and responsible human being. 

 Overtime, both 'L' and 'O' helps in developing auditory and visualization skills by practice.

 

3. T for Think

• The process of using our minds to consider or to reason out something carefully is thinking. 

• Cognitive ability of an individual that is acquired or inherited

• Ability to think and rethink forms the pillar of learning process

• Critical thinking, creative thinking, lateral thinking,  logical thinking, analytical thinking and abstract thinking are the types of thinking 

• Results in innovative, creative and constructive ideas

To behave without thinking is to shoot without aiming

4. U for Understand

• Understand before you react or respond.

• The chief goal of listening, observing and thinking is to understand the why, how, when, where, who, whose, what and which, associated with an event. 

• Understanding ability improves with intellectual growth, life experience and mental maturity

• Happens irrespective of being a slow learner or fast learner

• Willingness to smarter understanding develops with patience and calmness of mind and body.

    5. Self-Suggest (Auto suggest)

It is the extension of 'Understanding' and the final phase of learning. 

• Self-suggestion is the method of reassuring and reassessing what you have learnt and self-suggesting appropriate solutions if needed. 

• It is a sort of reconfirming what the brain has suggested as 'understood', by re-analysis as time and technology progresses.

• Science is ever expanding and changes happen every now and then. Self-suggestion is the method of asking oneself 'If the knowledge gained by you is up-to-date or not ?' or 'Is there any upgradation or development in what I have understood ?'.

• When the self-suggestion and understanding go hand in hand, the process of learning is said to be successful. If the self-suggestion and understanding are both different, it depicts that there are loop holes or improvements needed on what you have learned.

  

The process of learning is unconsciously and unknowingly going on in every life forms on earth. Only a good learner can eventually and confidently share his knowledge and bring changes in and for the society. Only a good learner can be a good and progressive teacher and vice versa. Teaching and learning goes hand in hand. In simple words, a good teacher with updated knowledge is actually a passionate learner with excellent teaching skills. 

Happy learning !!

Dr. Sheena Latif