I’ve been “teaching” since 1995, the year I started my doctoral studies at Oklahoma State University. In those 15 years, I’ve taught numerous undergraduate and MBA classes on a variety of topics related to leadership and management. I’ve interacted with thousands of adults in my classes, all of which were classified as “students” by both the institution and themselves.
Yet, I’m still trying to figure out what a true “learner” looks like, and I’m hoping you can help me. I think the questions I’m interested in apply in the workplace as much as they do in the classroom, especially since I teach business and management. So, from what you have actually observed in yourself and others:
1. What does it mean to learn?
2. Why are people motivated to learn?
3. What does learning look like? In other words, how does someone you work with that you believe is truly interested in learning speak and act?
5. How do you deal with people at work that are truly interested in learning? How do they affect you?
6. How would you know if someone you work with is truly not interested in larning? What are the things you would listen and look for?
7. Why are some people not interested in learning?
8. How do you deal with people at work that are truly not interested in learning? How do they affect you?
Ok, that’s enough for now. Is there another good question about learning that I am not asking? If so, please ask it and answer it.
Please tell me what YOU think!
Related Posts:
Positively Unwilling And Unable To Learn
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When I took the Strengths Finder assessment, my number 2 strength was “learner” – good for me! As we tell our Campus Kids, Knowledge is Power. When people, of all ages, embrace the VALUE of education, they can’t help but position themselves open to all sorts of learning opportunities and environments. Learning increases one’s knowledge base, intellect, attitude, overall value to oneself and others, and power. I believe that once learning is instilled into one’s value system it then manifests itself into the workplace, classroom, and personal life. I love to learn, and certainly appreciate being surrounded by others who feel the same way. People who are adverse to learning,well, I can only influence, and cannot change anyone. Nice post Bret!
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Bret L. Simmons Reply:
September 4th, 2010 at 2:07 pm
Great thoughts, Kathy. And I know that you are always seeking self improvement and devoted to helping others do the same. Thanks! Bret
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Bret,
I’ve been involved in writing, editing and presenting workplace training materials for many years. I recognize that each of your excellent questions deserves a book to itself, but I’ll do a one-sentence answer for each.
1. What does it mean to learn?
True learning happens when a person admits a new idea into his awareness, takes the time to understand the idea, sorts the idea into meaningful context with the rest of his understanding of the world, and integrates the idea into his complex internal map of personal identity, beliefs, perceptions, skills, judgments, opinions, behavioral options and/or response patterns going forward.
2. Why are people motivated to learn?
Specific motivations are varied, but they all tie in to a common element: the wish to navigate life with more mastery, usually to acquire the necessary autonomy to achieve worthwhile goals, and sometimes consciously to find ultimate human fulfillment, that is, a sense of rightness, peace, and joy.
3. What does learning look like? In other words, how does someone you work with that you believe is truly interested in learning speak and act?
The person with a love of learning asks questions, then mines the answer-giver for more details; makes eye contact; has books on his desk; talks about ideas; quotes experts; is not afraid of failure; projects an upbeat attitude; admits when he doesn’t know something, or when he’s guessing; does not have to be right all the time; seeks out information as a pastime; enjoys achieving competency as its own reward; is optimistic; considers himself a work in progress; asks “How so?” more often than “Why?”
5. How do you deal with people at work that are truly interested in learning? How do they affect you?
Because I’m involved in training, finding people who like to learn inspires me to find out what they like to learn, and then share tips, resources or anecdotes to help them learn those things.
6. How would you know if someone you work with is truly not interested in learning? What are the things you would listen and look for?
Behavioral signs include an aloof, closed-off demeanor that signals emotional disengagement; eyes that slide past mine instead of meeting them directly, which signals contempt; smirking that signals a lack of respect; a jutting chin that signals arrogance; a glazed stiffness that signals fear; brusqueness of speech that signals dismissiveness of any ideas but ones’ own; cloying familiarity that signals a superior attitude.
7. Why are some people not interested in learning?
If learning is prompted by the desire to enhance ones mastery of life, then the lack of interest in learning either signals that the person does not think the subject at hand can provide value, or that he thinks he has already achieved mastery, or that he does not think he is capable of achieving mastery — in short, three reasons: contempt, arrogance or hopelessness.
8. How do you deal with people at work that are truly not interested in learning? How do they affect you?
I politely disengage and spend my resources on people who do want to learn, unless the non-learners in question are my bosses or project teammates, in which case I do relationship-building and learning-modeling for the sake of the mission, hoping I will encourage change by showcasing the value of learning and foster inadvertent “aha” moments about the subject to be learned.
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Read more: http://www.bretlsimmons.com/2010-09/understanding-learning/#comments#ixzz0yapW92vT
[Reply]
Bret L. Simmons Reply:
September 4th, 2010 at 9:49 pm
This is amazing, Elizabeth. I hope people find and read your comments. Your answers to 6 and 7 are particularly interesting to me and I think right on the money. I think these are important questions because if we want to help people learn and grow, we have to be very specific about what we are talking about. Thanks! Bret
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Elizabeth and Bret, I read all of Elizabeth’s comments, and appreciate the time and obvious expertise in her answers. Thank you for sharing.
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Bret L. Simmons Reply:
September 5th, 2010 at 12:37 pm
both of you provided excellent commentary. Thanks! Bret
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I believe that learning starts with curiousity. When I work with people I like to observe how many questions they ask, the more questions they ask, the harder they are trying to learn. On the flip side to that I always like to ask questions my motto is always ask one more question after I think I know exactly what the person is telling me. I have been surprised that after that last question has been asked how much else is brought up and discussed.
Thanks. Great Post
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Bret L. Simmons Reply:
October 18th, 2011 at 8:34 am
Welcome, Howard. GREAT motto to always ask one more question. One question we should all learn to ask more is why? Thanks for sharing! Bret
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