Page 7 - Learning to Learn

LEARNING TO LEARN: BECOMING A SELF -GROWER 7
EXPERIENCE 1: PERFORMING L IKE A STAR READING
This book is specifically designed to help you as you work to improve your performance as a student.
It 1) provides information and knowledge you need in order to perform as a learner, 2) gives you a solid
foundation for identifying yourself as a college student and learner, 3) includes activities and assignments
focused upon improving your learning skills , 4) contains information about your new context, as a college
student, and 5) introduces ways to help you deal with your personal factors .
Learning Skills
While all the components that make up your performance as a learner are important, working to improve
your learning skills is especially critical as there is a direct correlation between your mastery of those skills
and your success as a student. Remember when you learned how to ride a bike? Riding a bike is certainly
a skill. So are juggling, texting, speaking a foreign language, and dancing the tango. But learning skills
are different. They are the skills used in the process of learning, which aren’t limited to a single situation
or context, but apply across many different context. When you improve your learning skills, you increase
your ability to learn. You have done more than learn; you have grown. A complete list of all Learning
Skills directly follows this reading.
Jennifer Talks about a Few of Her Critical Learning Skills
Observing: This is probably the most important skill I can work on in order to
meet my goal of becoming a journalist. I can see that it’s also a really important
skill for a successful student.
Inquiring: Another important skill for my goals. I’m not really shy, but I do
need to learn how to ask the questions that matter in meaningful ways.
Collaborating: I’ll admit that I’m not a really strong collaborator. I like to
work alone. But I know that just doesn’t cut it either for my role as a student
OR my future role as a journalist. This one will be a bit of a struggle.
Levels of Performance for Self-Growers
Performance, as the adage goes, is a “journey not a destination.” No matter where you are right now, you
always have the ability to improve your performance. Your current location in this journey is your current
level of performance. That you are committed to improving your ability to perform and learn is what
defines a self-grower. The following table characterizes five different levels of performance across four
different aspects or areas of a performance.
These areas encompass most aspects of life. The area of Knowledge deals with activities and processes such
as processing information, understanding, applying knowledge, solving problems, and conducting research.
The Social Interactions area has to do with communicating, relating with others, managing relationships,
and leadership. The area of Attitude includes processes such as being open to new experiences, actively
engaging in life, being organized, and cultivating personal values. The fourth area, that of Abilities, is most
generally concerned with what you actually do with the knowledge and skills that you have.
You have already demonstrated your commitment to success by enrolling in college. An important next
step in your journey of performance and growth is to assess your current level of performance. Though
self-assessment is never a completely comfortable process, Sir Francis Bacon had a point when he said,
“Knowledge is power.” Having a clear idea of your current level of performance makes planing to improve
your performance and go from where you are now to where you’d really like to be that much easier.