Learning - A Life-Long Skill

Over the course of the past few months, I have become perplexed by the vast conversations and movement regarding individualized learning. While much of what I've read or studied is directed toward K-12 student learning, I've started to ponder, "why is it that learning is not held in high regards in most higher education and professional settings?" For one reason or another, there seems to be a rather large misconception that compliance equates to learning! Furthermore, too many believe that learning is the ability to answer a question correctly. I would argue that answering a question correctly is simply acquiring knowledge. Learning goes much deeper than knowing answers.

"Learning is not an action...Learning is a behavior in which one continually seeks to grow by searching for answers to questions unknown!" This definition, which I created through modifying many other quotes, helps to lay the foundation for what lifelong learning ought to be for all professionals - educators, leaders, front-line staff, and all adults. While I am fortunate to work for a college that believes "NWTC is a cutting edge, life-long learning college that transforms, strengthens, and inspires," we must be aware that there is always room to grow. By breaking down my definition of learning, I hope to show how professional learning supports individualized learning for adults/employees.

"Learning is a BEHAVIOR..." 

I see behavior as a choice - a choice to acknowledge that I may not know all of the answers and that it is my responsibility to learn what I do not know. A choice to recognize that I am never done learning and will continue to learn and grow the older and wiser I get. A choice to seek out input from my teammates, professional resources, and conferences I attend. This choice only becomes a behavior after I repeatedly exhibit my choice and desire to learn. As I turn this choice and desire to learn into my behavior, I learn that I own my right to learn.

"Continually seeks to GROW..."
In his book, 'Personalized PD; Flipping Your Professional Development', Jason Bretzmann describes giving educators C.H.O.I.C.E. in their professional development and learning. The first C, Constant Progress, is essential to all learning experiences. Organizations and institutions of learning must recognize that all people learn at different rates, including professionals. The more we encourage educators and employees to continually seek to grow, the more freedom we give them to learn at a pace that is comfortable to them. While there are a multitude of variables that effect learning, perhaps none is greater than giving employees the ability to drive their own growth and learning through personalized professional development. Likewise, growth also means that we must be willing to reflect on where we have been and where we would like to go - to have a plan and action steps that will help us achieve our goals along the way. Meanwhile, organizations and institutions of learning must also support a resilient culture by allowing employees to fail forward - to learn from mistakes and use them as opportunities to grow!

"SEARCHING for answers to QUESTIONS UNKNOWN!"
In conjunction with continually seeking to grow, searching for answers also means that we will explore a wide variety of 'expert' resources - Twitter, articles, book studies, social gatherings, conferences, trade shows, eLearning, and much more! Our willingness to think outside of the box and be creative in finding solutions to our questions will inhibit our ability to grow from learning. This also ties directly back to learning as a behavior in which I am open to hearing and learning from a variety of sources. A monumental mind shift at all levels - management, supervisors, CEO's, presidents, employees - must occur to recognize that anyone can find answers to their questions at anytime, from anywhere!


As I continue to explore what I believe to be the Four C's that are fundamental to all learning experiences (Connect, Customize, Curiosity, and Collaboration), I come back to my definition of learning to remind myself that I must also be willing to grow and learn along the way. To truly have a growth mindset means I may not have all the answers, and I may not like the answers I get along the way. To impact the greater good though, I must be open to alternative ideas, suggestions, or guidance.