Lifelong Learning

I am not a lifelong learner at first. What I usually do is prioritizing knowledge and skills that are required for the desired careers. The discovery of the course “Exploring Emerging Technologies for Lifelong Learning and Success” somehow changed my mind. There are some interesting concepts from which I could learn though.

I think most of us used to mentally stuck in the state of a fixed mindset. To be specific, we are afraid of challenges, changes and failures. According to Professor Jessica Kruger, people tend to consider compliments as a kind of success and that’s why they are afraid of failures which might erode their skills and intelligence.

Overcoming this psychology state means a big change in your mindset, “a big update”, so that you can turn yourself into a learner with a growth mindset. So, what’s good with it. As Professor Kruger inspired in the course, why would you want to waste your time and energy to prove that you are someone to somebody, while you can be a better version of yourself gradually. This is the main point of the growth mindset, and it is also the motivation of the society development in overall. People should see challenges as opportunities to sharpen their skills and experiences.

Furthermore, I found out that 7 ½ Habits of Highly Successful Lifelong Learners are exciting to apply while learning new knowledge. I will describe them specifically below:

• Begin with the end in mind: It’s not the “end” of your learning journey. It means that you have to determine your real goals once exposing to a new field of knowledge. The more specific your goal can be; the more time you might save while learning.
• Accept responsibility for your own learning: Not motivated enough? Then you should think of your education and study as investment for your future. You are the one who starts this chapter of your life, so you have to be responsible for it.
• View problem as challenges: Instead of problems, such incoming events should be considered as opportunities to gain something new. It can be knowledge, unlockable skills, useful information or social network extension.
• Have confidence in yourself as a competent, effective leaner: I am impressed by what Instructor Joann Lindstrom mentioned in the course – be careful of what you think and say because they might turn into reality. Therefore, motivating yourself with positive thoughts or self-help quotes is a good approach.
• Create your own learning toolbox: There are familiar supportive tools for learners are books, courses and classes, websites, presentation slides. Each individual shall have a suitable combination of tools and techs. Are you ready to form your own formula?
• Use technology to your advantage: Now, emerging tools and technologies can also join the toolbox as they are always available online. Take a look at EmTech – SUNY homepage or similar platforms and you will find what you need for your adventure.
• Teach or mentor other learners: You ay easily find that there are circumstances that a professor allow his students to lecture new chapters for fellow students. Both are beneficial since the students can have a deeper understanding of the lesson, while the professor can also review the knowledge, in the point of view of the others. It is also a way to return the favor to the community in a whole by sharing what you have learned.
• The last and most interesting habit – PLAY: Well, children play to discover the world, what can stop us from doing so. As long as we are still curious about the world, still want to play, then our journey might not end.

One more time, I would like to recommend the webpage presenting amazing tools and applications for a lifelong learner – EmTech MOOC (Emerging Technology – Massive Open Online Course) from State University of New York. 

If you are having trouble looking for suitable tools or applications for specific needs to learn, you may find what you demand by select the desired category and see what the platform can offer. I will introduce some nice tools also in the later pages.