Our lives are full of learning from a very young age to adulthood. However, in most cases, we learn with the guidance of registered institutions that obligate us to attend kindergarten and school or choose to study in colleges or universities as individuals. Even then, it is questionable whether our initial understanding of entering higher education institutions ranges from the need to acquire a profession to the mainstream version that "everyone should have a degree."
The approach of the twenty-first century, particularly the third decade of this century, has changed the game's rules. More than ever, people need to learn, develop, and maintain mental flexibility as part of their professionalism and overall well-being. Those who fail to do so may find themselves unable to keep up and may even regress.
While most people would probably agree on the need for learning, there are several difficulties in realizing this understanding:
Our ability to sit down and learn and the willingness to invest in it (e.g., leaving the house, spending hours despite a lack of time, etc.)
Finding reliable sources of information for learning in general
The ability to persist in the learning process
Remembering the knowledge
Applying new knowledge to current work, either directly or indirectly.
Each obstacle, and particularly multiple obstacles, can hinder learning. Therefore, based on my experience, I recommend the following courses of action to help address these challenges:
First and foremost, think about what you want to learn and search for it online with the keyword "course." For example, search for "advanced Excel course." If you add "online course" or "free course," you will most likely be directed to free course websites (of which there are many).
To succeed in making learning enjoyable, not oppressive, and ongoing, incorporate learning slots into your regular schedule. Twice a week should suffice in case of unplanned events, and it should not be too exhausting or frustrating.
To make learning effective, ensure that you understand and internalize the new information you acquire, remember the acquired knowledge, and can use it when and where necessary. When choosing a topic, ask yourself, while learning and after, "How can the learned topic help my field of practice today?" Repeatedly asking this question will likely lead to valuable connections and better internalization of your learning.
In my opinion, an excellent way to start learning is through free online courses, like those found on Coursera: https://www.coursera.org/.
They offer a wide range of fields and topics to choose from. They are available, convenient, and accessible to most of the population.
Using learning literacy is an ongoing process throughout our lives. With frequent technological advancements, staying up to date on the latest trends and developments is essential. Therefore, learning is critical to our personal and professional growth, whether through self-initiated education or social learning that involves learning from others, such as peer learning, participation in online communities and networks, attending online courses or workshops, and keeping up with current events.
Enjoy your learning journey!
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