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Managing Your Own Learning

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Managing Your Own Learning

Berrett-Koehler,

15 min read
10 take-aways
Audio & text

What's inside?

Before you can learn the things you need to know to succeed, you must first figure out what it is that you don’t know.

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Editorial Rating

7

Qualities

  • Comprehensive
  • Applicable
  • Well Structured

Recommendation

Managers and trainers rely on James R. Davis and Adelaide B. Davis’ book on training strategies, which the authors now have adapted as a personal self-help guide to learning. Although they touch briefly on underlying learning theories and present examples of learning from diverse academic fields (i.e. psychology, sociology, philosophy and communications), this is primarily a step-by-step manual. It begins with a brief self-assessment, guiding you to examine your strengths and weaknesses and to decide what you want to learn. Then, the authors explain how and when to use each of the seven major approaches to learning: behavioral, cognitive, inquiry, mental models, collaborative, virtual realities and holistic learning. They also suggest the best ways to learn in each category. Their well organized book lists major principles, enumerates rules, and provides a summary of each chapter. getAbstract recommends this individually directed manual to those who wish to make the most of the time they spend absorbing new information.

Summary

Preparing to Learn

At this time of rapid change, everyone must be a perpetual learner. The key to being a good learner is learning more about learning, so that you can make the most of what you learn from any effort you undertake. You want to become proficient at the process of learning itself. You need to have this ability, since what counts today are not credentials but high-quality performance, which requires the ability to continually learn and improve.

The four keys to being an effective learner are:

  1. Plan for learning — Don’t wait for learning opportunities. Analyze what you need to learn and seek out experiences that fulfill your needs.
  2. Organize your participation in learning — You will learn more if you understand how learning occurs and decide how you can participate most effectively.
  3. Motivate yourself to learn — Understand what inspires and intrigues you.
  4. Control your learning — Seek feedback on how well you have learned. Research other resources that can provide you with additional information so you can learn more.

Your Learning Plan

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About the Author

James R. Davis  is a professor at the University of Denver. His books include Better Teaching, More Learning and Interdisciplinary Courses and Team Teaching. He co-authored Effective Training Strategies: A Comprehensive Guide to Maximizing Learning in Organizations with Adelaide B. Davis.  She served as a training analyst for a state-managed public utilities company, and taught human resource management at the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

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