Every school says it. Their number one job is to create life-long learners. However, it turns out that it can be as easy to forget how to be a good student as it is to do algebra.
To help, here are some memory refreshers, together with tips on how to learn faster and better in today s new learning environments. With them, you ll be ready to excel from day one.
To get this advice, we consulted three top learning experts. We talked about your challenge. In a world where everyone s job is being transformed by technology and speed, your job is many times harder because you need to be best at such an enormous variety of skills from business planning to fertilizer management, and from accounting to machinery maintenance.
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At the same time, of course, you also have to balance family, an increasing demand for paperwork, and hopefully some sort of personal life. No wonder your learning program needs to be as efficient as you can make it!
If the demands are great, however, so are the potential rewards.
Shelley McPhail from Almonte, Ont. recently landed her dream job with the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Associations s Grow Your Farm Profits program, after completing her MBA. Keep your eye on the ball. It takes organization, dedication, and determination to do it later in life, McPhail says. But it is one of the most personally satisfying challenges one can ever take on.
1. Set goals. In fact, make goal-setting your very first job. Know what your specific learning needs are and what you want to accomplish, advises Kari Nicolas, manager of distributive learning at the University of Saskatchewan. Nothing saps the energy out of your learning plan faster than if you have doubts about whether the learning will actually be worth the effort. Programs and courses are a time and money commitment, Nicholas says. Be sure you are taking the right courses at the right time.
2. Study your options. Don t make a snap decision, says McPhail, a former dairy farmer who started an MBA in agri-business through the University of Guelph s distance education program at the age of 42. Think it through. Take the time to explore your options.
3. Know what s expected of you. Find out all you need to know before beginning, says Nicolas. Talk to the educational institution about the program or class you are interested in. Find out if the course is a good fit for you and your learning needs. Understand your obligations and determine whether they fit into your schedule. Ask as many questions as you need.
4. Get organized. The new demands on your time mean you ll need to be more efficient than ever. Organize as much of your life as you can to accommodate this new project. If possible, make a study space to call your own within your house, even if it s just a corner of a room, says McPhail.
