It's amazing how many things you find when you look for self-directed learning and learning2learn on the web. You get totally confused. Spend the last days in selecting those things that make sense. The funny thing is that my initial objective to find theory and methodology about the way 'how to develop as a self-directed learner' get more and more doubtful. It's not that I don't find things. I found a lot. All kind of 'steps to take', categories of learners, competences you need. So I got what I was looking for.
But the more I read about it the more I wonder if this all really makes sense. There seems to be a big need to put this all into logic, linear steps. First you do this and then you do that. And you get better all the time. Let's be honest... that would also help a lot. Just going from one step to the other and in the end you will be the perfect self-directed learner. But .... I think it's to simple. Human beings don't function like that. We don't plan our lives in such a logic linear way. Things happen... chances are suddenly there...or just something else happens.. Well..probably there are people who follow plans in an logical coherent way but I have the impression that these are exceptions. When I see how I work, but also a lot of other people, there is a often a need for planning more and working in a more structured way....but reality is different.
Still all this reading brings me a lot. I'm getting more and more to the idea that 'self-confidence' and 'self-awareness' are the crucial elements in being a self-directed learner. I agree with most of the competences and elements mentioned in the different articles but for all these things you need a certain level of self-confidence and the competence to reflect on yourself.
Well..still 8 days to get to a final document.
For those who are interested in the topic: a two year European project started on Learning2Learn. You can find information about it on the L2L website: www.learning2learn.eu
And in the coming week a virtual platform will start. When you want to take part in the discussion there please write me an email and you will be invited.
Sunday, 15 February 2009
Monday, 2 February 2009
focus on the topic
I don't know if it is because of this blog but I'm behind my able with papers and books around me and the mac book in front of me. I look like a real student. It's all about what I announced in the last blog: studying different stages to become a self-directed learner.
The interesting thing however about it at the moment is to see how I deal...or maybe struggle with doing this. In the last days I have been in this position three times: surrounded by books and articles. The problem is that after ten minutes or half an hour I'm still there but focussed on a totally different topic. Well... not totally different but on topics which are not serving my initial intention. Because of reading things my brains starts to work and I get ideas for other projects I'm working on. The day before yesterday it resulted in me working on the design of a training course that I have to do in June. As such good...but still....
I don't know if this is bad but reading a book or an article for me doesn't immediately lead to me taking the information or theory and add it to my 'knowledge'. I start discussing wit the author, checking if what he/she writes fits into my thinking/knowledge etc. Maybe I'm too pigheaded, too stubborn.
At the same time it works. It brings me further in my thinking. It's not about getting something completely new, not being totally surprised and inspired by a completely different concept. It helps more in refining my already existing views.
Anyway...tonight I managed to stay in the topic, I made notes and I even started to write things down in what should be one day, at the end of this month, the final document.
I feel like making progress here.
Italian..... well...not really a lot of progress there. I only managed a few times to get into quite short Italian conversation. Problem was being in Turkey for two weeks which didn't really help. The good thing is that I found there in my hotel room an Italian TV channel which is quiet interesting. Brings news the whole day and has interesting interviews. It turned out that we have that channel also here at home. So...interesting Italian television!
The interesting thing however about it at the moment is to see how I deal...or maybe struggle with doing this. In the last days I have been in this position three times: surrounded by books and articles. The problem is that after ten minutes or half an hour I'm still there but focussed on a totally different topic. Well... not totally different but on topics which are not serving my initial intention. Because of reading things my brains starts to work and I get ideas for other projects I'm working on. The day before yesterday it resulted in me working on the design of a training course that I have to do in June. As such good...but still....
I don't know if this is bad but reading a book or an article for me doesn't immediately lead to me taking the information or theory and add it to my 'knowledge'. I start discussing wit the author, checking if what he/she writes fits into my thinking/knowledge etc. Maybe I'm too pigheaded, too stubborn.
At the same time it works. It brings me further in my thinking. It's not about getting something completely new, not being totally surprised and inspired by a completely different concept. It helps more in refining my already existing views.
Anyway...tonight I managed to stay in the topic, I made notes and I even started to write things down in what should be one day, at the end of this month, the final document.
I feel like making progress here.
Italian..... well...not really a lot of progress there. I only managed a few times to get into quite short Italian conversation. Problem was being in Turkey for two weeks which didn't really help. The good thing is that I found there in my hotel room an Italian TV channel which is quiet interesting. Brings news the whole day and has interesting interviews. It turned out that we have that channel also here at home. So...interesting Italian television!
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