Effective Mechanism of Studying in Learning Groups - Term Paper Example

Self managed learning Introduction Self-managed learning is a way individual or people learn things through different ways that could be at work or in their society or in a diversified environment. Self-managed learning includes setting out learning goals by evaluating the reason for learning and the mechanisms of achieving such goals. Individuals and people have various new things to learn such as the culture of different people, personality, behavior, perceptions etc. Self-managed learning provides opportunity to the people to come up with their own distinct learning strategy (Centre for Self Managed Learning 2000). This paper seeks to discuss how self-managed learning enhances lifelong development. This will be illustrated by evaluating the self managed learning approaches, ways through which lifelong learning could be encouraged both in professional and personal contexts, and the benefits of self managed learning to the organization and individual. In addition, the paper will include information on professional standards and organizational objectives. Personal development opportunities that I have received in meeting both future current needs will also be included. Approaches to self-managed learning Self managed earning has different approaches through which individual or people. Some of the approaches to self managed learning include: Seminars and conferences People or individual can learn through conferences and seminars what they have learned or experienced and make changes regarding their own future. Conferences and seminars offer opportunity to people to present their knowledge concerning something to the rest of the people who as a result learn new things. Individuals or people become more confident in public speaking and develops skills of presentation needed in the organization through conferences and seminars (Centre for Self Managed Learning 2000). Social networks Different social networks such as Twitter, Facebook, My year book etc offer an opportunity for many people learn new things from friends. People can also access information about the owners of such social networks. Internet Internet is one of the major sources of information through which people get to learn new and historical things. Many articles are also accessible concerning management studies. There are various different sites that on the internet that can assist people or individual in learning new things (Centre for Self Managed Learning 2000). Ways in which lifelong learning in personal and professional contexts could be encouraged In self managed learning, there exist a number of ways through which lifelong learning in both professional and personal contexts could be encouraged. Lifelong learning entails personally continuous learning that could possibly contribute to professional context (Swann, 2007). People or individual may have assessments at personal level as means of lifelong learning through evaluating their strengths, weaknesses, opportunity and threats (SWOT analysis). People may need to be ambitious, good listeners and friendly in order to learn smoothly. This is due to the available opportunities to continually learn new things through self managed learning, even if money is a major challenge to their normal studies. Lifelong learning could therefore be encouraged through carrying out a SWOT analysis, continuing professional development, and a reflective learning by people or individual in personal and professional contexts (SDLC, 2007). SWOT Analysis Through evaluating personal or professional SWOT this will help people with their professional learning through the use of other tools including continuing professional development (CPD) and self-reflective learning. Self-reflective learning involves a review of judgments, opinions, actions, and personal understanding that people or individuals are willing to take in an appropriate way and remain honest about it. This helps in linking professional development with the practical issues experienced in life either academically or socially (SDLC, 2007). Self reflective learning Self-reflective learning is a way of helping in learning new skills at places of work. It aids people in developing personal skills by completing tasks and responsibilities assigned to them. Self-reflective learning takes a review of things that are learned. Continuing professional development (CPD) Continuing professional development (CPD) merges ideas, approaches, and techniques helping people in developing personal learning and growth to a particular level that could be linked with professionally through evaluating and planning effective learning that could be through accepting opinions, judgments or others. Potential benefits of self-learning to the organization Self managed learning is associated with various potential benefits to the organization and to its members as well (Swann, 2007). Some of the potential benefits to the organization include: Decision making: self-managed learning ensures that people or individuals acquire decision making skills through different experiences of learning that they have obtained from work or educational experience. Being ethical: through self managed learning, people or individual learns new things about moral judgment from personal experience. This in a professional way could be an advantage to the organization. Problem solving: self managed learning helps people to acquire skills of solving problems. Such skills are transferable and can be learned through education, work experience, interests or hobbies. Many organizations prefer people to remain flexible in their pattern of work. People acquire such flexibility through self managed learning by focusing on the objectives of the organization (Swann, 2007). Potential benefits of self-managing learning to the individual Self-managed learning is majorly about people who take their own initiatives in ensuring that they manage their learning effectively. Self managed learning has positive impacts to both the individual and organization (Cunningham, 2006). Organizational benefits have been addressed. Some of the potential benefits of self managed learning include: Team work skills: individuals learn skills of working in groups and teams from academic background through projects. Individuals will then be able to apply such knowledge to the organization. Presentation skills: individuals are also able to learn presentation skills through being given an opportunity to express the knowledge on the things they have learnt. This also gives individuals enough confidence to talk publicly in front of others. This is in turn becomes an advantage to the organization, particularly when an individual is assigned a task that needs presentation. Communication skills: Self managed learning aids individual to develop writing and communication skills. These skills are very essential to the objectives of the organization. Self-managed learning helps individuals to remain independent because of the challenges that result from their own learning that can be shared or connected with others in order to create a good synergy enhancing organizational development. It also helps individuals to learn new things they previously were not aware of especially in leadership (Little, 2007). Organization make efforts to ensure their objectives are met. Organizations do this through evaluating the expectations and qualities they require from the organization’s staff that they have contracted to aid in achieving the objectives. Organizations require individuals with potential skills like time management, leadership skills, ambitious, team player, and writing and communication skills. Such skills link well with the objectives of the organization. In order to achieve the organizational goals and objectives, they require individuals capable of going through self managed learning and accessing knowledge by themselves (Little, 2007). Conclusion In summary, self-managed learning is a way by which individual or people learn new things that could be at work or in their society or in a diversified environment. As stated earlier, self-managed learning includes setting out learning goals by evaluating the reason for learning and the mechanisms of achieving such goals. Individuals and people have various new things to learn such as the culture of different people, personality, behavior, perceptions etc. Self-managed learning provides opportunity to the people to come up with their own distinct learning strategy. It is however important to note that self-managed learning is not that easy, even though some individuals or people tend to hold that being responsible for managing their own learning by self-managing learning is not a modern fashion or way of learning. The primary requirements of setting out objectives and then making efforts to meet them are a very challenging and hard approach. Self managed learning needs a proper plan to be put in place through making a plan of action, monitoring the plan, scheduling the plan, and regularly reviewing the plan in order assist learners in achieving their set goals and objectives. Although learners need help from colleagues through accepting judgments and opinions that helps them in learning, individuals must understand the phases involved in the plan for professional development so as to have a defined and clear goal and objective of what they really want to accomplish from self managed learning (Cunningham, 2006). Recommendation I would like to recommend that for learners to develop effectively their learning skills, they need to be part of the self managed learning programs of groups of between five to six people. Through this, learners can put in place appropriate strategic learning and reporting on the progress of it. The group should be meeting from time to time for reviewing their learning challenges and assessment that they may be facing in the process of their learning. Definitely learning groups offer a unique and cost effective mechanism of helping people or individual to learn in a defined sense, decision making and solving problems happening from time to time because of the different circumstances in business such as natural calamities, economy, and environment among others. Bibliography Centre for Self Managed Learning 2000, Self Managed Learning. Promotional Booklet. Brighton: Centre for Self Managed Learning Cunningham, I 2006, ‘Self-Managing, Learning and Democracy’ Learning for Democracy. Vol. 2 No.2 2006 pp 61-74 Little, T 2007, The South Downs Learning Centre (SDLC) and Self Managed Learning (SML): Evaluation Research Report. Brighton: University of Brighton SDLC 2007, South Downs Learning Centre Newsletter. No.7.January 2007. Brighton: South Downs Learning Centre Swann, J 2007, ‘Teaching for a Better World: The Why and How of Student-Initiated Curricula’ in Aspin, D & Chapman, J (eds) Values Education and Lifelong Learning: Philosophy, Policy, Practices. Berlin: Springer Press Read More