Personal and Professional Development: Theory of Learning - Essay Example

 Introduction Learning has many diverse definitions. It is the cognitive process of acquiring skill or knowledge.1 Or in other words Learning is acquiring new knowledge, behaviors, skills, values or preferences. It may involve processing different types of information etc.2 The depth or type of the changes involved is likely to be different. Säljö (1979) conducted a simple, but very valuable piece of research. He questioned a number of adult students on what they perceived about learning. Their responses fell into five main categories: Learning as a quantitative increase in knowledge. Learning is acquiring information or ‘knowing a lot’. Learning as memorizing. Learning is storing information that can be reproduced. Learning as acquiring facts, skills, and methods that can be retained and used as necessary. Learning as making sense or abstracting meaning. Learning involves relating parts of the subject matter to each other and to the real world. Learning as interpreting and understanding reality in a different way. Learning involves comprehending the world by reinterpreting knowledge. (quoted in Ramsden 1992: 26) The latter two are more composite in nature than the first three. The first three look at the external aspect of learning while the latter two explain more of the internal ongoing of the learning procedure. There are indeed many different types of learning theories and philosophies that we have all studied about. Similarly individuals are also categorized as different types of learners. We will shed light on the following four:- 1. Pragmatists 2. Theorists 3. Activists 4. Reflectors These four are analyzed based on the Honey and Mumford Learning Styles Questionnaire. Pragmatists are eager to try new things especially those that can be applicable to their jobs. They tend to get edgy when it comes to very lengthy discussions because they just want the crux of everything as they are very practical and down to earth in nature. Pragmatists learn best when they are given the chance to try out new techniques such as role playing or imitating a boss or film and then given feedback. Pragmatists learn less when whatever they are being taught is all theory and has no practical use. Theorists live in a world of ideas. They have tidy and systematic minds. They are not satisfied till they reach the bottom of things and explained things in terms of theories and principles.They do not like subjectivity and ambiguity. Theorists are usually the first ones to question the validity of statistics or facts provided to them in an argument. Activists love novelty, and wish to giev anythign and everything at least a try once int heir lifetime. They enjoy doing tehir tasks and hence you will find them planning and organising.they don’t think much of what the consequences will be but wish to live in the present and try everything. They get bored with repetition. They are thrilling, vital, open-minded and extroverted. Reflectors like to 'look before they leap'. They like to collect information and filter it. They are vigilant and thorough people. They prefer to observe and follow rather than take the lead. The take a lot of time in taking decisions but when they do they do it very carefulyl as they are not only based on their own personal knopwledge but also on the research that they have conducted as to what the others would do or have already done in similar situations. They are often the quiet ones in large groups, but this is not because of nervousness rather because of their cautiousness. Analysis of Learning During the course of this module, I came across several things that weren’t earlier visible to the naked eye about me and the people around me. Some of these things were good; others, relatively bad and unexpected. About myself, I found many qualities and drawbacks that I was previously unaware of. I realized that for me, competition didn’t really matter because I believe in excelling in whatever I do for my own sake and not to prove myself to anyone. Hence, I saw that when it came to helping others during time of need, be it something small or very significant, I was always ready with whatever input I could give. I also discovered that I possessed good leadership qualities and handled fragile situations in a calm and cool manner. On the other hand, I found out that I was not as confident as I portrayed myself to be. Silently, I find public speaking and presentation quite nerve wrecking. I found also that I possess a rather short temper which was slightly problematic when it came to working in a team. I also discovered that I got bored with lengthy discussions quickly and preferred having a more practical and interactive approach to things where problem solving intrigued me highly. The main difficulty that I encountered in this module was a conflict of interests with the people in my team. The main reason behind this is the differences in beliefs and cultures. Each one of us belongs from a different family setup and come from a unique background. Where I have been brought up in an environment where relationships are given a lot of importance, others come from setups where one’s self interest matters more than the interest of others. Similarly, where I believe that it is healthy to question the theories that are being taught to us and unearth answers to questions that arise in our minds, many believe that it is disrespectful to question our mentors, implying that maybe we are doubtful of their expertise on a certain subject. Many people believe that it is best to stick to the traditional theories that are being taught to us. The major success that I came across is surprisingly very relatable to the difficulty that I have discussed above. The clash of interests, at points helped us come up with compromising solutions where we came up with a middle ground that would keep in mind the reservations of all concerned parties and aided us in coming up with very innovative solutions. Needless to say I enjoyed interacting with people from different cultures and learning about their lifestyles and behaviours. It was fun to see how people differ in nature. Where I enjoy coming up with out of the box ideas, the others would be sitting pondering over the historic philosophies and models already existing. I enjoyed giving in my input and getting positive feedback for it because of the degree of novelty in some of my ideas. On the other hand however, I really did not enjoy when someone would act overconfidently and put me down by rudely brushing away my ideas. As I mentioned earlier, I learnt many surprising things about myself and others during this module. The behavior of people when it comes to learning or working in a team was fairly identical. I discovered that no matter how friendly and cooperative people seem to be at a distance, when it comes to serious business, the selfish side of many takes over. People will run you over just in order to win the race. Competition even if it for a healthy motive is indeed a very deadly act and it destroys many good relationships. Side by side I learnt that it is never good to judge people just by the way they portray themselves. I encountered people who came across as arrogant before this module but when I got to know them I learnt that they were indeed quite helpful and open minded. Until now I considered myself to be a very confident and outspoken person. However I have learnt that as much as I seem to be poised on the outside, I lack self confidence when it comes to public speaking or presentation. Even though I strongly believe that I do whatever I do for my own sake, I still get conscious as to how people would react to my ideas and whether I would be praised or made fun of in the end. Due to this, many a times I have forced myself to keep my eccentric ideas to myself. I think that working in a team is quite beneficial and I find it very pleasurable as you get constant feedback and approval from your teammates. Working in a team is not an easy task. Conflicts and arguments arise and you have to learn to deal with them adequately. The best way is to calmly analyze the ideas of all concerned parties and then come up with a solution. As I mentioned earlier, I discovered that I possess leadership attributes which is why I saw myself take lead in keeping the team together and provide with alternative solutions in case of conflicts. I accept that I might have proven myself to be rather obnoxious at times to my team members but after their feedback I am assertive that they eventually approved of my constant pushing and bossing around to get the work done as it aided them in providing with more efficient output and an overall desirable teamwork. I was not the only person who had the leadership trait in them. In fact every person has this aspect with them even if it’s deep down inside them and still needs to be discovered. However due to this, many a times there was a spar amongst a few of us as to who was giving a better guideline to follow. Most of the other team mates were mostly accommodating of the way the work was being conducted. Some were more laid back while others were too inquisitive and anxious about every minute detail. Therefore I experienced working with a diverse group of people which ultimately helped me learn and benefit from their experiences. The only thing I can say that affected my engagement and performance on the module was my beliefs that sometimes were put down by others and hence demotivated me to work professionally. However, it was these beliefs that continued to push me to perform proficiently as in the end of the my work is of most importance to me before anyone else and I need to be competent to prove to myself that I can do whatever task is given to me. I experienced some major ups and downs during the learning process. I would fly high when I was complimented on my excellent understanding or input and feel that I had it all under control. However many a times I felt that I was not capable enough and that I was not cut out for learning on the whole. This extreme change of heart would be because of the intense exchange of ideas etc across the table where I would feel that I could not even compete to being good enough with the rest of the group. Thankfully, these emotions were taken care of by some very caring and supportive peers and I was a fairly balanced being during the course. The feedback that I have received from my colleagues is very positive and hence motivating. They have critically analyzed my behavior in a way that they have highlighted my flaws and how I can cater to them as well as boosted my morale by praising all those qualities that I didn’t even know existed in me. On a whole this whole experience was very educative and I feel that I am now a better and more learned person not because of the knowledge I have gained but because of how and with whom I have interacted. Competence Development The development of the individual’s demonstrated capacity to perform, i. e., the possession of knowledge, skills, and personal characteristics needed to satisfy the special demands or requirements of a position is known as competence development. A good leader is one who is strong and committed towards his work and his subordinates. A leader is responsible and handles extreme problematic situations quickly and effectively. A leader knows how to keep his team together and sets a good example to them in all walks of life. Leadership is indeed a competence that would benefit any individual who possesses it. Leaders give a guideline to their fellow peers on how to implement any idea or project. As mentioned earlier I learned that I have potential to become a good leader. I was unaware of this characteristic at the beginning of the module. As I discovered this hidden ‘trait’ within myself, I explored it further in order to polish it for future purposes. I exercised my leadership attributes upon my team members to an extent that they wouldn’t get offended by them as I wasn’t officially appointed as the leader of the group. I felt that not only did I feel comfortable having some power to make decisions, but also that I was influencing the ones around me in a positive style. As I found myself to be a pragmatist learner in this module, I discovered that I was not the sort who would enjoy repetition or rote learning. I like being given the opportunity to experiment and apply ideas. Facts and figures excite me while fantasy ideas agitate me. I found myself applying these attributes practically when I was working in a team. It was rather pleasing to see that even the people who were not of the same mind frame as myself, were accommodating towards my learning approach. I feel that if I further develop my leadership skill I can progress majorly in any walk of life I set myself on. This module and the people who were in it with me has helped me greatly to not only find this amazing quality in myself but has also help me develop it into a better form than the one I discovered it in. I have gained some kind of control over my leadership abilities but I need to polish myself further in order to apply this quality in the practical world. As mentioned earlier, I happen to also be short tempered and sometimes due to lack of motivation or rejection I tend to forget my responsibilities towards something for a short span of time. Even though I overcome this pretty quickly, it is still very harmful for the other team members and the project itself if I am appointed as the leader. I need to make myself as close to perfection as I can for others to see me as a leader as it is one of the most prominent attributes of a leader to set a good example. Furthermore, another drawback that I have, which is closely related to my leadership ability is that I get conscious when speaking in public, again due to fear of rejection. I need to overcome this fear in order to complete my package of a good leader. Conclusions Learning is perceived differently by the various types of people existing in this world. Many people make efforts in order to receive knowledge or skills by either educating themselves or just reading and learning. Others unconsciously learn things because of exposure to new horizons or experiences. Learning as we have studied brings changes in a person’s behavior and personality. At the end of this module, I can say that I was subjected to both kinds of learning. Whatever I was taught has increased by knowledge by far as I feel like a more learned person. And applying that knowledge and being more adaptive to the environment around me helped me grasp the little things in life that I would have otherwise ignored. I learnt that I was of a pragmatic nature and that I rapidly understood and enjoyed things that I felt were applicable in the practical world as opposed to theories or dialogues that were of no use and futile in nature. Lastly in order to achieve a significant development of my leadership skills I need to pursue modules or courses in which I will be given the opportunity to exercise this trait further. I intend to make the most of it and develop it to my full potential in order to gain from it and benefit all others I interact with. References Smith, M. K. (1999) 'Learning theory', the encyclopedia of informal education, www.infed.org/biblio/b-learn.htm Bridgstock, R (2009) The graduate attributes we’ve overlooked: enhancing graduate employability through career management skills. Higher Education Research & Development, 28 (1), pp 31–44 Coffield, et al (2004) "Should we be using Learning Styles? What research has to say to practice." Learning & Skills Research Centre paper Campaign for Learning - What kind of Learner are You? http://www.campaign-for-learning.org.uk/aboutyourlearning/whatlearning.htm Learning Styles and Strategies- http://www4.ncsu.edu/unity/lockers/users/f/felder/public/ILSdir/styles.htm Shepherd, C. A Matter of Style - http://www.fastrak-consulting.co.uk/tactix/features/lngstyle/lngstyle.htm   http://www4.ncsu.edu/unity/lockers/users/f/felder/public/ILSdir/styles.htm http://www.fastrak-consulting.co.uk/tactix/features/lngstyle/lngstyle.htm Read More