Learn to Learn (Metalearning)

LearningBlackboard

You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him think…

The first 15 years of the 21st century has certainly made two things abundantly clear:

  1. Change is the new constant.
  2. Change will continue at an ever-increasing speed.

This means the any skills you have today will become obsolete sooner than could have be imagined 50, 20, or even 10 years ago. Yet, unlike the fate of the horse-and-buggy specialists of yesteryear, the trend is obvious today and you can prepare.

The solution: a continual and life-long education. Do not be one of the millions who never read a book after High School or College. Remember: the term commencement means the time an event is going to begin—not end. Learning should not be restricted to classrooms.

The catalyst: learn to learn or learn how you learn best. First, select topics that you find interesting as well as those that are critical for you to become an expert in your field. Second, determine the methods (reading, audio books, classes, seminars) which will insure that you retain the maximum information content in the shortest possible time. Finally, design an individual program to develop both depth and breadth for your own personal and professional growth.