CPD
Dot Struthers
shares some
thoughts on how
to adopt the
mindset of a lifelong learner
E USED to think that learning
W
was something we only did
in the first 20 or so years of
our lives after which it was
about how much money we
could earn so that we could
retire comfortably.
While some of this learn, earn and yearn model is
still true, there is now a strong belief that learning is not
just something we do in the early years, but a lifelong
process which allows us to continually engage and
How to
contribute in the development of our world, irrespective
of our age, gender or nationality.
Understanding how you learn
Watching your students learn is an ideal way to reflect
on your own learning, but have you ever stopped to
examine the steps involved in the learning process.
become
Do you remember learning to ride a bicycle for the
first time? You probably started off very enthusiastically
even though you did not have a clue what was involved.
This is what is called unconscious incompetence and
is the first step in the learning process where you lack
awareness and you lack the necessary skills. You are
blissfully ignorant!
As you started to wobble around and feel your way,
a lifelong
you probably became aware of the things you could not
do like steer and peddle at the same time.
This second stage is called conscious incompetence
and is where you realise what you cannot do but also
you notice what you need to learn, in this case how to
stay balanced.
You were probably encouraged to keep trying
learner
and finally you started to get the hang of it and your
confidence levels started to grow. And by watching
others, trying out new things, and reflecting on your things out spontaneously without having to understand can take advantage of the situations you can learn from, • Dot Struthers specialises in learning and development
efforts, you started to work out that you could also every angle before moving. They could also benefit from it will develop your sense of curiosity which will keep for teachers. If you would like a monthly CPD
wave and ring your bell at the same time. You became reflecting on what actually happened in situations rather you engaged, connected and excited about what is newsletter and other coaching resources, register at
consciously competent, which is the third step of the than trying to fit everything into their own neat model. happening around you. SecEd www.merechats.co.uk
learning process. And finally the pragmatist, who is interested in what
They say practice makes perfect, so after a period works and will give them the best results. They like to
of time you hopefully moved into the final stage where see practical hints and tips and will want to try out new
you were unconsciously competent. You no longer had applications in different settings.
Organised by
to think about what you were doing, it was easy and had What will help your learning as a pragmatist is to
become second nature – you just did it. stop and think about the bigger picture and being forced
When you examine these steps closely what you see to reflect on what you really want to achieve.
is the importance of: In all cases, examining the characteristics of each
• Trying new things. learning style will help you to identify areas you may be
• Stretching yourself and going outside your comfort neglecting or ignoring. To be a successful learner, you
zone. may need to adopt elements of all four learning styles.
3rd national conference
• Being able to break the activity down into small
bites.
Learning from the past
• Getting the right advice and support. Why is it that so many times we keep making the same
• Regular feedback and encouragement. mistakes over and over again before we realise there is
SCHOOL AND
• Making time for reflection and celebration. something to be learned?
The benefit of understanding this process is twofold, Maybe it is because we live in a world that is
first it helps you to understand and identify your preoccupied by the future and what is in the past has
student’s potential sticking points, and second watching gone and therefore has no value. Or maybe it is because
PUBLIC HEALTH
your students learn is like looking in the mirror and the past can sometimes hold painful memories which
examining your own motivation and competence. are best left alone, buried or forgotten about.
If you reflect over your life, there will have been
Examine your personal learning style
NURSING
some key moments which have helped to shape the
There are four learning styles which we tend to adopt person you are today. These experiences, whether they
Listening, hearing and delivering:
when learning and even though you may be aware of were positive or negative, all contribute to your attitude,
them from a teaching perspective, are you aware of behaviour and skills going forward.
developing services to meet the needs of
how they affect your own learning? For instance, being turned down for a job which you
children, young people and their families
If you are an activist who likes to get on with it believe was right for you. At the time you may have felt
and learn by doing and working things out as you go, devastated, hurt and even angry, but as time went on Objectives
you may find yourself getting impatient and doing and you had time to reflect you may have realised it was • To provide school and public health nurses and partner agencies with an update on
things without thinking everything through. You may probably the right decision. And this in turn may have
some of the challenges and opportunities facing the specialty
even consider any reflective activity quite boring and motivated you to try harder and develop new skills that
• To provide a relevant and attractive learning environment for knowledge and creative
pointless. you otherwise would not have developed.
thinking that will benefit future development
As an activist, you may benefit from doing a bit
• To stimulate discussion about the way forward for school nursing and integrated
of preparation before rushing into things, such as for
Defining moments
services
• Through personal examples, case studies and informal discussion, to improve and
meetings. And you may want to stop and use previous By mapping out your teaching career on a timeline and enhance performance and practice
experiences as a way of drawing out lessons that could identifying some of the highs and lows, it may give you
be learned; what worked and what did not. a few clues as to how you are positively or negatively
The Centennial Centre, Birmingham
Maybe you are a reflector, who loves to think about contributing to your success.
everything and always needs more time to absorb Life has an uncanny way of throwing you 6th & 7th October 2009
information fully. You may enjoy reviewing previous opportunities to learn from, although we do not always
experiences so much that you get stuck in the details see it that way and it can be easier to blame others or CONFERENCE FEE INCLUDES ENTRANCE TO THE CONFERENCE, LUNCH AND REFRESHMENTS
from the past. The great thing about reflectors is that the situation rather than accept personal responsibility.
AND FULL CONFERENCE DOCUMENTATION
they can often remove themselves from the emotion By grasping these situations and absorbing the learning,
For full programme details and to book your place at
and can act as a good observer. it allows for forgiveness which creates peace and lets us
As a reflector, you will improve your learning by move onto the next thing without having any nagging
these or any of our other events please visit our website
summarising your conclusions, setting yourself some reminders of an unresolved issue. www.mahealthcareevents.co.uk
definite deadlines, and focusing on just one thing The value of learning from the past is to be able to
Alternatively call our booking hotline on
at a time. You could experiment a bit more and try identify the re-occurring patterns in your life and then
brainstorming ideas without judging them (initially at decide what action you want to take. Your future is
020 7501 6762
least). determined by your beliefs, which are being shaped by
MA Healthcare Ltd, St. Jude’s Church, Dulwich Road, London SE24 0PB
Or, are you a theorist who likes to know how it all your experiences and more importantly how you react
fits together and joins up as one picture or model? You to those experiences.
will enjoy frameworks to help you make sense of things
and will have a tendency to challenge the rules and set
Develop your sense of curiosity
PUTTING SCHOOL NURSES FIRST
up your own systems. The skill of being a lifelong learner is curiosity. When
Theorists could improve their learning by trying you understand how you learn, the way you learn and
MAH BJSN09 Ad MA.indd 1 21/8/09 12:11:42
SecEd • October 1 2009 13
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