How I learn
by Antonio on 01/02/09 at 11:18 am
Photo by Sara
I never got on with formal education. The day I finished my last university exam was one of the happiest of my life.
I’d become so bored by my course that I taught myself how to build websites in the evenings. Within a few months I was getting paid for it. My first ever website commission was for a tarot card reader called Amber Moon. The guy who commissioned me ran off with my 100 quid, the bastard.
Anyway, this self directed learning exercise has continued to this day, and really has taught me everything I use in my work. Right now I’m immersed in service design methodologies and also enjoying learning about economics through all the great writing happening at the moment.
I hate courses because I’m the world’s most impatient person – it all seems so claustrophobic and limiting. Courses by their nature can never tailored for exactly what I’m looking for.
I like to wind my way around a subject in my own chaotic manner until I get to the difficult bits, then I’ll usually ask an expert to help me out (or I might start with an expert and fill in the gaps). I find these days that for the price of a course, you can hand pick a leading expert and bring them in for a bit of one-on-one consultancy. It works so much better.
Occasionally I wonder whether I should be more formally qualified in something or other, but it’s never seemed to hold me back in the past.
And the best thing about learning? It’s just so much bloody fun. My absolute favourite place to be is running up a steep learning curve.
I’m interested to know other people’s experiences of this. Is it just me that’s given up with formal education?
DK
Feb 1st, 2009
I’m with you on the frustrations formal education offers – from my perspective I learn visually and in conversation whilst traditional teaching is still about writing down what you have absorbed… it’s why I’m shying away from doing an MA in social media as I have yet to find anywhere where I can show not tell what I know… good luck with the learning!
Antonio
Feb 1st, 2009
DK – thanks for the comment. I’m fascinated to know the reasons you’re considering doing an MA in social media.
Most people would see you as being an expert in the subject, so how would you see this benefitting you?
DK
Feb 1st, 2009
Hey Ant – well there are very few opportunities to do a MA in social media and it would probably be a mashup of a couple of courses…
In terms of the ‘why’ and ‘benefits’ question – I guess I want to ground my experience within an academic context and hopefully do some research which others may learn from (and I in the process) – I would love to explore lecturing as well so this would be a great stepping stone towards that goal
Pete Ashton
Feb 1st, 2009
With you on this one, and I don’t think it’s unusual. Ken Robinson’s TED talk is worth checking out on this.
Personally I’ve never gotten on with formal academia yet people me what I’m doing is academic. Which is odd. Will find a way though.
Antonio
Feb 2nd, 2009
Cheers for the comments.
DK – you’ve reminded me of something my old colleague Paul Murphy used to say – that all education is dialogue.
I definitely learn most of what I know through either conversations with people. That’s probably why I enjoy talking so much!
nick lockey
Feb 3rd, 2009
For me, university was a bit like taking driving lessons -it taught me all of the skills I needed to know to get moving but it wasn’t until I passed the test and hit the road that I actually started to learn anything.
Donato
Feb 6th, 2009
I think Nick Lockey has summed it up perfectly, it gives you the tools.
Which at times can be frustrating/boring and sometimes you wonder do i really need these now?
Once you have them, its up to you how you use them.
Susi Oneill
Feb 6th, 2009
I go through a real yin/yang with formal learning – I seem to do heaps of it (a Management Diploma and MA currently…and heaps of conferences and training events). Somtimes the formal learning is agnosing – thinking “I just want to do not theorise over doing it!” and in truth academia most frustrates me. But I also like the discipline I get from formal learning, the process and the way you need to do it and be accountable and prove your knowledge, in contrasts with all the others kinds of iterative learning that my peers, colleagues, friends and the social media can richly offer.
Nicky Getgood
Feb 7th, 2009
Wholeheartedly agree with you here. I’m hoping to enroll on a digital photography course soon. But this is just so I can take better photos for the blog – I just want to have this tool so I can use it for something I’ve got in mind rather than just what the course is designed for.