What is a great learner?

In Tuesday’s post I shared the experience of watching an accomplished scientist – Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson – who demonstrates unusual enthusiasm for learning and discovery. He is somebody we might call a great learner.

So, what is a great learner? Here’s a suggestion:

A great learner is one who excels in their chosen field through commitment to excellence in learning and performance. Such a learner seeks to improve performance or gain realizations consistently through deliberate practice.

Great learners come in all shapes, sizes and sexes. They come from all parts of the world. Some are religious. Others are non-religious. Some are 8 years old, some are 80.

When we investigate the lives of such learners we discover that they share a few common qualities: tremendous motivation, a focus on preparation, a commitment to deliberate practice, deep curiosity about the subject matter, a willingness to take risks, the ability to transform adversity, and seeking help from guides, mentors coaches or other supporters.

Furthermore they show consistent, joyful effort in persevering in the achievement of their goals.

To reassure readers who may already be thinking “that’s not me, I can’t possibly attain those standards”, exceptional learning does not require an exceptional mind – or for that matter exceptional anything.

With the right conditions and strong motivation, everybody can make progress and eventually become a great learner, achieving great performance or attaining high realizations.

Assuming those conditions – that you are fed, housed, living in a usually peaceful household in a usually peaceful community, and free from most mental or physical disabilities – I am confident you can make great progress in your chosen field.

Note as well that as long as you have some mental capacity and capability, age is no barrier to learning. Recent research in the field of neuroscience has shown that people of all ages can learn, i.e. that ‘old dogs’ can learn new tricks.

Next: Why become a great learner?

-David Luke, Senior Consultant at FocusFit (2007) Inc.

© 2011 D. G. Luke and FocusFit (2007) Inc.

The Role of the Learner

It seems most of the focus in the world of learning and development is on the role of the facilitator-instructor, on instructional design and/or learning technologies. Over the next couple of weeks I hope to turn these tables and focus instead on the role of the learner.

I will borrow from academic research and the teachings of a Buddhist spiritual guide, and outline what seem to be the characteristics of those individuals who excel in learning and performance.

But first I’d like to share an experience that was a catalyst for this series.

Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson, astrophysicist and host of the PBS program NOVA scienceNow, made the following statement on a recent episode (US or Canada) of The Daily Show:

“Allow me to say that when you are on the frontier of knowledge between what is known and unknown, reaching out into the abyss, sometimes you actually do have to make stuff up that might be true, so that you can organize a research plan to find out whether or not it is… this is the creativity of discovery…” (my italics)

Watching the interview I was struck by deGrasse Tyson’s enthusiasm. Here is a prominent scientist, more than 30 years into his career, exhibiting the sort of positive energy many of us have not experienced since childhood.

He demonstrates an explorer’s drive to understand, to know. He seems to generate his own motivation, and exhibits deep curiosity about his subject matter. He also understands the power of imagination in learning.

As Einstein said, and as deGrasse Tyson quoted: “Imagination is more important than knowledge”.

Inspired in part by deGrasse Tyson[1] I decided to assemble a list that describes the characteristics of a great learner and, more importantly, a series of steps to become a great learner.

It is my hope that this short series will contribute to the understanding of learning ability, will stimulate constructive discussion and will offer encouragement to people everywhere to expand and deepen their learning practice.

I have drawn upon eclectic sources for this series: the above-mentioned interview; a recent presentation by Dr. Jacqueline P. Leighton of the Faculty of Education at The University of Alberta; and from the writings and teachings of renowned Buddhist meditation master Geshe Kelsang Gyatso.

Next: What is a Great Learner?

[1] You can see the full interview at http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-january-18-2011/neil-degrasse-tyson (US) or http://watch.thecomedynetwork.ca/the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart/interviews-a-z/the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart---interviews-d/clip407200#clip407200(Canada).

-David Luke, Senior Consultant at FocusFit (2007) Inc.

© 2011 D. G. Luke and FocusFit (2007) Inc.

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