Self-Assessment as a student seeking Knowledge

Discovering all the various schools of thought as I grew up, I used to be fascinated not only by the accuracy of data and knowledge accumulated by mankind, but also by the sheer volume of it. I soon understood that my motivation for learning various things was based partly on their reference to my self-preservation, also because the aspects of life that simply picked my interest. For example, undertaking a business course will impart me with the skillset necessary to function in today's ever competitive environment. As such, the extent of investment that I place on learning the dynamics of up-to-date business are going to be contingent my fiscal ambitions. My learning is also affected by my age as my brain will gradually reduce its adsorptivity of new information as the effects of aging start to manifest. This in mind, I aim at learning the skills that have a steeper learning curve as soon as possible and postpone those which may be relatively easier to learn to a later time in my life. Life transitions have at times adversely affected my ability to learn. Such events as macroeconomic downturns have at times mitigated the amount of free time I have since I may have to divert my attention to more immediate concerns. Another instance of life transitions that negatively affects people is corporate layoff which can have devastating effects on people. Provided my 'basic learning' was satisfied, I would probably invest in learning some of my intersts such as graphic design.

How I Learn

Following my attempt at different learning techniqes proposed not only in literature but also on the internet, I came to the conclusion that in order to learn at a fast rate while still maintaining my rention, studying for 40 minutes with 10 minute breaks has prooved most efficient. While this time may be different for differnet people, 40 minute study sessions have prooven to reduce mental fatigue incurred when attempting to learn a great deal of information fast. It is also important to note that in order to learn in the most efficient way, significant practice is necessary in order to acquire proficiency. Learning, is equal parts a lone activity, equal part group activity (Merriam et al., 2007). In this respect, I consider that learning is enhanced when a person studies the material alone first then convines with members of an academic group. In doing so, one can identify the core aspects of the discicplines being acquired, with the subsequent discussion addressing potential misinformation or areas not covered when alone. In this way, a hybrid approach to learning usually have a higher efficacy than they would individually. I also prefer learning approaches which reflect enhanced interaction with students, particularly in educational institutions. Morover, learning within the premises of an academic institution provides a student with a suitable environment for which to access quiet space, professors on various topics and necessary technological or literary resources.

Impediments to Learning

Just as with any human endevor, the learning process is prone to conditions and elements that hinder its undertaking (Smith, 1982). One particular impediment for my learning experience and attempts, is financial constraints. Just as students everywhere can attest, learning and trying to earn a living can be a stuggle. Between working part time in order to get some money, one has to set aside considerabe time to learn. Having financial problems also places any student under undue duress, which then prevents one from learning new material. Another hindrance that can impeede one from learning is an unsuitable environment. While studying at home is a great way to get a lot of information, it does introduce an environment in which distractions are imminent. From friends, to noisy neighbors and the allure of technoogy, our homes have become a den of distractions. In my learning activities, I attempt, as much as possible to alleviate elements that can act as distractions to my learning process. For instance, I make sure to turn off my phone as well as television in order to distance myself from technology. Furthermore, I only study when none of my friends are around, as they tend to be distracting. There also exists institutional barriers to my learning undertakings. For instance, my school is limited to only the resources and staffing that they can afford. In this regard, there are academic institutions that have arguably better resources at their disposal, but I was unable to secure entry into such campuses due to socioeconomic reasons. Regarding dispositional barriers that hinder by learning process is that I cannot study effectively at night, as I often begin to consider it more of a burden that keeps me awake instead of the avenue to wonder and enlighntnement that learning provides. In light of this, I tend to avoid attempting studying during the night, though at times it may be mandatory to do so in order to keep up with all the academic requirements.

Changes I would like to Add to My Own Learning

In order to make my learning processes more efficient, I plan on including precide schedules indicating the times in which I undertake learning activities for various disciplines. By doing this, I will eliminate the occurrences of time wastage, which in turn, will ensure that my learning activities are given the necessary time. In pursuance of this, it is also imperative that most if not all learning take place before noon, for that is when my brain is completely active and lacking in excessive fatigue. To enhance my comprehension rate to the disciplines I am learning, it may be necesarry to increase my level of interactions with the professors. By engaging with persons who have acquired proficiency in a field of knowledge which I pursue, I believe I can generate discourse and thereby information that is beneficial to the learning process

Learning Goals

This year, I plan on completing my semester's work, without failing on any of my core courses. By doing this, I will have effectively vaulted me one step closer to my academic ambitions. In the next five years, I want to have completed all the learning that takes care of my basic survival needs. For instance learning on business, entrepreneurship and acquiring skills such as graphic design which are extreemely relevant in today's world (Smith, 1982). Subsequently, within the next 10 years, I want to have completed learning that regards all the aspects that grab my fancy as well as have steep learning curve. It is also at this time that I might get started with learning about parenthood, for I am thinly aware of its daunting and demanding nature.

References

Merriam, S., Caffarella, R., & Baumgartner, L. M. (2007). Learning in adulthood: А comprehensive guide (3rd ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Smith, R. (1982). Learning how to learn: Applied theory for adults. New York, NY: Cambridge.