The whole notion of blogging is difficult for me. I guess putting my ideas and values out in the world leaves me feeling very exposed and vulnerable. I enjoy participating in discussions but a blog feels more like a "soapbox" than a conversation.
That said, I'll forge on. For me, the elements of effective learning are a genuine desire to know (motivation), the tools to be successful (mentors to guide the way, information, resources), and a context in which to learn in a meaningful way (often that is in discussing the concepts with others, by applying the ideas to solve a problem or execute a project, or by explaining it to others). I don't usually set specific goals (at least not consciously) because I think my life and learning goals are in constant evolution. I find myself seiziing opportunities as they present themselves rather than looking for them. I could never have planned all the places that my life has taken me and all that I have learned along the way. I think if I had been "hell-bent" on pursuing specific goals, I might well have not made time for other tangential adventures that appeared along the way.
What is hard for me is to maintain a curious mindset. I don't like learning alone so without the artificial structure of being in school, my mind tends to stagnate. I have never had confidence in myself as a learner; as a student this "fear of failure" helped to motivate me to really work hard at my studies, but as a lifelong learner, this quality tends to make me avoid venturing very far from my comfort zone. Without a community of learners (to discuss things and commiserate with) I tend to "stay put" intellectually.
The notion of being a playful learner is foreign too. To be playful, one has to be willing to look foolish at times and laugh at oneself. While this has gotten easier with age, I still find that I don't want to try things that I can't be sure I'll be good at. This view certainly limits the scope of my experiences since I can't be sure whether I will be good at something that I have never tried.
Continuing the comparison of learning and play, infants start out with solitary play, but they advance to parallel play (playing alone but in the company of others) and finally to cooperative play; in a similar fashion my most meaningful learning happens not when I am alone but rather when I am discussing ideas with others. Conversation helps me to articulate, refine and solidify my understanding and/or beliefs. I guess that's why I am grateful for this "play group."
