Summer Learning for Adults

Summer Learning for Adults

This has been a year of learning, and not just for students. Learning is a key contributor to our surviving and thriving. Our need to learn often outpaces the structures and approaches of traditional development. We have to flex, adjust, and even create new learning paths and experiences in response to the challenges we face.   Importantly, what we experience and the learning that results can offer important lessons about how we can engage in and support ourselves in ways that are timely and effective. In fact, these are lessons we need to apply as we plan for and engage in learning this summer. Let’s review five of the important lessons that can inform our summer of learning experiences.  

We need to be flexible. We need learning opportunities that respond to that. Sometimes learning needs to be on-demand. Learning opportunities may be in person, or they may be remote. The key is to have learning opportunities flex in response to learning needs and readiness.  

Learning must be practical. Hearing about a new technique will typically not be as useful as learning practical actions we can take. Also, having multiple action options can allow us to decide which actions might best fit our circumstances and style. Theory and broad ideas can provide a foundation for action.  

The pandemic also reminded us that effective learning often needs to be short and specific. Learning in smaller chunks can be digested and converted into action faster. Too much content at once can become overwhelming and result in only a small portion being retained and applied. Knowing what to do with one or two new techniques can be more impactful than exposure to many techniques that never find their way into practice.  

The power of collaborative learning can add richness to the experience and lower the risks of trying something new. Further, when others are engaged in learning with us, they often have insights from which we can benefit, generate ideas we might never have imagined.

Learning is fundamentally a social process. Finding ways to learn together can enhance the experience and increase its impact.   Learning is connected to what we want to accomplish. Further, learning that is driven by purpose is more likely to be applied, improved, and fully integrated into our lives. Learning is one place where we can make a key difference in how we plan, engage, and grow.