Improve your skills

Try this:Your learning style:

Imagine you are going to learn a new task. It could be laying a laminate floor, following a new recipe or learning to use a new TV remote control. How do you approach the task? Make of note of which of these approaches applies to you most:

  • Approach 1 - Do you sit down with the instructions and read them through before trying?
  • Approach 2 - Do you get stuck in to the task straight away? Do you ask others for help and then move on to a new task as soon as this one is complete?
  • Approach 3 - Do you ask around and get advice, ponder on the topic and weigh up the different ways of doing the task?
  • Approach 4 - Do you read the instructions but are eager to put them into practice and get on with the job?

Think about this:

These four approaches were characterised by Honey and Mumford as distinct styles of learning:
Theorists read the instructions before starting a task. You are a theoretical learner if you choose Approach 1.

Activists will explore the task and learn from this exploration. Activist learners would use Approach 2.

Reflectors will think about the task in hand and consider the alternatives carefully before embarking on the task. This is a person who asks around and considers the different approaches to the task. This type of learner uses Approach 3 when learning new tasks.

Pragmatists prefer to learn by testing. They would consider how to apply an approach to the task in hand. Pragmatists would choose Approach 4.
Of course you might do a bit of each, and you might use different techniques for different tasks.

Now think about the approach you take when learning about computers. Over the next few days think about how you learn to do new tasks, and in particular computing tasks. Think about the barriers you have to learning a new task. Do you fear failure? Breaking the computer? Feeling exposed? When you understand how you learn and what techniques you use you can begin to develop strategies to help you cope with new and unfamiliar learning situations.

To help you develop your skills and confidence have a look at Computing with confidence.