University is harder than I remember; although as I was an undergraduate over 15 years ago maybe it is my memory!
I’ve been quiet recently because I’ve been away at University of East Anglia on a course about water security (thank you work). It was a fascinating week, but very tiring as we were kept busy all day and every evening (although some of those were networking in a pub).
A lot of the topics were new to me, but connected to my work so I could relate to the information; and this made me think of a discussion I had with managers early in my career.
I’d been asked to manage a project, and as it was my first one and I didn’t know much about project management I asked for some training. The response was training is more effective after you’ve been working in the area for a while because you can attach learning points to real life events. I replied by wondering how easy it was to undo bad habits once developed due to lack of information. Of course, now I’m older and wiser I understand both views. I know from my own experience it is easier to learn when you can connect it to your own life, but I still believe it is important to provide people with some training or guidance for their job.
I love learning, as indicated by one of my values to challenge myself by trying new things and through continued learning, and I do it many ways; reading, listening, watching or jumping in and giving it ago.
How do you learn best? What is the last new thing you learnt?
P.S. My room was in the middle of the undergraduate accommodation and I’m sure I never lived like this!