UNLEARN & RELEARN

August 12, 2013

“The illiterate of the 21st Century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.” — Alvin Toffler

Toffler and many others have acknowledged that individual learning styles are unique and should be addressed more successfully.

Other thinkers have acknowledged that today we live primarily in a “television and gaming learning culture.” People get much more of their information — and form many more of their opinions — from what they see on their televisions, smartphones, and tablets rather than through the historical practice of reading newspapers and magazines (just look at the crises facing print journalism today).

In terms of skills acquisition, most people are visual learners. Seeing, Hearing, and Doing — in combination — is still the best way. And, that is why at least half of our population will be better served with multi-sensory e-Learning that incorporates optional full audio.

So what kind of e-Learning should you avoid?:

• Shun Reading-Only Courses. Only half of our population has a chance to learn using such exclusionary courses (i.e., barely one-third of our high school graduates can form opinions from anything they read).

• Close the door to PowerPoint presentations or written procedures that are posing as e-Learning. (As e-Learning they are counterfeit.)

Today, more than at any other time, it is just as important to know what doesn’t work as it is to know what does. Learning has changed in a revolutionary way. Our traditional education and training leaders must, first, recognize and, then adopt the newer, more effective ways. (Even traditional subjects like Reading & Writing Skills and Applied Math can be taught effectively with knowledgeably designed multi-sensory media.)

Reading-for-learning need not be de-emphasized for the one-third of our population that comfortably learns that way. However, multi-sensory media deserves an equal place at the table for the many whose learning culture requires it. Learning should be our end game and the means much more inclusive.

As Toffler so correctly observed: “The illiterate of the 21st Century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.” It’s time for our corporate executives and their training managements to “unlearn and relearn.”

More on Wednesday – – –

— Bill Walton, Founder
ITC Learning

www.itclearning.com/blog/ (Mondays & Wednesdays)
e-Mail: bwalton@itclearning.com

“ THE WORLD RELIES ON THE HANDS OF ITS MEN AND WOMEN ”