The best way I know to learn something new
My job as a seminary “resource person” keeps me thinking about ongoing professional development for ministers. If I had to sum up most people’s attitude on the subject, it would be this:
Professional development? I know I need it. But I can’t find the time.I don’t want to judge that sentiment. I believe the usual refrain of “if you really wanted it, you’d make the time” is anything but helpful or empowering. But as I’ve been reflecting on the spirituality of work, play, and time with the brothers of SSJE this Lent, I think I’ve come to see especially clearly a pattern that has worked in my own life. It should be obvious. And I think I’ve put my finger on it before. Still, it seems to take some external prodding to remind me:
If I want to learn something new, I need to tie the learning to something fun.The professional development context tends to rob us of our intuitive knowledge that learning should be enjoyable. When we’re learning for work, we feel like we’re supposed to be taking our vitamins, not playing in the backyard. And yet it’s by playing with a new tool, a new body of knowledge, or a new way of thinking or working that most of us will claim it as our own. Plus, the fun helps keep us motivated. If, like many of the people I serve, you’re hoping to learn some new digital tool, an obvious approach is to use it for a fun personal project before you use it for work. For instance, I recently decided to learn Adobe Premiere, a “prosumer” video editing tool with a lot more oomph than Apple’s iMovie. So I decided to tackle as my first project not a high-pressure work deliverable but a parody of a Taylor Swift song. Perhaps you’ve heard me going on about it: Another approach is to take advantage of the many platforms for what has come to be called “gamification“: non-game activities turned into something like a game using mechanics like points, levels, and scoreboards. If you’ve gotten competitive with your Fitbit friends, you’ve tapped into the power of this new cognitive frontier. Lots of learning happens via “gamified” systems. Maybe the most powerful professional development example is Duolingo, an incredibly fun language-learning app. But even if you’re learning something obscure, you can help yourself form habit it requires with apps like HabitRPG. What are you trying to learn right now? If someone hasn’t figured out a way to make it fun, consider that your first challenge. If you need help, consult your nearest six-year-old. Kyle Matthew Oliver (@kmoliver) is digital missioner and learning lab coordinator in the Center for the Ministry of Teaching at Virginia Theological Seminary and Forma board member. Image credit: “Gamification of Life” by VFS Digital Design via Flickr (CC BY 2.0).