Learning-To-Learn: The Imperative Skill for Future

Learning-To-Learn: The Imperative Skill for Future

Learning to Earn is a very common phrase which we have heard in the era of 19th century but the changes as well as transformations in every field has made this phrase out dated. But, for me, it needs to be altered and the word EARN should be replaced by LEARN. Hence now it is the need of the hour to call it as learning to learn rather learning to earn.
Learning to learn is the most essential skill for future. If you know how to learn then that will surely guide you towards how to earn and prosper better in life. In this 21st century era we need to be updated about the latest happenings & developments around us. To synchronize ourselves with latest changes & developments, first of all we must be open to unlearn the learnt and relearn the new. Continuous learning is the key to a healthy mind.

A person who does not know how to learn, unlearn, and relearn are the actual illiterates of the future.

To quote Alvin Toffler “The illiterates of the 21st-Century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, relearn.”
A 21st century education requires a new kind of literacy which must inculcate the skill of learning to learn. In teaching profession if recall, first we learnt how to use blackboard & chalk and we used to think that this is the only teaching aid we have, but with the new developments in educational technology, we all have learnt how to use interactive boards.

We unlearned our previous learning to relearn new learning. Another instance, with the development of mobile phones, first we learnt how to use a key pad phone. When smart phones took over the business, we unlearnt the old learning and adopted new learning hence relearning took place.  There are thousands of examples available regarding learn, unlearn & relearn approach. The point is that the learning through our past experiences must be flexible and supple so that there is a room for openness to unlearn and relearn. The skill of learning to learn new changes or readiness to adapt will further help in self improvement.

Everyone needs to expand their perspective towards ‘how to learn’. People should be willing to learn new things and acquire new skills for their development as well as the socio-economic development of the society. Those who could not be able to match up with this fast pace changes are definitely going to struggle and face difficulties with the usage of technology in future. We might have come across friends or parents who often ask you to help them in transferring money online, ask for help to fill their income tax form, ask for help in operating mobile, ask for help in operating ATM machine etc. For such learning’s, no one will give you any formal education but you will be educated to use these by reading supporting manuals & brochures. The people who will not show zeal to learn “how to learn” will surely find life very much challenging in future.   
The purpose of education must be to open one’s mind to the possibilities to transform for betterment.

New Education must teach us to learn adaptability and upgradability for self improvement. The school & college education is more of academic oriented hence we are unaware of our weaknesses and strengths. At any stage of life we can learn for our self improvement.

As learning is a continuous process, similarly self improvement is nonstop. The people who are passionate for self improvement and constantly work for their self development are always positive towards learning new things. Learning attitude plays a vital role in achieving success. Hence it is the demand of the future that if you need to be successful in all spheres of life learn “how to learn”. We say that there must be continuous improvement in our personal, social-economic and societal stature.

This is only achieved by learning continuously by any means either from our past-experiences or from insights of the new generation. The theory of survival of fittest is applicable and extremely suitable here. One who will be ready to learn, unlearn and relearn will be able to survive with the skill of learning to learn in future. Education transforms lives hence the 21st education must produce literates who can learn, unlearn & relearn for the growth of an individual as well as the development of the society.