Learning is a lifelong process. It need not be concrete. It need not promise you that what you have understood now will be the same until your last breath, or that your analyses that hold true now, will be the exact same for you after four years. So, why would you want to make your mind so rigid, why would you create boundaries for yourself now, which in the end are bound to break? All these temporary thoughts seek out only one word i.e LEARNING.
Learning is constant, and it differs across all the ages. There are no set rules but more or less, children learn through education, adults through work and seniors learn from life. This process does not demand high potential, or the fortitude of a muscular brain. The only thing needed is INTEREST. An interest in learning new things, exploring new ideas and upgrading yourself through new knowledge and wisdom. It is with interest that a ‘cycle of learning’ will start moving in your life. This will help you to create your own world of learning. The PACT* cycle of learning aptly illustrates the learning process through four principles of learning.
Procure: It is an acquisition stage. The stage where interest towards learning is born. It’s a stage where we acquire new knowledge, new ideas, and new inventions and try to learn it through our range of abilities. Let us take the example of a child curiously gathering information on how the solar system works.
Apply: After gaining knowledge about a particular thing a person applies the theory into practice. This is where we exhibit our knowledge through various platforms. E.g. When the child presents the solar system as part of a school project.
Consider: This is the stage of acceptance. A stage where we have to be open for every feedback. A stage where we have to keep our thoughts flexible and conscientious. Here, we need to be non-judgemental towards the feedback coming from the audience. E.g. The child opens up to suggestions and advice on his presentation of the solar system.
Transform: It is the transitional stage age where you have to choose what is significant for you. You have to decide – can the previous knowledge be modified? Do I need to upgrade my abilities? If yes, in what way? Think of it minutely because it is something which is going to replace your previous learning experience. Adapt accordingly. E.g. After taking home all the suggestions,the child who made the presentation may think about what she/he has aced and/or is lacking. The inputs she/he gathers at this stage will help him take it further and go to the next stage.
Learning is a therefore a cycle of improvement, transition, and modification. It’s a cycle which can fuel itself by acquiring and accepting new learning. The cycle can rust and stop only when the receiver stops accepting the transition. A new cycle begins with procuring but this is possible only when we accept the transformation. The question is, are you ready to transform?!