Thing 1: Lifelong Learning

The tutorial, 7 & 1/2 Habits of Highly Successful Lifelong Learners provides information about the different aspects involved in the process of acquiring new knowledge during one's lifetime.This tutorial discusses how we learn, the importance of recognizing our previous learning experiences, the attitude of a lifelong learner, and the 7 & 1/2 Habits of what it means to be a lifelong learner.  I love that it emphasizes the idea that we never stop learning at any age. As a future teacher, I believe that it is important to recognize that we will always be lifelong learners. Teachers are always developing their knowledge of new ideas and concepts to apply to the classroom. Therefore, this tutorial really helped me focus on specific habits for developing my learning.

Are you ready to be a "successful lifelong learner"? The 7 & 1/2 Habits from the tutorial are listed below:

Habit 1: Begin with the end in mind- Think of an important goal you would like to accomplish as a learner.
Habit 2: Accept responsibility for your own learning- Do not be passive, but active in your own learning.
Habit 3: View problems as challenges- Don't give up, but seize the opportunity to learn and expand your knowledge when a challenge arises!
Habit 4: Have confidence in yourself as a competent, effective learner- look at your past learning experiences and bring these to the table to develop new learning experiences. It is ok not to know everything at first, this is why we are lifelong learners.
Habit 5: Create your own learning toolbox- The items you put into your learning toolbox will help you meet and accomplish your goal.
Habit 6: Use technology to your advantage- We live in generation that is technology based. Do not pass up the opportunity to acquire as much knowledge as you can in this area to apply to your everyday life.
Habit 7: Teach and Mentor others- As we teach, we are also developing our own knowledge.
Habit 7 & 1/2: Play- As adults we forget how many learning experiences are involved in the process of playing. Your brain needs the opportunity to discover new ideas through play. Have fun!

I truly enjoy learning. If I could spend my life in school I would more than likely jump at the opportunity. I realized that even though I love to learn, some of the 7 & 1/2 habits are going to be quite an obstacle for me on my path to be a lifelong learner.

• One that is a challenge for me is "Habit 4: Have confidence in yourself as a competent, effective learner". Sometimes I give up before I even try. I forget that it is ok to not know everything and that sometimes I am going to have to start from square one. I need to remember to not get discouraged so easily in the learning process.
• I also have a problem with "Habit 6: Use technology to your advantage". Although I am aware that technology surrounds every aspect of my life, I am also sometimes fearful of my competence to use it. I need to push and challenge myself to have the confidence to learn as much as I can about technolgoy because it really is interesting! 
• The last one that truly challenges me more than anything is "Habit 7 & 1/2: Play"! I have so much trouble remembering that not all of my knowledge needs to come from books and lectures, but that a lot of it can come from playing. I need to break down my walls on occassion and remember the importance of play and being active in the process of learning.

There are a few habits that I believe are easy for me.

• "Habit 1: Begin with the end in mind" is one of my favorite habits from the tutorial. I am always setting goals in my everyday life. I love the feeling of working really hard towards my goals and knowing that I accomplished them.
• "Habit 2: Accept responsibility for your own learning" is something that I find to come easy to me. I believe that you cannot put a price on the value of an education. I try to always remember and treasure what I am learning and apply it to my life experiences.

Lifelong learning is essential. Never take any experience for granted, but instead seize it as an opportunity to learn. Teachers...it is crucial that we are always keeping our eyes and ears open to new learning experiences and the importance of acquiring knowledge. If we believe as teachers that we are lifelong learners and the importance of this, we can motivate and instill in our students about the importance of lifelong learning!

I have attached my Learning Contract that describes my goal of creating a Webquest for my future students.