Learning to Learn
Did you ever mosey up to a fifty-five pound textbook? You know, the kind you need the warehouse guy to load on your truck with his forklift. Your brain winces at the thought of trying to read all of those words. Ouch!
Of course that was before you entered The Technician Shop. Now you are quite comfortable taking portions of learning in small, bite-sized chunks. No worries, right?
Today we’re going to turn you on to a method that will help you to organize those bite-sized chunks and make more sense out of them. It’s called SQ3R and it’s a method to help retain information that you read.
Survey
- Review text to be read
- Read titles and subtitles
- Notice words and phrases in bold type and italics
- Determine the general idea of the overall content
- Focus on main ideas
- Read the final summary
- Read questions at the end of the chapter
Question
- Turn main topics into questions ( use who, where, what, why, when)
Read
- Actively read to answer the questions
- Pay attention to details and supporting examples
- Highlight, underline or write important facts after reading one section
- Visualize as you read
Recite
- At the end of each section, stop to silently or orally answer questions
- Use your own words
- Jot down cue phrases
- Quiz yourself on what you’ve just studied
Review
- Reread section. Aim to recite main ideas in each section
- Write a summary
- Make a study guide
- Review again within 24 hours and again within 72 hours and twice more within a week
Survey then Question then Read then Recite then Review. See? SQ3R!
The information on SQ3R is from a book titled Learning to Learn. This is an excellent book that will help you to study and learn!
Living in More Than One World
I read like a fiend…books, magazines, newspapers and online. But The Technician Shop is not about me. As much as I’d like to shout out what I’ve read, for the most part I will not*. Technicians are inundated with information. Maybe more like bombarded. I am most sensitive to the time you have for personal development. So when I recommend a book or resource, it’s with this in mind. The books I do recommend will be bite sized and easy to read, or I’ll point to certain parts of a book that are relevant to you.
Today, I’m recommending the whole darn book. Living in More Than One World by Bruce Rosenstein. Bruce’s book is based upon the teachings of perhaps the greatest management teacher of all time, Peter Drucker. Living in More Than One World is all about you, not your manager (though it would be to him in his own sense).
Bruce’s book is centralized around what he calls a total life, which consists of family, friends, work, education, associates and affiliation groups. What caught my eye is how this philosophy parallels what I described in It’s All About You.
In an interview with Bruce, Peter Drucker described people who were satisfied and content as those who lived in more than one world. A quick view of the book’s chapters will provide more clarity:
- Designing your total life
- Developing your core competencies
- Creating your future
- Exercising your generosity
- Teaching and learning
- Launching your journey
Early on in the book you will note that Bruce writes this book for knowledge workers, a term that Drucker coined back in the 1950′s. Here is his definition:
People who work with what they know and can learn and who thus own and control their own means of production. Their knowledge is portable and not dependent on any particular employer or industry.
You might have heard that knowledge workers are white collar workers. They are, but technicians who are frequently described as blue 
collar workers, also fall into this class. Maybe even more so, as continuing education is almost mandatory for technicians who must engage their minds before they can engage their hands.
Living in More Than One World is an excellent, MUST read book! By the way, Bruce’s book is hot off the press. Recommend a copy to your coworkers and manager.
*I have read extensively on marketing, writing, design, management, personal branding and leadership and would be happy to recommend books, learn your point of view or trade information away from this forum if you’re interested.
Image by NASA / Goddard Space Flight Center
Take a Breath
I think somewhere around here I mentioned that I’ve never been a technician. But I’ve worked very closely with a lot of insanely talented technicians. I’ve had front row seats to performances that would blow away any found on the big screen. A professional technician engaged in what he does best, is better artwork than a finely designed, tuned and painted chopper, much less a best picture of the year.
Over the years I’ve had the privilege of observing a technician’s artwork in action. One skill that continues to blow me away is a part of troubleshooting. In particular, when a technician encounters a difficult problem. He rechecks his diagnostic work to that point, making sure he followed prescribed methods to that point. His brain is smoking and he doesn’t want to let go of the problem – like a dog who won’t let go of a bone. But experience kicks in. He puts the tools down and backs away from his work. He gets a cup of coffee or something cold to drink and then takes a breath. Maybe he thinks about his family, maybe he thinks about that chopper he is building or maybe it’s an upcoming hunting trip. After a bit he goes back to his work and many times the answer he is looking for is right there.
The process of taking a breath is also a way of maintaining safety on the job site. Often times technicians get hurt when they press on.
There are more aspects involved in excellent troubleshooting procedures, but the ability to step away, take a breath and clear your head is one of the best.
Photo by Stefan Koschminder on Flickr
Learning Opportunities
I cited Scott Savor for his contribution to yesterday’s post. Scott is headed to the University of Tennessee to work with Pat Summitt, but he had mentioned those two questions to our daughter in his role as a human performance specialist in Tampa. Scott told Carla to ask her coach, what can I do better? and what am I doing well? Scott said that if she did this on a routine basis it would blow her coach away. He said hardly any athletes take this direct approach with their coach and in addition to improving her game, it would make her stand out.
I was actually with Scott when he told her this. When I heard those two questions, the little guy in white who sits on my shoulder practically kicked me in the ear: David! Technicians need to ask their managers these questions!
The point is learning moments in one area of life often pertain to learning opportunities in another. The key is to pay attention and keep your radar up at all times. Do this a little bit and you’ll want to do it alot.
Desiderata
Max Ehrmann packed so much wisdom into these words. Print this out and place a copy in your invoice book or truck. When you need a lift, take a deep breath and read it.
Desiderata
Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.
Max Ehrmann, Desiderata, Copyright 1952. (written in the 1920′s)
