The Stuff of a Lifelong Learner

What are (some of) the traits of a super lifelong learner?  Well, among my favorites are Angela Maiers’ Classroom Habitudes of: Imagination; Curiosity; Perseverance; Self-Awareness; Courage; Adaptability. Good stuff.

Today, I stumbled across Jeff Cobb’s 5 Traits of the Super Learner, which lists Wonder; Humility; Synthetic Thinking; Patience; Relishing Mistakes as the traits it takes. More good stuff.

Before you start thinking, “Boy, if only my employees (or classroom) could bring that to the table,” begin by thinking on thine own self, yes?

• Wonder: Almost like a combination of Angela’s first 2 — I like to call this combo Imaginosity — Wonder is that child-like fixation on an escalator, trying to figure out where the steps go. Or seeing a bare tree hold up the sky and spreading her arms to see what that feels like.  When was the last time you did that?
• Humility: It’s one of those traits that, as soon as you admit you have it — you just lost it. Yet, it’s humility that’s necessary to maintain a learning mindset. Work through a thing like you know it, observe while you do that thing like you don’t know.
• Synthetic Thinking: An apt bridge between Humility and Patience, Synthetic Thinking is paramount in today’s quick-attention span theater. Show me a trendspotter, and in them we’ll find great examples of synthetic thinking in action, because they watch (with wonder) ideas and new things shaping up and being used, and follow the future ahead of the present.
• Patience: In many cases, patience is a missing ingredient in the recipe of your idea or project. Sometimes, we should throw away the microwave-type, instant-results mentality and let our soup simmer.
• Relishing Mistakes: My favorite (probably because I make lots of them). If we look at failure as successful learning experiences, we can begin to relish our mistakes. I believe the greatest fear of an adult is the fear of embarrassment – and that’s what holds many back.

Which one of these habitudes or traits is your strongest?

Oh, and if they haven’t connected yet: Jeff Cobb meet Angela Maiers, vice versa, mingle and see what shakes.

Photo on Flickr by schaaflicht