Your Learning Style and Updating Your Skill Set

The other day a friend mentioned to me that she was concerned that her skill set may be diminishing because she has been out of the workplace for a few months. With software updates and upgrades it’s sometimes difficult to maintain a high level of expertise when you are no longer working.  Another concern is that many job postings require new skill sets. Where can you get the training you need and find the best training for your particular learning needs?

Before I opened Blackbird Learning Associates I worked for various corporations as a Learning and Development (L&D) specialist.  As an L&D specialist I’ve been trained to understand adult learning behavior.  One of the first things taught is that adults prefer to learn in one of three ways: auditory, visual and kinesthetic. To figure out how you learn, you can Google or search for various on-line adult learning surveys.  One, The Index of Learning Styles Questionnaire from North Carolina State University is free and you can get your results and the meaning of your results immediately.  

Let’s relate this to updating your skills.  

1.     Auditory: Since you prefer learning by hearing, you favor a lecture, an audio presentation, teleseminar and other types of learning where you can listen.

2.     Visual: You prefer seeing or visualizing something. Look for training in video, teleconference, on- line or reading material rich with color and diagrams.

3.     Kinesthetic: You have a preference for live classes or on-line sessions where you can practice and take pre and post tests. You may also favor teleseminars or group discussions where active participation is encouraged.

Where can you find these types of trainings? There is something for every learning style on the internet and many are free.  Depending on your style, look for readings, video presentations, YouTube clips, papers, questionnaires, and radio interviews. Look locally for classes at your libraries, adult education schools or community colleges.  Your local unemployment office is also a great resource for hands-on classes in job search skills and the latest technology as are any professional or networking groups.  If you participate in LinkedIn, ask your group members for suggestions.

It’s up to you to choose the platform and there are plenty of free resources.