A Lifetime of Learning

It’s an adage that we never stop learning throughout our lives, and it comes back to me repeatedly. We are often not aware how much we’re learning – we absorb much information every day through reading, talking and listening with our loved ones, maybe watching the news or documentaries. We also learn new skills and knowledge at work on a regular basis, building up our toolkit over our lifetimes.

I’ll be the first to admit I’m not an expert at formal learning, preferring instead to take on informal learning when and where I can. It’s probably a habit left over from Covid times, but not a bad habit to hang on to as I particularly enjoy online learning.

I’ve clocked up several online courses, through various sites, over the last few years. I’ve mainly used the highly recommended sites Open University - https://www.open.edu/openlearn/, and Microsoft Learn - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/. What I like about these platforms is that you can do the learning at your own pace and pick up where you left off if you leave it for some days/months. You can review the source material via their handy portals anytime, download the content where applicable and bookmark where you get to in the course for easy access. I’ve usually undertaken free courses via these platforms, which are great in number and very varied. But when I have signed up for a chargeable course the fee has been very reasonable.

As I mentioned the range of subjects you can tap into is seemingly infinite. Maybe the increase in homeworking globally and particularly here in the UK, has highlighted the need for courses to be more accessible remotely. When you are doing a course that isn’t necessarily led by a course leader it can be of benefit to a lot of learners who prefer self-paced courses too.

I’ve covered such varied subjects as communication, leadership and followership, and creative writing on my journey. More recently, my remit has been mainly technology and software skills. For this I’ve launched into the Microsoft Learn site, as mentioned above. It’s a virtual treasure trove of training. There you can start where appropriate, as there are courses listed from “Beginner” to “Advanced”. On the platform there are plenty of specialisms to choose from. The courses are divided into self-paced ones and tutor-led ones with certification. I’ve opted for the former, which so far have proved amazingly easy to follow and complete.

There are definite benefits with these types of courses as you can fit them around your schedule, and they are curated in a way which is accessible and above all simple to navigate. The authors of such courses seem to understand that we’re busy people, and we want online learning which is well-researched but also expertly set out. It’s essential, I feel anyway, to have the modules or units written in comprehensive language and split into manageable chunks. Any tech-speak or industry-specific language used needs to be explained and reiterated.

At the moment I’m working my way through a series of courses, tailor-made for those wanting to learn about Microsoft‘s data protection, compliance and storage software. At the risk of getting a little nerdy here, I do like to get stuck into this type of material as it’s relevant to my line of work in data administration. As Microsoft products are so widely used in UK companies, I want to keep my skills updated so as not to fall behind.

Alongside the positives I mentioned earlier, the courses supplied by Microsoft Learn are flexible, confidence-building and relatable to the real world. They’ve given me an understanding and overview of many important processes, technological innovations, and skills. I already feel well-equipped to look at some of Microsoft’s products and know the general principles. I would describe myself as a person who always wants to look under the hood of the particular product or process. So being able to practise in a test environment first is invaluable.

Knowing that the learning paths, especially in Microsoft Learn, are almost infinite is very pleasing to me as a student. Mining the libraries has been a positive experience, which has boosted my sense of achievement. And this leads me nicely onto the main reasons for my ongoing learning journey.

Motivation

Working my way through any of the courses I’ve enrolled on through the last few years has kept up my motivation. Let’s face it, we’ve had some rough times during and since the pandemic, so we could all do with a mood boost. Keeping our minds fit, by learning new skills, is enlivening and lends itself to our overall well-being. When you get a well-paced course, which is professionally curated and comprehensive to follow, it can reset your capacity for learning throughout life.

Building on existing knowledge

Where I’ve completed courses over a range of subjects. I’ve mainly focused on technical knowledge ones. It’s definitely been an advantage for my professional life. Also, it has piqued my interest to know what else I can learn to expand my skills as an administrator. Undertaking more of these kinds of courses which cover so many products and learning paths has helped me to build on what I’ve got in my toolkit and gives me the opportunity to go forth into related subjects. The possibilities are indeed endless.

Growing confidence

Every new course or unit of study has made me feel more confident. Understanding and putting into practise any new skill I’ve learned has given me a sense of achievement. The boost to my self-esteem is such a feeling that can’t really be underestimated. It’s like giving my brain a workout and my mental fitness is invigorated. To be able to add to my library of online learning has brought me a lot of satisfaction.

I will continue to do more courses, perhaps changing the type of skills and areas I focus on, as long as I can. It’s a positive path and journey to be travelling on, so why stop?

Let me know in the comments about your own learning journeys, and where you have found your particular courses to study. Until next time, happy reading and learning.