How much have you learned?

This page contains a short exercise designed to help you recognise that you are good at learning – some people are better at learning than others, just as some are taller or shorter than others, but ALL people can learn.

As a human being you have a brain that is designed to be flexible, to learn new ideas and new skills. Evolution has provided this flexibility for development and survival.

Can you ride a bike?

If so, who taught you how to balance?

You might have had a parent or friend on hand when you learned to ride a bike, but you taught yourself how to balance - this is just one of the 1000's of examples that demonstrate what a great learning machine your brain (and body) is!

Stuff you have probably learned

Think about all the things you have successfully learned how to do over the years. There are a few examples listed below, you can use any that are relevant to start your 'Learning Machine List' (see the project below).

• Tying my shoe laces
• Reading
• Writing
• Arithmetic (you can check your change!)
• Riding a bike
• Playing a sport
• Playing games e.g., cards, board games, draughts chess etc.
• Making things e.g., models, drawing, painting, knitting etc.
• Cooking
• Gardening, DIY
• Managing my own money
• Looking after children
• Computer skills
• Work related skills
• Driving

Everyday learning...

It's easy to take everyday learning for granted... But many of your most valuable skills were learned without really trying!

Much of what you take for granted now (such as walking, talking, riding a bike, etc.) were learned through a process of exploration and play.

You never lose the ability to learn – the saying that you can't teach an old dog new tricks is a myth – it's just that many old dogs are too lazy to bother learning or are too stuck in their old ways; they've forgotten what it was like to be a puppy!

Obviously, learning some of the driving facts and figures will take a little effort, but the more you can enjoy the learning and make it relevant to your everyday life, the better and quicker you will learn.

Project: What have I learned?

Download your worksheet by clicking the image on the right and then make a 'learning list' of stuff you have learned, starting in childhood - anything and everything.

Set yourself a challenge to come up with a list of 30 (or more!) things that you have learnt how to do and notice how many of them you learnt without even realising that you were in a learning process at the time.

Return to your list over the next three days, adding things as you remember them.

Bad news... If you can't think of anything, then I'm afraid that we have some very sad and bad news for you... You are dead and as such will not be eligible for entry on the Driving Instructors Register!

Next: Complete your list of things that you have learned and then move on to Step 3 - to find out how you learn best.