The J Learning Principles

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Posted by Sonnie

May 1, 2006 | 3,114 Views |

Am not sure if I already have a failing memory, or this is but normal for people in their middle age. A few days back, I lost a substantial amount of money, dumb me, am not even sure how it got lost. Now the dumber part is, I wasn’t aware until a day after. As expected, aside from blaming my self, I also received the “santos” version of the Sermon on the Mount courtesy of my better half. Needless to say, I have earned a few more units in the university called “life”.

Am I cool? Nope! I don’t have a choice man but to learn from this incident.

From this unfortunate experience, allow me to share the Principles of Learning observed by Jesus, during his stint on earth— Trainers and HR can associate this to adult learning principles.

What is learning and how do we learn? Is learning information upload or data application?

Before we proceed, let’s differentiate “knowledge’ from “wisdom”.

Knowledge is the information we gain through formal and informal education, while wisdom is the application of knowledge to unknown situation.

Illustration: Assuming that storm signal no. 4 is fore-casted to hit Manila on May 3 at 2:00pm (Knowledge), this will prompt us to prepare (practical wisdom) and ensure the safety of lives and property

Wisdom is also the recognition of unchanging “principles”. Like the law of gravity, there are principles in life that are at work whether we believe on it or not. Furthermore, wisdom is also our ability to apply these “life principles” in our modern situation.

As former US President Jimmy Carter said “We must adjust to changing times and still hold to unchanging principles“.

Illustration: The principle of seed time and harvest, both a natural and spiritual principle. In the natural, the farmers knew how to work with this principle in light of nature’s different seasons. In the spiritual, this can be applied to the decisions we make. The choices we made are like seeds that we sow, whether sound or not. When harvest time comes, we will also reap the consequences of our actions. This can be in the form of reward or otherwise.

However, because of the “time gap” between seed time and harvest season, people thought the decisions they made had nothing to do with their future. Bad decisions should be uprooted; otherwise, the coming consequence is inevitable. On the other hand, though good decisions are often criticized and the person maligned, in due time, the reward for such action is also inevitable.

Learning is a process involving a lot of factors. But success is dependent on the learner himself. For maximum added value, wisdom gain, or skills enhancement, let’s look at the principles observed by Jesus:

The “J” (Jesus) Principle

1. Listen or learn with the right attitude.

The Parable of the Sower

Mark 4

1 Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge. 2He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: 3″Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 but when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. 8Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times.” 9Then Jesus said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

The effectiveness of a person’s listening skill is dependent on his attitude. People can listen without understanding. If applied in the context of learning, the person who passively listen learned nothing.

In the story presented above, Jesus taught people whenever opportunity presents itself. Worth mentioning also, is the fact that it is the people who “sought” (attitude) Jesus to learn.

Similarly, learning opportunities thrive in our environment, from formal education and informal sources like day to day experiences, relationships, career, books and multimedia. But if we are not open minded and receptive, these available information will not be of use.

2. Put your newly acquired knowledge or skill into use

A Lamp on a Stand

Mark 4

21He said to them, “Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand? 22For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. 23If anyone has ears to hear let him hear.” 24″Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. 25Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.”

New information + Put it into use = Maximum gain!

Apply every new principle you learn, lest this new found treasure will not be of benefit.

In the corporate world, management invests a lot for the training and development of its employees. Training intervention, however, is useless if the culture and policies of the company is not aligned to the expected new behavior. The investment is gone for good and the changed behavior is not attained.

3. Recognize that God is involve in the learning process

The Parable of the Growing Seed

Mark 4

26He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. 27Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. 29As soon as the grain is ripe; he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”

Recognize that God is the foundation of this principle, thus, the cause of growth. The multiplying effect, however, is dependent in the learner’s attitude– openness and promptness to apply the new knowledge and skill. Hence, not all can experience equal growth. Some people can even decimate growth.

The principles we just discussed encompass everything. A technical expertise can not be attained unless a principle is applied consistently. Experience on a certain skill is good for our market value.

For investors, it is wise to first address the culture and systems of the company to make it conducive to learning. Then we can invest on training and development program.

For line managers, a training program is not the answer to every behavioral problem of the employee. Instead, ensure that the company guidelines are implemented so that employee behavior is aligned with the company mission and vision. Give feedback and suggest if the guidelines are not in sync with reality.

HR practitioners, as a strategist, can bridge the gap between corporate mission/vision and reality. Applying different interventions to ensure the target behavior is attained.

To recap, let’s go back to our original question, “what is learning and how do we learn?”

Learning is a process involving both information upload and data application. It applies to two aspects of competencies– knowledge and skill, and in life in general– wisdom. However, the learning principle of Jesus must be observed to maximize learning and ensure success of a training/learning program.

1. Seek to learn, listen with an “A”
2. Put into action new knowledge ad priciples
3. Recognize that God is involved in the learning process.

The money I lost can still be earned, but the lessons learned can be lost forever if I will not immediately correct my mistake.

“Dumb or dumber”? Nahhh… we can be better than that.

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