semaine, deux - 4ème chose - blog nombre un.

it's been a long, long time since i've been assigned homework.

i was the quintessential nerd.

i cut the libraried-strong arms of my bookish frame by toting home esoteric texts on edible wild plants, dying languages, and traditional peoples all o'er the world, for easy reading by the time i was 12.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

more often caught reading in a corner at school or staying late after hours to edit the highschool yearbook

[the principal actually gave me a master key to lock-up campus my junior year] than getting in any real trouble, it's finally nice to find myself granted the room and space to pursue my inquisitive diversions professionally.

which brings me to the point of this first posting. i have been prescribed to share my thoughts on this new program my workplace has instituted to usher the bastion of library workers in our system into the 21st century and vagaries of web 2.0.

we have been given the missive of completing certain exercises each week toward the goal of becoming more and more proficient with a virtually submerged society. for those without geek credentials [like myself] the incentive for trying [who needs incentive -really- when given the opportunity to play while at the office? but, i digress.] is the opportunity to win a laptop. not such a bad motivation. eh? but what really makes me happy is...the chance at least, for a little while to really - with official sanction - broaden my horizons here at work.


lesson one: Your first post should be on how you feel about the Seven and 1/2 Habits of Highly Successful Lifelong Learners from week 1; discuss what you feel will be the most difficult part for you and why?

7 ½ Habits of Highly Successful Lifelong Learners

Habit 1: Begin with the end in mind
Habit 2: Accept responsibility for your own learning
Habit 3: View problems as challenges
Habit 4: Have confidence in yourself as a competent, effective learner
Habit 5: Create your own learning toolbox
Habit 6: Use technology to your advantage
Habit 7: Teach/mentor others
Habit 7 ½: Play

The above is our directive. i've attended countless scores of workshops on methods in the workplace. some relevant. some simply passed my time. but i have to say. these pointers are geared to a specific end, but they're not a far cry from the days i'd beg my mum to take me to the library where i'd while away an afternoon in the stacks committing to some now dusty hall of my memory how to quick-build a forest lean-to or how idioms and guestures vary wildly among cultures and geographic locations. i've always burgeoned with wonder.

habits 1 and 2 are innate in this bird.

habit 3 was instilled in me young by my honestly optimistic mother
[and plenty life-opportunities to take the high road].

habits 4 and 5 develop naturally like muscle memory everytime you fall off a bike.

habit 6 takes a small bit of work in our brave new [virtual] world - especially when you are a luddite by nature [i've been told i'm a quick study, however].

habit 7, i've employed in my work-a-day world. but often, wonder if given the opportunity, just how good a mentor i could be.

it's habit 71/2, i most appreciate. and the one i find hardest to actually commit to.

it's the one i imagine won't come easily to most of us engaged in this activity...having sadly been conditioned to function as efficient drones for assigned functions. but the one which ultimately can lead us into real growth and real learning.

None other than Albert Einstein, after all, called play “the highest form of research.”