What is your favorite way to learn and why (books, courses, podcasts, YouTube, webinars, etc...)?

CPT Christopher Coker — Wed, 18 Oct 2017 10:18:28 -0400

Response by SGT Jim Arnold made Oct 18 at 2017 10:19 AM

SGT Jim Arnold — Wed, 18 Oct 2017 10:19:29 -0400

i self taught playing fiddle using books and you tube

Response by MAJ David Brand made Oct 18 at 2017 10:19 AM

MAJ David Brand — Wed, 18 Oct 2017 10:19:35 -0400

Thanks!

Response by SGT Daniel Hagerty made Oct 18 at 2017 10:30 AM

SGT Daniel Hagerty — Wed, 18 Oct 2017 10:30:42 -0400

Depends on what I'm doing if it's a skill I like a course with a hands on portion. If it's building on existing information video or webinars can work, but for me there is nothing like physical interaction.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Oct 18 at 2017 10:38 AM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Wed, 18 Oct 2017 10:38:06 -0400

I learn best by doing. Reading and similar activities such as computer or web-based learning programs are second.

Response by SPC Brett Curry made Oct 18 at 2017 11:00 AM

SPC Brett Curry — Wed, 18 Oct 2017 11:00:54 -0400

I like to learn period. I'm not a big reader. But if I can learn something I will. I prefer hands on. I don't really care, as long as I learn. No one knows it all..lol

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 18 at 2017 11:02 AM

2LT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Oct 2017 11:02:57 -0400

Podcasts. They’re just so convenient

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Oct 18 at 2017 11:13 AM

SGM Erik Marquez — Wed, 18 Oct 2017 11:13:46 -0400

CPT Christopher Coker good question sir..
The answer is YES....LOL, or it depends.
If it is a topic Im into, crave, and have a basic understanding for, I can learn from any of those, or all.
Im going back to school and as such need to take some core classes I dread.... English, being one of them...... I turned down a very nice offer and package to do on line schooling with an accredited university because I know I will not do well in several required class on line...

for me its akin to "The Work out partner"
Many folks will commonly skip a work out in the home gym, or give up on the program all together, but that same person who has a training partner, and meets at the local gym will not want to disappoint, to skip out, to leave the other hanging..and will be at every planned work out.
If I have a seat and classroom Im supposed to be in on Thursdays at 10:00 Im much less apt to blow it off then the same 3 hours I could be sitting in front of a computer at home where I will instead decide to dust the furniture and clean the floor edge molding before that 3 hour web based "class"

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 18 at 2017 11:17 AM

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Oct 2017 11:17:15 -0400

I find reading and writing to be beneficial but also through debate. It forces you to think critically and it forces you to accept unknown truths. Debate is also a very humbling experience that permits self reflection and real introspection. I think that for life-skills, debate and training yourself to be a critical thinker are key to developing a good plan in life both in a general sense and in a more specific even technical sense.
Debate can be through a wide array of sources both electronic and interpersonal and is essential in all walks of life, the only way one can find truth is through the realization of wrongfulness, one can then achieve greatness and wisdom.

Response by Col Jim Harmon made Oct 18 at 2017 11:23 AM

Col Jim Harmon — Wed, 18 Oct 2017 11:23:28 -0400

Youtube. It's like having a Chilton's Manual for life. Want to replace the plenum actuator on a 99 Dodge Dakota? There's a video for that. Want to learn how to use the lathe to turn a wood bowl? There's a video for that. Want to learn how to pickle okra? There's a video for that.

Just be sure to cross reference the videos against other postings and you'll find the right way to do just about anything.

Response by PO3 Grant Skiles made Oct 18 at 2017 11:37 AM

PO3 Grant Skiles — Wed, 18 Oct 2017 11:37:39 -0400

Myself I like instruction along with videos. I am a former History teacher and I feel that an interactive classroom is the best. Just talking or only learning in one style gets boring. Sitting in the same seat day after day you start to dream and drift off. A change in teaching and earning keeps everything fresh and everyone engaged with the class.

Response by 1LT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 18 at 2017 12:29 PM

1LT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Oct 2017 12:29:44 -0400

Audiobooks and YouTube. Audiobooks make otherwise useless commutes an opportunity to improve oneself. YouTube is great when a visual aid is required.

Response by Maj John Bell made Oct 18 at 2017 1:17 PM

Maj John Bell — Wed, 18 Oct 2017 13:17:46 -0400

When it comes to skills working with my hands, I go to junk yards and garage sales buy things and take them apart, then put them together again, repeatedly. Necessity is the mother of invention and repetition is the father of all progress.

I am learning Romanian. I started with listening to Romanian music until I could distinguish words, then a Romanian friend of mine started lending me Romanian dubbed copies of familiar movies. I play them when I am working in my shop. I am not conversant, but when we join them for dinner, I get the gist of what his in-laws (who do not speak English) are saying, and I can roughly communicate back. Whenever I meet someone who is going to be around my life for the foreseeable future, that speaks a foreign language, I do the same. So far I've done the same with French, Portuguese, Italian, and Arabic, not by any means fluent, but I can communicate. Hindi has totally eluded me, but I love Bollywood movies.

Response by SSgt Gary Andrews made Oct 18 at 2017 1:40 PM

SSgt Gary Andrews — Wed, 18 Oct 2017 13:40:16 -0400

You can learn a lot through books and seminars........but the best way to make sure your learning "sticks" is through hands on learning with the assistance of someone already well versed in the subject matter.

Response by SGT Jim Ramge, MBA made Oct 18 at 2017 2:12 PM

SGT Jim Ramge, MBA — Wed, 18 Oct 2017 14:12:42 -0400

I agree totally with the hands-on methods. Listen, watch, learn, perform on my own or sitting in the “drivers seat” driving while being taught on new devices or systems!

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 18 at 2017 3:12 PM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Oct 2017 15:12:57 -0400

Practical application i.e. hands on. Because it incorporates hands and if repeated enough, muscle memory. Reading in a book works for studies and memorization but you have to physically complete a task to eventually master it. You can read how to set head space and timing on a M2 but you have to physically do it to be familiarized, and many times to be proficient.

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Oct 18 at 2017 5:54 PM

Cpl Justin Goolsby — Wed, 18 Oct 2017 17:54:15 -0400

It really depends on what I'm trying to learn. I can learn both through reading about the subject or taking a course on it. But sometimes it's a lot more beneficial to have physical examples in front of you. Frankly I don't care how I learn, so long as the subject matter is engaging enough to hold my interest. Because if I'm not interested in the subject matter, I'm not going to want to learn it.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 18 at 2017 7:28 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Oct 2017 19:28:34 -0400

Podcasts and audiobooks. Multitask or exercise.

Response by MSG Floyd Williams made Oct 18 at 2017 7:41 PM

MSG Floyd Williams — Wed, 18 Oct 2017 19:41:54 -0400

I go to YouTube for anything concerning technology because of detail instructions step-by-step hands-on.

Response by CA Delete D. made Oct 18 at 2017 9:44 PM

CA Delete D. — Wed, 18 Oct 2017 21:44:03 -0400

#1) LinkedIn Learning courses (you can learn almost ANYTHING on this site...as a business student - EXCEL....,..LEARN IT INSIDE AND OUT, along with Python/SQL/R/Ruby.....an undergrad degree is a HS diploma - you need to get into tech to some degree, particularly if you want to work in the private corporate sector or the federal government, and land a large salary or secure stellar benefits.
.....for those of you who don't know about this: https://linkedinforgood.linkedin.com/programs/veterans/premiumform

#2) WEB SURFING for sites and .pdf downloads (I like to organize and categorize anything of value for career or educational purposes on my computer for later reference). Plus, it is a great way to get quickly acquainted with new features of windows and other software; I ended up learning how to quickly access helpful sites and documentation, in order to make informed responses to folks on LinkedIn and RallyPoint.
...for instance, did you know?:
http://vetjobs.com/the-states-that-offer-tuition-waivers-for-student-veterans/

#3) News Apps (my personal favorites are NPR, BBC, Lenta, MSNBC....and others, except for Fox News).

#4) YouTube videos ( I went back to finish an undergrad in early 30's and had to remember FOIL and PEMDAS for algebraic computations! YouTube videos got it done in less than an hour...and THEN I needed remedial work in statistics, economics, business writing, oye! Lots of good stuff on this site....if you can tear yourself away from the other distracting videos - there is something strangely addictive about watching people swim with Great White sharks).

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Response by Dennis Aubuchon made Oct 19 at 2017 5:19 AM

Dennis Aubuchon — Thu, 19 Oct 2017 05:19:18 -0400

There are many ways to learn but if it is an activity connected to using my brain to perform a task it would be by doing it. Other than that my favorite would be by using all the available opportunities through the Internet but we can learn from others by their actions and the way they conduct themselves.

Response by Sharon Lee made Oct 19 at 2017 5:52 AM

Sharon Lee — Thu, 19 Oct 2017 05:52:04 -0400

Q & A, hands on.

Response by SGT Paul Mackay made Oct 19 at 2017 9:17 PM

SGT Paul Mackay — Thu, 19 Oct 2017 21:17:33 -0400

Books

Response by Sherry El Dora Trinity made Oct 23 at 2017 6:21 AM

Sherry El Dora Trinity — Mon, 23 Oct 2017 06:21:42 -0400

You tube, audio books, infographics some webinars.

Response by Georgeann Carter made Oct 23 at 2017 6:41 AM

Georgeann Carter — Mon, 23 Oct 2017 06:41:21 -0400

I have heard great things about podcasts, but I have never taken the time to try it? I have a laundry list of things that I would love to learn about these days....Would this be a great resource to start for "learning purposes" or more entertainment value?