Learning – Patrick Turnbull

The world is more prosperous and beautiful in the morning. Photo: Ferdi de Gier

Networked Media has had a positive effect on my life after not even three weeks, even if it is just being able to publish and create online media more effectively. The subject has invigorated my senses and enticed me to become more actively involved in my learning, rather than playing the role of the sponge (or in this case, a sea sponge). With my motivation levels at all time highs, I am bursting with useful energy and will power to do extraordinary things, the first of which is something I have never been able to do.. Study.

That’s right, I’m one of those slackers who make it by cruising along without doing anything. I’ve tried to fix the issue before, but I have never been successful. This is different though. I’m feeling rejuvenated and energised. Regardless of other changes and possibilities, having an alternative method of learning introduced has simply increased my energy levels and made me interested in my learning.

What has this done for me? Well, I’ve started waking up earlier. I’ve started going to sleep earlier. My whole day has shifted backwards four hours. This morning I woke up at 530, and hope to do so every morning from now on. After honing in on my habits and my brain function and noticing, I realised that I do my best work in the morning. My brain is fresh and alert and has just come off a nice rest. Perfect for learning, perfect for remembering, perfect for creating. In the evenings, I’ve been through a day of trials already. My willpower is gone.

This morning, before I left for University, I managed to get done more work and note taking then I have achieved in the entire semester so far. Thinking, noticing, adapting, creating. Four things that are essential aspects of not just the world media, but life in general. That’s what I’ve got out of this so far.

Perhaps this style of learning is not for everyone, maybe it is when given a chance. It’s a kind of learning you have to want to do, and invest in. If someone else reads this and realises what I have too, then I guess I’m doing them a credit. Because it really is a positive change to life.

Here’s a bit of reading and advice that won’t go astray:

Morning and Evening Rituals

No nothing in this yard. Photo: Alist

As Researching Your Own Practice acknowledges, noticing is something necessary, as well as reflection, in order to behave and think in the best manner possible. In personal life, career life and education, noticing is something that most people don’t notice. Notice that is, that noticing is something we take for granted and don’t exercise complete control over.

So it’s simple, isn’t it? Just take more notice of your surroundings and your actions, your thought processes. But it’s not that simple, as John Mason discusses:

“Noticing itself is something that happens to us, not something we do deliberately, or at least, not something that the deliberate and conscious parts of us can decide to do. You can “decide” to notice some thing or some feature, but it may or may not happen.”

So what can you do? Discipline yourself and exercise your capabilities to notice and pay attention to detail. Mason suggests activities and exercises to practice and hone your senses. Theoretically, it makes sense. Put into practice it definitely helps to increase alertness and attentiveness to your environment and your own thought processes and methods.

For me, I am a perfectionist. I pay an incredible attention to detail that most people do not. I often catch people off guard, or surprise them with a specific detail or notion that I’ve stored in my brain. An example? I regularly attend AFL games (Richmond ones of course, I’ve been a member for 2/3 of my life) with my father. My father is a seasoned football spectator, but I notice everything around the ground, the movements of players, habits, action behind the play, injuries that occur, the whole lot. I often catch him off guard when I bring something to his attention.

“Look Dad, Daniel Jackson’s been hit in the head!” Maybe not a perfect example of noticing a minor detail. Photo: The Age

Noticing things in your environment is something, but noticing your own practice is something else. I also feel like this is something I excel at. I understand and notice how my brain works and the habits that I have. Personally, I feel competent in comprehending my behaviours, the only problem I have is committing myself to and creating a solution. Now this is another issue entirely, but it also comes back to noticing. Because to identify this issue and amend it, I have to take notice of it.

Well the problems have certainly been identified. It’s up to me to continue to develop my problem solving abilities and thinking strategies in order to enhance my practices and methods.

Learning never stops, we keep learning for the rest of our lives, so I might as well keep an open and active mind and try and make the most of it.

Patrick Turnbull

A University student studying Media at RMIT.

Tag Archives: Learning

Rising Early

Notice This