Do you prefer to learn on your own or through a more formal education?
Polina Gollender
17 replies
There's something to be said for taking the time to learn on your own. When you're responsible for your own learning, you have to be more disciplined and put in more effort. But that also means you have more control over your learning experience and can tailor it to your needs and preferences. You can take your time, go at your own pace, and practice until you get things right.
That said, I also appreciate the value of online education. With so many online courses and programs available, it's getting easier and easier to find one that fits your needs and interests. And with the flexibility of online learning, you can often work at your own pace and fit your studies into your busy schedule. Plus, there's a wealth of information available online, from lectures and course materials to forums and discussion boards where you can connect with other students.
So what's the best way for me to learn? I think it depends on what works best for me and on what I'm trying to learn. If I want more control over my learning experience or if I need more time to practice, then self-learning is the way to go. But if I'm looking for a more structured learning environment or if I want access to a wider range of resources, then online education is the better option.
Replies
Swapnil D Puranik@swapdp_01
Pitchery
It is such a great question and topic for discussion!
I think there are few nuances to be considered and answer will be subject to those.
1. What is one planning to learn?
- a skill which will help you in your job? (writing, coding, nocode, etc.)
- a new hobby/passion project? (musical instrument, language, etc.)
- education (higher studies, online certifications, etc.)
2. Time sensitivity - do you want/have to learn in a certain amount of time?
3. Importance or impact of the newly learned on your work/personal life - short term or long term
(if learning a new skill set is important in 6 months so that you can build you side project or elevated in job - then it is of high importance and impact)
As a biology graduate and self-taught marketer with 2 decades in marketing, I can strongly say that self-learning is the best way to learn - professional skills, soft skills, or anything in general.
But if you are on a timeline or you are someone who doesn't fully commit to something with a set routine and discipline, then learning from others makes sense.
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I rather learn on my own but I think it is different from person to person.
In my case, what works is finding a project that needs the knowledge and start doing it.
Delphi — Digital Clone Studio
It really depends on the situation. If you want to learn something specific, then it might be better to learn on your own so that you can focus on that one thing. But if you're just starting out and don't really know what you want to learn, then a more formal education might be a better option.
It depends on what I am going to learn, if it is a skill that can be learnt by myself on the internet then I'd choose to learn on my own.
But if it is something like psychology or a difficult subject then I might feel the need for a master or a formal education,.
As you grow more experienced, I guess you would become more and more comfortable with unstructured experiences and you would tend to seek out things that are not easily available in structured courses.
Castofly
I'm a huge advocate of academic learning, but the reality is that technology is changing so fast that institutions just can't iterate quickly enough to stay up to date. So, people in tech-related jobs HAVE TO study a lot on their own.
But it's not applicable to EVERY job or field of knowledge out there. Most of the jobs can be taught by someone else, and imo it's the more preferrable way.
Of course you can teach yourself math and accounting, for example, or learn everything about Fundamental and Tech analysis for investing / trading. It's not impossible and can be done reasonably fast, but why all the hassle if you can learn from someone else, who'll save you stress, time, and probably save from risks of not learning something not popular, but crucial?
When you teach yourself, you are learning on your own - and there is no one nearby you who has experience and knowledge to direct you if you're wrong - you have to learn everything the hard way, on your own.
But when there is a teacher who has the knowledge, experience and wisdom - they can help you big time.
I know that it's important to be able to learn on your own, 80% of my knowledge are obtained that way. But it's also the truth that I had VERY STRONG teachers in my school / undergrad who helped me build a very solid FOUNDATION and taught me how to study on my own.
If I have time and money for formal education, and there are some schools out there who have a good track record of teaching - and teaching well - I'd always pick Formal Ed.
But unfortunately, it's very rare when you have time, money and good institutions.
And the final example to back my ideas here:
Imagine 2 students who have to learn playing piano: a talented one, and an average one.
Good Music School can teach both, and both will achieve a certain level. Average one will be able to play average stuff, and will know the basics of music theory, so it will up to him to practice and continue with his/her development.
The talented one could reach the same level even without a school, but with the school he might cover the 'boring' stuff that is essential for a future quality growth. Whereas the 'average' student would have already quit and stopped trying, and never achieved this 'average' level without the school - it's just not that easy to learn skills like playing piano on your own, and online - you really have to have a teacher nearby, directing you fingers, palms, posture.
There are no pianists, or singers, or any other musicians who say that people don't need formal education. Many of the most famous stars had to start on their own because they didn't have access to formal schools and they still somehow managed to shine on their own. But further in their careers, every single of them went to good teachers and schools just to improve and accelerate their development, and many of self-made stars are becoming more professional throughout their careers, even after they became famous.
A good school and a good teacher is what everyone needs, regardless of the seniority and field of knowledge. Unfortunately, most of the times we don't have them available and have to pave our own paths.
Good Learning is not like formal education or learning on your own, it is a combination of both. To get a job, you need a formal education before. But even that's changed, even good skills can fetch you a high-paying job. IMO, whatever you learn from formal education or from your own experience, execution plays an important role in both.
Whether you learn formally or informally, there should always be structure built into your process. I find that by keeping myself to a schedule or by learning with friends, it's easier to remain disciplined.
There are many different ways to learn, and each has its own benefits. Some people prefer to learn on their own, while others prefer a more formal education. There is no right or wrong answer, and it ultimately comes down to what works best for the individual.
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Of course there are such people who prefer to learn on their own often enjoy the freedom and flexibility that comes with it. They can choose what they want to learn, and go at their own pace. This can be particularly beneficial for those who have busy schedules or who want to focus on specific areas of interest. On the downside, learning on your own can sometimes be less structured and more difficult to stay motivated.
A more formal education can provide a structure that is helpful for some learners. It can also offer opportunities to interact with other students and build a community of learners. Formal education can also be more expensive than learning on your own, and it may not always be possible to find a program that covers exactly what you want to learn.
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