Learning like a 13-year-old

I attended a seminar in a field outside of my expertise a couple of weeks ago. It was purely a lifelong learning project motivated by curiosity. While the experience was interesting, and I learned a lot I didn’t know, I was reminded of what it feels like to be a novice. Most adult learners will approach new learning experiences feeling like a thirteen-year-old: lacking the basic vocabulary of the subject, lacking sufficient background in the subject to be able to make sense of things, and lacking enough experience to even know the right questions to ask—let alone be able to answer them. All this leaves the adult learner feeling insecure and anxious. Is it any wonder adults resist participating in new formal learning opportunities?

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