What did you learn today

an innocuous and seemingly simple question – yet in reality it is probably one of the hardest to answer, says Alan Samuel.
…WHY DID WE LEARN TODAY? What were the drivers and the motivators to learn? Was it because we had to? Were we told to? Did we think it would be useful? Would it make our lives/jobs easier? Was it our decision? Was it a conscious decision?
In the context of Conrad Gottfredson’s ‘Five Moments of Need’, it is most likely that it was one of those moments that provided the motivation to learn. But, does this apply to ‘unconscious’ or ‘accidental’ learning? The learning we capture as we saunter through life every day? Probably not. Does it matter? Not really, because you don’t exercise any control over it and it’s all being stored away for when you need it. And you won’t remember how, when and where you learnt it. It is therefore, hugely important that we understand the drivers and motivators of our learners, to enable us to build a relevant, stimulating environment and the tools to help realise their ambitions – and in doing so, lift organisational levels of achievement and productivity.