3 Ways to Introduce Learning in Your Life.

September 1st to 8th is Adult Learners Week, a worldwide celebration for accessible and lifelong learning. As advocates for non-traditional pathways to education, we are firm believers in continuously upskilling, reskilling and all of the things Adult Learner’s Week stands for. 

That is why we have rallied up some easy and accessible ideas to help you continue learning in your everyday life: 

1. Get a learning buddy: 

Your immediate community could be your answer to learning a whole new skill. Maybe it’s time you finally sit down and learn that treasured family recipe or you convince your arts-and-craftsy mate to correct your cross-stitching. The people in your life can be your most valuable resource, and most often, are fairly affordable. Why not make an afternoon out of it and host a ‘skill swap’ with each person bringing a new skill to show and tell to the group?  

Alternatively, if your friends are also trying to enrich their learning opportunities why not sign up for something together? Research suggests that when we have an individual goal we’ve got a 65% chance of actually sticking with it. When we have a shared goal with another person though and their presence helps keep us accountable? There is an incredible 95% success rate. 

Learning in a group setting is not just statistically beneficial but genuinely more fun. Our Guided coding courses are designed and taught by some of the best women in the biz and have been described by past students as “like learning to code during tea party sessions.” Who said being a lifelong learner had to be a snooze? 

2. Get involved: 

So you’re eager to begin a new learning venture and commit to a new skill. Go you! The question is now… how do you figure out what you want to learn about? 

A place to begin could be your local library or community group. Often there are free or low-cost classes to enrich your cultural education. These could vary from upskilling in the tech department with computer literacy classes or getting your hands dirty with a ceramics workshop. Plus a visit to your local library then provides you access to hundreds of books on any subject that sparks your interest.  

MeetUp.com is also a  great resource to meet people and engage in something new. For the last 20 years MeetUp has been connecting people, with groups varying from  career-boosting to muscle-building. If there is a hobby you have been itching to get your hands on there is more than likely a MeetUp near you. 

3. Get online:

If you're reading this article, chances are you're already considering learning a thing or two about the online tech world and coding. 

We may have a little bias but our School of Code offers beginner-friendly self-led and guided coding courses. That means, you literally don’t need any coding or IT experience to get started. This last quarter over 30 women, ranging from 18 to 55 years old, have begun their coding education with us. 

Unsure which language to pick up? Check out what our Lead Technologist, Sarah, has to say about 3 easy coding languages you might want to start with. 

No matter the method you choose, the benefits of informal or formal education are indisputable. Keeping learning at the forefront of your personal development improves career opportunities, confidence and connections to the community. Lifelong learning is accessible and should continue to be celebrated.