3 lessons to apply to 2021
Planning for the new year
3-Key takeaways:
Lesson 1: Be flexible!
Lesson 2: Discipline is key!
Lesson 3: Online learning is cool but nothing beats being in the classroom with your teacher. Appreciate them.
Millionaire, street poet (rapper), entertainer, entrepreneur, actor, Nike ambassador and all-round 21st century icon, Drake, once said in his 2016 song ‘You Know, You Know’:
“Life can always change, you have to adjust”.
Such wise words from an icon of our time…
2020... What a year it was. You don’t need me reminding you of the major events (or EVENT-singular) that crippled our world and created a new normal that will forever shape the way we live.
It presented us the best and worst this world can offer up. It also presented us many lessons not only in terms of school-related knowledge, but also how we, as productive and adaptable human beings, learn and apply the right mindset and productive actions to ensure we are moving forward in the right direction.
Despite the many things that were out of our control, below are 3 key areas that I feel are lessons we can apply to 2021 that will ensure this year will be our best year yet.
LESSON 1: THE IMPORTANCE OF FLEXIBILITY AND ADAPTING
“The measure of intelligence is the ability to change” - Albert Einstein
What we saw in 2020 was unprecedented…at least that is what everyone is calling it. The Department of Education noted in their report that billions of learners were affected worldwide as the virus led to school closures, meaning we all had to start working and learning from home. Adapting from our regular way of school to remote teaching and learning was an exciting but sometimes frustrating experience.
Here lies your most important lesson – whatever life may throw at you (or whatever school throws at you), be prepared to be flexible and adapt to ensure you’re moving forward in the right direction. It’s a lesson some learn the hard way, but by reading this you’re getting a shortcut through this – life isn’t always smooth sailing but the way you respond will mean more.
Be open to change and when life presents this opportunity, be sure not to waste it.
LESSON 2: DISCIPLINE & SELF-MOTIVATION IS KEY
“Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishments” - Jim Rohn
Upon our return to school, I saw two types of students – the ones that took the remote learning opportunity to improve their FIFA or Fortnite skills, and then I saw the ones that discovered a new level to themselves – how to cultivate self-motivation, independence and discipline.
The hardest skill to master is discipline. Discipline can often be linked to obeying rules or codes of behaviour but in this sense, it’s a foundation of maintaining a strong mindset where you know EXACTLY what you need to do. If your goal is to not start the morning in a rush – get up earlier. If the goal is to stress less about incomplete homework, do the work as soon as you get home. If your goal is to learn more, put away your distractions like your phone and concentrate. It’s simpler than you realise.
Now that you have your goals organised and discipline sorted, this is where self-motivation comes in. To have discipline is having a strong mindset. To have self-motivation is to have a kick-ass mindset that means you’re unstoppable! Create an environment around you that will catapult you forward – be disciplined in your studies and motivate yourself to be better every day.
LESSON 3: LEARNING THROUGH TECHNOLOGY MEANS IT’S STILL TIME TO FOCUS
“Technology is just a tool. In terms of getting the kids working together and motivating them, the teacher is the most important” - Bill Gates
As a teacher, I often had my students admit to me that they slept through their online classes or had their computers on and screens off – usually to hide the fact they were playing PlayStation or Xbox. Despite my lessons plans and online readiness, I’d see, on a consistent basis, three or four students out of a class of 20 log into our Zoom lesson to learn.
Upon our return from our hiatus, much to my surprise, students each approached me to tell me how they actually missed being in the classroom – seeing their friends, their teachers and the general routine of school itself. What surprised me more was how they craved the attention and responsibility the teacher placed on their learning.
Don’t get me wrong, technology is important, but relationships with others are more important. It’s a challenge now that every student has access to a laptop; a shortcut device to procrastination and general distractions. So when in school, take your eyes off the screens as often as possible and carefully observe your teacher and how they teach their knowledge. Like a sponge, soak in their understanding and make the most of their presence. Use your technology with discipline because you’re part of a generation that has access to a wealth of information in just a click.
Tell us about your experience!
What lessons did you learn from 2020? If you have some lessons you’d like to share with us and the rest of us finding our discipline and motivation for 2021, share it with me via email on info@infocuslearning.com.au or message In_Focus_Learning on Instagram.