Learn New Technology Skills

The Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario published some research into how people learn new technology skills. Learners can be grouped into six categories:

“Purposive planners”? ”“ People who plan in advance with careful attention to detail;
“Explorers”? ”“ Those who learn on their own by delving into new areas;
“Visionaries”? ”“ People who think about what new technology could do for themselves and their organizations;
“Problem solvers”? ”“ Those with a task-oriented mindset who learn about technology merely to master workplace tasks;
“Reluctant learners”? ”“ People who don”™t see the value of technology and learn only what they need to survive at work;
“Pinballs”? ”“ Those who pick up a variety of knowledge often through incidental learning.

When I look at these categories, I actually play in all of them. I know, I know. Can I really be a reluctant learner? Someone who does not see the value of technology and learn only what they need to survive at work? Don’t be concerned. This only happens when I am on a Windows machine.

More details about the study can be found here.