SUCCESSFUL LEARNER CHARACTERISTICS

Why do you need to know about this?
· To increase your effectiveness
· To promote your self-directed learning skills
· To expand your ability to master and enjoy online and hypermedia learning
So, what does this mean?
It means that to be a successful learner NOW and to prepare yourself to be a successful learner in the rapidly changing world LIFELONG, there are some KEY LEARNER CHARACTERISTICS to develop in your undergraduate years.
HOW TO BE A SUCCESSFUL LEARNER?
WORK INTELLIGENTLY, INFORM YOURSELF, AND APPLY ENERGY
Successful learners:
Achieve by working to:
Use prior knowledge
Have good general knowledge
· Establish good reading habits
· Discuss your world intelligently
· Seek patterns, links, relationships & anomalies among ideas

Select information critically
· Constantly assess, compare, contrast and question
· Recognise & Question author’s purpose
· Wonder who the target audience is
· Note difference and similarity to other information from different sources (e.g. note cultural differences and similarities)

Identify knowledge needs

· Establish good reading habits
· Reflect and self assess
· Apply Trial and Error approaches-everything is a learning opportunity
· Communicate-Interact-Build recognition of potential knowledge needs
· Give yourself New experiences

Select a learning approach effectively
· Establish good reading habits
· Broaden your learning experiences-experiment with different approaches e.g. try an online lecture, learn Tai Chi with the elderly , master Facebook
· Build self knowledge through reflection and experimentation

Have good self-regulatory skills
· Develop your time management
· Set goals and reflect on your progress
· Manage your whole person-health, spirit, and social aspects may need more attention when you are studying hard
· Take charge of yourself, your learning, and your progress
To develop positive learner characteristics try using the resources suggested here:
· Extensive reading:
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/students/index.html
· Thinking skills
http://www.thinking.net/
· Brainstorming:
http://www.brainstorming.co.uk/
· Listening and discussing: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/history/inourtime/
· Free online lectures:
http://web.austin.utexas.edu/wlh/
http://www.openculture.com/2007/07/freeonlinecourses.html
· Make use of the Independent Learning Centre at CUHK J
http://www.ilc.cuhk.edu.hk