Creating an environment that encourages learning

Knowledge publishing is not just about transmitting knowledge – it is about creating an environment that encourages learning.

One of the most elusive characteristic of any learning environment is how to motivate people to want to learn what you want them to learn. Look at our school system. It is populated by reluctant participants. On the other hand, if a student is motivated to want to learn, then the act of learning becomes intrinsically reinforcing. The hard part is that starting point - getting them to want to learn what you want them to learn, with an emphasis on the “what you want them to learn.” People learn things every day. It is convincing them that your subject is worth learning that is the challenge.

Learning about wine is a good example. Why do people want to learn about wines? Perhaps they travel in circles where wine knowledge gives them prestige. Perhaps they tasted a good wine once and were impressed by the marked sensory experience over cheaper wines.

Here is a summary of the factors that motivate people to learn a new, and perhaps initially daunting, subject:

- Their initial participation in the subject was easy.
- Their participation lead to some feedback that was very positive.
- They feel that further improvement in the subject is feasible, perhaps even probable.
- They have a clear path to take showing them each step of the learning process.
- They can receive frequent feedback about their learning.
- Participation in the subject may lead to becoming part of a community that may, in itself, lead to additional rewards.

Do you have a subject you would like to teach and do not know how to motivate people to want to learn it? Click on “comment” to tell us what it is and perhaps some suggestions will emerge to help you design a motivating knowledge environment.