What We Will Cover

2. What We Will Cover • Why Focus on Learning • The Difference Between Training and Learning • SSA as a Learning Organization • Characteristics of Learning Leaders • You as Future Learning Leaders • The Lifelong Learning Challenge

3. Why Focus on Lifelong Learning? Learning is a life-long process. • “The concept of lifelong learning is based on the observation that, in a rapidly changing, technology-based world, initial education is insufficient to prepare an individual for a lifetime’s work or to provide a nation with an adequately skilled workforce. However, the learning process must be structured. Every individual action, reaction and encounter involves a learning opportunity. In the age of information advances and of global competition, one must take every advantage of these learning opportunities… even if it mean making personal changes and moving beyond our comfort zones.” Source: Roots of Lifelong Learning

4. Lifelong Learning –What’s In It For You ??? Increased control over your professional development and careers. Opportunities to help “invent” the future. Expanded leadership and career opportunities.

5. What Develops Most People? Job changes On the job tasks Feedback Other people Courses and Reading Learning Strategies * Source: Mary Eckenrod, Eckenrod Consulting Group

6. SSA As A Learning Organization To date, we have: • Changed our infrastructure • Scheduled pilots for future implementation of a Learning Management System • Collaborated with local colleges and universities through our University Partnership Program • Created a Customer Service Team • Established a Communications Team

7. Qualities of a Learning LeaderBecoming A Part of the Learning Community • OPM has five Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) for federal leaders: • Leading Change, • Leading People, • Results Driven, • Business Acumen, and • Building Coalitions. • Each ECQ has a set of defined competencies or knowledge and skills the leader requires

8. Qualities of a Learning LeaderBecoming A Part of the Learning Community • Share what you know: about • Leading Change • Results Driven • Building Coalition • In pairs: • Come up with a definition of each Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ) above • What are some of the related competencies (knowledge and skills) for each ECQ? • How will these competencies prepare you as a lifelong learner and future learning leader?

9. The Learning Challenge “It is not that you read a book, pass an examination, and finish with education. The whole of life, from the moment you are born to the moment you die, is a process of learning” Jiddu Krishnamurthi In order to adapt to life-long learning, you must commit to being a life-long learner. This is your challenge, choose to be a lifelong learner.