Life & Living

A technology approach to mastery

July 26, 2022 8:24 am

The great icon, Nelson Mandela, says that Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. As a society, we have become increasingly reliant on technology. We use it to communicate, work, and even relax. So it’s no surprise that when it comes to learning new skills, we often turn to technology for help. There are now a variety of apps and online programs that can teach us everything from a new language to how to play the guitar. But is this actually the best way to learn? This and more are addressed in this article.

Technology mastery has become imperative to us due to the second nature it has evolved into since the Covid19 Pandemic. If you want to master technology, there are certain habits that you need to adopt. These habits will help you to learn the technology faster and more effectively. Here are some of the most essential habits that you need to develop:

1. Constantly Be Learning: The first habit that you need to develop is a love for learning. If you want to master technology, you need to be constantly learning about it. You should be reading books, articles, and tutorials about the technology. You should also be experimenting with the technology on your own time. The more you learn about the technology, the better you will be at using it.

2. Use The Technology Everyday: Another habit that you need to develop is using technology every day. If you want to become a master of a particular technology, you need to use it regularly. This will help you to keep your skills sharp and keep up with the latest trends. It will also help you to find new ways to use the technology.

3. Stay Up-To-Date With The Latest Trends: Another habit that you need to develop is staying up-to-date with the latest trends. Technology changes rapidly, and if you want to stay ahead of your last success, you need to welcome a continued improvement lifestyle with the changing technology trends.

Moreover, we need to train our brains to optimize the outcomes for sustained technology mastery. Humans are innately curious creatures. We are constantly exploring and seeking out new challenges to overcome. When it comes to technology, this curiosity can be a powerful tool for mastery. When we approach new technology with a sense of curiosity and openness, we are more likely to engage in the deep level of exploration needed to understand how it works truly. This deeper understanding is essential for true mastery. Of course, not everyone approaches new technology with the same level of curiosity. Some people may feel intimidated or even scared by new technology. But, if we can remember that everyone has the potential to be a master learner, we can help support and encourage those around us to explore and embrace new technology.

Additionally, we can apply the six sigma approach to technology living. When it comes to technology, we often think of it as something that just happens in the background of our lives. We don’t really think about how it works or how to optimize it. However, if you want to get the most out of technology, it is pertinent to take a more strategic approach. One way to do this is by using the Six Sigma method. This is a process that helps you identify and eliminate errors in any process on a continued iteration. It is often used in manufacturing but could also be applied to other areas of life, including technology. Here’s how the Six Sigma method can help you improve your relationship with technology:

1. Define your goals: What do you want to achieve with your technology? Do you want to be more productive? Organized? Efficient? Become a content creator? Write down your goals, so you have a clear focus because focus breeds power – the LASER is focused light that cuts through hard metals.

2. Measure your progress: Track how you are using your technology and whether or not it is helping you meet your goals. This will give you a good idea of what is working and isn’t. Imagine a game of soccer with no goal posts – it soon becomes boring with no aim and drives for players. What gets measured gets done and can be improved as regular measurement and reporting keep you focused.

3. Analyze the data: Once you have collected some dataduring the measure phase, it is time to analyze it. Analysis helps you determine the root cause of what is or isn’t working. Look for patterns and trends. Picturing the data reveals behaviors that may not be obvious at first contact with the data. Focusing on the goal during analysis is essential because analysis improves the clarity of focus.

4. Improve the outcomes: Finding the root cause helps to know where to focus more energy and what depletes the energy. Improvement is possible and becomes easier as we let go of technology’s disempowering habits. I once assessed my time investment on social media and realized up to 5 hours of my day was spent chit-chatting on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, and Instagram. Suffice to say that I simply re-channeled a large chunk of that time to learning game and app development on Udemy and improving my written communication through the same learning platform. This paid off much more and has gotten me closer to my set goals.

5. Control the outcomes: Now that you have completed the first iteration, standardizing and maintaining the gains realized helps to drive it home. It also helps to determine what to measure next. Continuous questioning about the goal creates new measures, and new measurements drive more analysis, which points out root causes for more improvement needing maintenance.

At this point, we will veer into technology tools that enhance mastery with students. When it comes to learning, technology can be a powerful tool to help students achieve mastery. By providing engaging and interactive content, technology can help students stay motivated and focused on their goals. Additionally, technology can provide feedback that can help students track their progress and identify areas where they need to continue to work. There are a variety of technology tools that can be used to support mastery learning. Online resources such as Khan Academy and Duolingo offer comprehensive content that can be used to supplement traditional school instruction. These resources can be accessed anytime, anywhere, making them ideal for students who want to learn at their own pace on their mobile devices.

In addition to online resources, there are also a number of apps and software programs that can be used to support mastery learning. Programs like Quizlet and StudyBlue offer flashcards and quiz features that can help students review key concepts. There are also a number of apps that focus on helping students develop specific skills, such as Prodigy (math) and Elevate (reading & writing). Finally, there are also a number of tech-based assessments that can be used to measure student progress. Assessments like the PLATO Reading Assessment and the Woodcock-Johnson III Tests of Cognitive Abilities can help youth and parents support continuous learning. Ask simple questions like what technology I can use to learn swimming, improve my soccer or learn the Chinese language, and see new opportunities open up in a jiffy.

Furthermore, like most people, you’re always looking for ways to improve your life. You want to be happier, healthier, and more successful. But what if I told you that there was a way to use technology to help you achieve all of those things? That’s right, by harnessing the power of technology, you can make your life better in a number of ways. Here are just a few examples:

1. Get in shape: There are tons of great fitness apps and devices out there that can help you get in shape and reach your fitness goals, such as Future, Map My Run, Freeletics, Strava, and Jefit. I should write on this someday.

2. Be more productive: There are many productivity apps and tools that can help you get more done in less time, like Inkflow – to capture ideas flowing through our minds as we do our daily chores, RescueTime – to track where your time is going, and Focusbooster – alternates 25-minute long working blocks with short breaks.

3. Save money: There are a number of personal finance apps and websites that can help you save money and make better financial decisions. Mint – tracks your spending and financial health, and YNAB – You-Need-A-Budget helps you follow the money.

4. Learn something new: With the vast amount of information available online, you can easily learn anything you want, whether it’s a new language or skill – YouTube is a friend.

5. Stay connected: With social media and other forms of online communication, it’s easier than ever to stay connected with friends and family who live far away – the space-time barrier almost doesn’t exist anymore with WhatsApp, Zoom, and Google meet.

Before I round off, we will discuss the four pillars of mastery that I have benefitted from as a technology professional: technical excellence, business understanding, people skills, and continuous learning. Let’s explore each of these in more depth. Technical excellence is the foundation of any successful technologist. You must be able to simplify complex systems for the sake of better understanding and assimilation and have the skills to design, build, and operate them. This requires a deep understanding of the underlying technologies and how they work together. Business understanding is critical to success in any technology role. You must be able to align technical solutions with business goals and objectives. This requires an understanding of the business domain, the company’s competitive landscape, and the needs of customers and other stakeholders. People skills are essential for any technology professional. You must be able to work effectively with others to get things done. This requires good communication, collaboration, and networking skills. Continuous learning is a must for any technology professional. The field of technology is constantly changing, so you must be prepared to learn new technologies and keep up with the latest trends. This requires a commitment to lifelong learning and a willingness to experiment with new ideas.

In conclusion, there is no doubt that technology has drastically changed the way we learn and process information. By making use of some of the approaches discussed in this article, you can give yourself a leg up in mastering any subject matter. Whether you’re trying to improve your finances, get better grades, better understand complex concepts, or simply want to learn something new, don’t be afraid to try out different tech-based approaches until you find one that works best for you – Google is a friend. The idea of education is to prepare humans so that they can educate themselves throughout life. And on a final note, knowledge without action is useless. The great aim of education should be – to instill an understanding that leads to taking appropriate measures according to what you know and see.