Learning is a process.
This means that the workshop or program you are about to attend is not an isolated event. The meaning or usefulness will come from how you connect the program to events in your own life and workplace.

Learning is a very personal and individual process.
Each person has a way of learning (a “learning style”) that is unique even though there are four basic styles. Having a style means you may have to “work” harder during some parts of the program than others. Activities that frustrate you may in fact be your greatest opportunities for learning. They may require you to use new learning skills.

You are much more likely to learn if you have a learning goal.
Your goal may change as you get involved in the program or as you get more information about the topics or yourself. But your goal will give initial direction and purpose to your activities. It will create the energy you need to get involved and try new learning activities.

Other people can help you learn and you can help them.
Research shows many people learn more from their peers/other participants than from the staff or experts. Work on the assumption that everyone else in the program knows at least one thing you don’t. See if you can be smart enough to learn it from them. You’ll also find others more willing to learn from you if you show you are willing to learn from them.

Use your current learning strengths to develop new ones.
If you make a lot of decisions (Active Experimentation) but don’t listen too well (Reflective Observation), you can decide to listen. If you get involved with people at lot (Concrete Experience) but don’t analyze things very much (Abstract Conceptualization), get involved with people who do a lot of analyzing.

The last point is to review your learning daily.
At the end of each day in the program, examine what you are learning and how you are learning it. Set learning goals and make plans for the next day. Note what people, exercises, books or other resources were useful to you. This information will suggest things you can do after the program to continue your learning.