| "When you have a burning desire that drives you to | | | | We should constantly ask ourselves questions about |
| action to reach your goal, you will find the means to | | | | the topic we have just read for example: 'What was |
| gain the 'Knowledge' and get the experience that will | | | | that chapter about, Can I link it to what I know |
| give you the 'Know-How'. For 'Knowledge has to be | | | | already about the subject, Where else can I find |
| learned, and 'Know-How' must be acquired through | | | | further information on this topic?' |
| experience" (William Clement Stone, The Success | | | | Having gained the necessary 'knowledge' or |
| System That Never Fails, page 69). | | | | information on our chosen subjects we must now |
| For this author the foundation for William Stone's | | | | convert that information into 'Know-How' or in other |
| 'The Success System That Never Fails' rests on | | | | words the skill of learning. 'Know-How' or the skill of |
| three pillars 'Inspiration to Action', 'Knowledge', and | | | | learning can only be achieved through experience and |
| 'Know-How'. Incidentally, Jack Canfield of 'Chicken | | | | this experience can only gained through practice. This |
| Soup for the Soul' fame cites William Clement Stone | | | | is the third and final pillar of our adaptation of William |
| as his mentor in his excellent motivational book, 'The | | | | Clement Stone's 'The Success System That Never |
| Success Principles'. If we think about it we can adapt | | | | Fails'. When I say practice I am referring to the act |
| the ideas of William Clement Stone to suit our needs | | | | of putting into action the 'Knowledge' we have gained |
| and help you and I succeed in our Open Learning | | | | through reading specific topics related to our chosen |
| Courses and ultimately academic success. If we take | | | | subject. So how can we convert this 'knowledge' into |
| 'Inspiration to Action' which focuses on our need to | | | | 'know-how' or experience? We can gain experience |
| do something actively to start our success journey. | | | | as an independent learner by actions or practice, for |
| Let's call this 'Inspiration to Action' the first pillar to | | | | example, let's takes the skills related to good essay |
| our successful learning experience. All our good | | | | or assignment writing to highlight my point. |
| intentions mean nothing if they are not translated into | | | | 'Signposting' is a technique used in writing to tell the |
| some physical act, for example; pick up the phone | | | | reader where you are going or where you have been |
| and call the local educational office about courses | | | | with a topic. Look at the end of any of my |
| suitable to your plans, write down your goal dates, | | | | paragraphs when the subject matter is going to |
| go to the library and check out the literature about | | | | change, I use the signposting 'Technique'. We can |
| your subject and read them, don't procrastinate. Did | | | | turn our 'knowledge' of signposting into 'know-how' |
| you notice that I put all the verbs -action words- in | | | | by practicing opening and closing of topics - Don't |
| italics to emphasise the importance of actually doing | | | | practice this technique when it's time to submit an |
| the act of calling someone or reading rather than | | | | assignment or essay, it's too late then - practice now |
| 'Thinking' or 'Planning' about making the call or reading | | | | when you're not so busy and save your work to be |
| the book. Now that we have the idea of 'Inspiration | | | | used in future projects. So where have we been on |
| to Action' next, we will discuss the second of William | | | | our quest for motivation to succeed in our |
| Clements Stone's pillars to success - and in our case | | | | independent learning? We have adapted William |
| successful learning- which is 'Knowledge'. | | | | Clement Stone's 'The Success System That Never |
| When we look at 'Knowledge' in the context of | | | | Fails' to suit our own motivational purposes by using |
| achieving success in our studies we are really | | | | 'Inspiration to Action' to propel us into doing actions |
| referring to the attainment and retainment of | | | | to get us started on our successful academic |
| information, thereby advancing our learning. To attain | | | | journey. Next we discussed the attainment of |
| knowledge we must read books,journals, | | | | 'knowledge' of our chosen subject through selected |
| newspapers, access the internet where ever the | | | | reading. Finally, we spoke about how we can convert |
| desired information is located. However, to retain this | | | | that 'knowledge' into 'know-how' and how this |
| knowledge we must work with the information. We | | | | 'know-how' can only be achieved by practice to |
| must strive to embed this new knowledge into our | | | | create experience in a subject or topic. |
| long-term memory by working with the information. | | | | |