LEARNERSHIP. Learning is a complex human activity with the object of knowledge creation and use in virtually all human affairs. And, learners are people with an ability to learn--although the development of this ability and willingness to use it varies widely across the general population. It follows, then, that there should be a term to describe people who are exceptional and influential learners, the breadth of their capabilities, and the extent of their influence on others. Learnership is the suggested term, and it is derived from: (1) learner - one who seeks to learn or to gain knowledge through experience or study, and (2) -ship (suffix) - to show or possess a quality, state, or condition. Additionally, learnership captures the essence and skill of leadership in which people are skillful in influencing others. Purchasers will be invited via email to a FREE webinar entitled: "What is the Meaning of YOUR LIfe" and are encouraged to view our 1 minute book trailer on www.youtube.com/user/forum entitled: "Giving Back." {Just send the original book receipt to the ALF address on the copyright page of the book} Some distinctive features of learnership are: 1. Learnership is an activity in the service of knowledge, its creation, and its application. 2. Learnership is about learning, and about being a learner. 3. Learnership is about knowing and how lifelong learning leads to the acquisition and storage of information and knowledge. 4. Learnership is about leading, and about influencing action. 5. Learnership is a whole-person competence. 6. Learnership can be practiced by just about anyone. From an epistemological viewpoint, learnership contributes to the individual learner's ability to construct their own knowledge of social reality and to succeed within that structure (Reference: The Social Construction of Reality by Berger and Luckmann). Meta-cognitive reflection provides the learner with opportunity to reframe personally held views and modify ingrained programs for thinking and behavior. On the philosophical level, learnership may be understood and appreciated as enthusiasm to participate in life and contribute to human progress by engaging in a broad set of mutually supportive and symbiotic practices that enrich peoples' knowledge and understanding. Learning to learn, and to use what is learned for the betterment of humankind is an essential characteristic of the learnership philosophy.
About the Author: Dr. Rudy Garrity is a manager, consultant, and educator with professional experience in the public and private sectors. He is an executive consultant and project manager specializing in public administration, organizational performance, workforce development, strategic planning, process streamlining, quality management, knowledge management, information technology architecture, and systems acquisition program management. Dr. Garrity writes and mentors on personal development, consults on professional performance, and leads organizational change and transformation projects. He is Founder/President of American Learnership Solutions, Inc. and Director/CEO of the nonprofit American Learnership Forum and Business Alliance (educational and fundraising services) organizations located in Leesburg, Virginia. Dr. Garrity's current focus is promoting "American Learnership" theory to practice initiatives. The objective is for individuals, organizations, and communities to learn and adapt the integrated and interdisciplinary perspectives/skills that improve American education, reinvigorate America's development, and contribute to human progress. Dr. Garrity allocates his time between management consulting with a number of Washington D.C. based firms, is the Associate Director for Total Knowledge Education at the George Washington University Institute for Knowledge and Innovation, and is a Learning and Knowledge Faculty Member at Bangkok University, Thailand. His education includes a BS/MBA from Monmouth University, and an MPA/DPA from the University of Southern California.