What it's like to be an educator.
Its usually not a straight shot.
As educators and leaders, our path to get our students to where they need to go is not direct.
These are the different things we must keep in mind as we aim to take our students from A to B.
1 - Each person is unique. (its like we’ve already known this all along)
Each person needs their own path to knowledge. Their own path to enlightenment. A path tailored for their style of learning creating the largest chance at transformation.
One thing we must remember is that adults are still like children in many ways. Different and stimulating styles of teaching will fulfill the same role.
As I have educated adults over the last few years, I have found adults learn best through story and visuals. I take our curriculum and create stories that share the concepts and ideas I want them to take with them. I also create visuals to support these ideas (here’s an example of what I mean).
2 - The internet giveth and the internet taketh away.
With increasing difficulty brought by the internet and online means of education, our styles in educating must change. The competition is plenty.
School is everywhere. If you’re interested in filmmaking, there’s a YouTube channel for it. If you like working on cars, there’s a website for it. Like cooking asian food? There’s an online course for it. It’s all there! The schools are plenty. The internet does this very well.
Sometimes, however, the quality can falter. With little to no barriers to entry for most markets nowadays, the quantity overshadows quality. Plenty of educators and content creators over douse followers and viewers with gimmicks and flare to give the impression of quality (sorry, I don’t mean to be brash, we’re all trying to find our own voice out here I get it). Let’s be honest though, many people only do it for clicks without a desire to provide value to others. Internet stardom sounds more appealing.
The key here is to stick to your values and deliver what you promise. Define, refine, and re-do. Define your values and your goals. Refine the path as you go. Re-do this process.
3 - Your time is not their time.
Life has a way of giving us things at different times.
While one person is living through high school today, another is in their mid-forties raising a family. While someone just beat cancer another person is graduating college and starting a corporate job.
When we educate our students, specifically adults, it might be time for some of them to be transformed by the content, while others are not ready. Their path is not ready to present them with this growth. Their time has not yet come.
In moments like this we must be patient. We might see the potential in someone as an opportunity to push further and help more but the opposite might be true. It’s best to let it go until the person is ready. Be calm, and patient and let them receive when they are ready.
When their time has come.
It’s never a straight line. Now more than ever our flexibility and adaptability is important.
Get ready for some twists and turns.
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