Learning

It has been interesting to me the past two days about how much I have taken the skill of driving for granted. I am amazed at how much just comes natural after all these years. This has come to my attention as I have been teaching my daughter to drive the past two days. Everything is new and nothing comes automatic for her. We have practiced the basics such as turning, stopping, driving down the road and watching both sides of the car. I have had to stop, break down what has become automatic movements to me and try to show her the steps to do each thing. I am also finishing up my class on sustainability and have found it true with those topics I want to cover. I have had to stop and think what the basic steps of each one would be to a newcomer.

My wanderings over all this the past two days makes me realize that when I am teaching someone a new skill I need to make sure to break the parts down and make sure I am presenting the material on their level of expertise versus mine. On the flip side, it is important to know how much previous experience someone has had so you are not percieved as "talking down to them". If we are going to spread the word on sustainable living skills it is important for us to remember these things. Many skills that used to be a normal thing everyone learned is no longer. It is our responsibility to be open to questions to those who are learning new skills and not to be judgemental that they "should already know it". Most of all we need to have the patience needed to teach someone a new skill.

Happy learning and happy teaching!