So many of us in the AEC industry are kinesthetic learners, which means we learn by doing. Recently, I was reminded of a similar concept that makes so much sense: learning-by-training.
Pamela Britton, from The Knowledge Environment, was a fellow speaker at the KA Connect conference in Chicago earlier this month. During her presentation, she shared a story from her childhood that goes something like this:
When I was in fourth grade, our teacher was frustrated that the class was not grasping a particular math formula. She said to the students: “OK, go home tonight and teach this math approach to your parents.” The students groaned and replied: “but we don’t understand it ourselves.” That evening, I sat with my parents and tried to teach them the formula. As I walked through it, step-by-step, I suddenly ‘got it’ myself.
This simple story illuminates the fact that when we are teachers/trainers, we are responsible for clearly articulating some sort of process, message, or data. Perhaps that sense of responsibility forces our minds to look at it from a different angle, to assess all the steps carefully, and/or to become un-stuck…..all in the spirit of passing on our wisdom to someone else.
Whatever the reason that learning-by-training works, Pam’s story is right on. I started reflecting on other times when I have seen this work. For example, in my Oral Communications sections at Columbia College, I conduct a one-day collaborative workshop with a group called NFTE (Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship). One benefit of that arrangement is that my students get to apply their newly acquired critiquing skills to the NFTE students, which I believe helps enhance and reinforce what they’ve learned in my classroom.
Another learning-by-training example that I recall is a policy several design and construction clients have incorporated: when a staff member (of any level) goes to a professional conference or event that is financed by the company, then the very next day that person is required to share an executive summary of their takeaways to the firm during lunch hour. Again, a great way for that person to further understand his/her learnings by sharing the knowledge with others.
In what way(s) does your firm currently benefit from learning-by-training? What opportunities might be you overlooking to further leverage this method for continued growth within your firm? Please feel free to send a direct message or a post.