(-3) How have I learned the most?

Over the weekend, I participated in a planning meeting. As a kind of getting into the topic for the event we were preparing (action learning), our host asked us to think about how we have learned the most? That was a good and eye opening exercise that helped all of us to understand not only our learning, but also the way we can help others to learn in a better way. Here is what my reflection was.

As a small kid, I was always small, reticent, insecure, sick every winter, kind of fragile. When I joined Scouting, things have changed, but not immediately. I was just a member for more than 3 years, which is quite normal in the age of 11 - 14. And then, I went to my first Scout training - to learn how to be a patrol leader. Returning, I was given the task to lead a patrol, and very soon to assist in running the troop. That completely changed my life. Being responsible, I started seeing things in a different way. Not yet even 15, I started planning, organising, managing time, resources, people! I improved enormously, becoming strong, reliable, self-assured, creative, innovative... Running over hills and through forests I even became physically strong! Having responsibility, especially being responsible for the others is an excellent learning opportunity.

I had a great friend in my childhood. We lived close by, and walked together to the school and back, and so became friends. Different to the others, he was always in a way different and helped me a lot to see things out of the box. Our school was in a suburban area, on the border between new block of modern buildings and an old neighbourhood with small houses and narrow streets. When we finished the elementary school, I didn't have any clue where would I continue my education. He took me to one in the city centre, which appeared to be the best in the city. Much later I realised why. Because of the atmosphere! I learned in a supporting environment, both from the teachers, who saw in us more than just another generation of kids, and other pupils who were committed to learn and "pulled" each others to do the same. My friends now tease me saying that there were between 56 and 172 pupils in my class - just because I speak so often about my school friends, about all those now very successful and many of them famous people, working all over the globe.

When my daughter grew to go to the gymnasium, I talked a lot with her convincing her to go to the same school. She was reluctant in the beginning, because most of her friends decided to go to another school. Only after half a year, she understood the reasons why I have been convincing her. Growing in a supportive environment is an excellent learning opportunity.

Developing further, I came to the moment when I started helping others to learn (hmmm, this is better way to say "started delivering and later designing training"). That was the new field, the new wealth of opportunities. First, I discovered technical side of it: when preparing for a session, I concentrate on key messages I want to transmit, those that will stay remembered and ensure the learning. That also remains memorised in my mind, become my learning in situations when I work on issues that are not perfectly clear to me, and even when I know just a bit about them (yes, I did training on things I don't know well). But there is something more. The communication with those I help learning, and also with other trainers and team members, brought me so much new. Learning is a two way process; or it is not learning! If you learn nothing when helping others to learn, then something is wrong. Helping others to learn is an excellent learning opportunity.

And, how did you learn the most? 

 

Kako sam najviše naučio? 

Prošlog vikend planirali smo aktivnost. Da bi osetili temu (učenje kroz aktivnost), domaćin nas je pozvao da razmislimo o tome gde smo najviše naučili. Bila je to veoma zanimljiva vežba koja nam je pomogla ne samo da prepoznamo svoje učenje, nego i da poboljšamo način na koji drugima pomažemo da uče. Evo mog doprinosa.

Kao dete, uvek sam bio mali, povučen, nesiguran, krhk; nije mogla da prođe zima da se ne razbolim. Kad sam postao izviđač, sve se promenilo, ali ne odjednom. Bio sam običan član više od tri godine, što je uobičajeno za nekoga ko ima 11 do 13 godina. A onda sam otišao na svoj prvi kurs, na tečaj za vodnike. Po povratku, izabran sam za vodnika, a uvrzo zatim i za zamenika vođe čete. To mi je u potpunosti promenilo život. Bivajući odgovoran, počeo sam da stvari vidim na drugi način. Još pre svoje petnaeste počeo sam da planiram, organizujem, brinem o vremenu, materijalu za rad, ljudima! Izuzetno sam napredovao, postao jači, pouzdan, siguran u sebe, kreativan, invovativan... Hodajući po brdima i kroz šume čak sam i fizički ojačao! Preuzimajući odgovornost, posebno biti odgovoran za druge ljude je izuzetna prilika za učenje.

Imao sam sjajnog druga u detinjstvu. Bili smo komšije, iši zajedno do škole i nazad i tako se združili. Za razliku od ostalih, uvek je bio drugačiji i izuzetno mi je pomogao da svet vidim drugim očima. Škola nam je bila u predgrađu, na granici izmedju blokova modernih zgrada u Šumicama i starog kvarta ispod Cvetkove pijace sa niskim kućama sabijenim u uske ulice. Kada smo završili osnovnu školu, nisam imao pojma o tome gde bih nastavio školovanje. Umesto da odem u neku od obližnjih srednjih škola, on me je odveo u Osmu, koja je bila najbolja škola u gradu. Mnogo kasnije sam shvatio zašto. Zbog atmosfere! Učio sam u atmosferi koja me je podržavala, kako sa strane profesora koji su u nama videli nešto više od samo nove generacije klinaca, tako i od drugih učenika koji su vredno učili i vukli jedni druge da i oni uče. Prijatelji me danas zadirkuju kako je u mom odeljenju bilo izmedju 56 i 172 učenika, samo zato što često govorim o drugovima iz gimnazije, o svim tim danas uspešnim ljudima od koji su neki poznati širom sveta.

Kada mi je kćerka sazrela za gimnazuju, dugo smo pričali dok je nisam ubedio da krene u istu školu. Opirala se u početku, najviše zbog toga što je najveći deo njenog društva odlazio u drugu školu. Posle samo godinu dana, shvatila je zašto sam je ubeđivao. Sazrevanje u okruženju koje te podržava je izuzetna prilika za učenje.

Kasnije je došao trenutak kada sam počeo da drugima pomažem da uče (hmmm, ovo lepše vuči nego "obučavao druge"). Bilo je to nova oblast, novi izvor raznovrsnih mogućnosti. Najpre, shvatio sam tehničku stranu: kada se pripremam za rad, koncentrišem se na ključne poruke, one koje će ostati u sećanju i osigurati učenje. One ostaju i u mom sećanju, postaju moje učenje u situacijama kada mi ono šta radim nije sasvim jasno, ili kada samo površno poznajem temu (da, radio sam treninge o stvarima o kojima ne znam mnogo). Ali, tu postoji nešto više. Rad sa onima kojia pomažem da uče, a takođe i sa drugim trenerima ili u okviru tima, donosi mi toliko toga novog. Učenje je dvosmerni proces; ili to nije učenje. Ako ništa ne naučite dok pomažete drugima da uče, ona nešto nije u redu. Pomoganje drugima da uče je izuzetna prilika za učenje.

A kako ste vi naučili najviše?