Teaching vs. Training

Recently, I've had several conversations about teaching methods. As a tutor in the Writing Center (WC), we are constantly encouraged to use non-directive methods, more commonly known as the Socratic Method. The goal is to develop the writing and critical thinking skills of the writer by allowing them to discover the answers independently. We all vary at our comfort and skill level with this method and I am most definitely on the directive side of things. But I've been in school the majority of my life, so I should be more comfortable with the Socratic method, given it's the primary tool for education.

Right?

Well....maybe. Lower education is a very strong mix of the two..we let children do a lot of self discovery as they develop skills and independence, but we also directly teach a great deal. And as we move up in education, in class work becomes more directive and out of class work less directive. There's not a lot of sitting in class, considering, debating. I would argue that I got some more of that than other students based on classes - AP worked hard to develop those critical thinking skills. But otherwise...

And then the military happened. Military education, at least at the basic levels, is all directive. Purely directive. The first lesson we learned in basic training was how to stack our bags i.e. how to follow orders. I have it on video, but the basic concept is that the standard is presented, the standard is demonstrated, you are given a chance to meet the standard. If you fail to meet the standard, corrective training is issued (usually pushups at this point in our military lives). Repeat process. And because this is conducted as a group, you very quickly learn to help each other meet the standard, since everyone pushes if one person fails.

This particular method is used in all aspects of military life. The type of corrective training becomes more helpful as you're learning actual tasks (such as tutoring or extra task training), but for the most part, this method is a standard way to impart knowledge. I use it all the time with people - I tell them what I expect, I show them how to meet my expectations and then I leave them to do it. And it is, in fact, very effective.

But what I have realized is that this is not teaching. It's training.

I am a great trainer. I will train you to do a skill or task and you will know how to do it and how to do it well. I trained students when I was a teacher to function in my class, understand my expectations and what to do if they didn't think they'd meet those. I trained them in classroom behavior, test taking procedures and resource allocation (i.e. how to look stuff up for themselves). But I don't know if I actually taught them much. There was some teaching. I stood in front of them and taught them words. But I don't think that's the primary thing those students took away from the class.

When I look at the difference between the two words in the dictionary, teach is a catch all for showing someone how to do something. Train is nearly entirely task oriented (job training, etc). But I think the difference is more than that. Teaching has to do with concepts, training with skill acquisition. They are related, most certainly, but they are not the same.

I am a trainer. I am not a very skilled teacher. And I'm okay with that.

I lack motivation.

I need to finish the lab report that's due today. I keep staring at it and I just don't want to write it. I also have a paper I need to finish up and email to the professor. That particular piece will effect my registration status, so it's really vital.

The list keeps going. Between the house, school, personal projects...I feel like I'm running behind constantly. I just want to be done. I want to graduate and move and not look back - put this part of my life behind me. A break before grad school is sounding even more awesome right now. I'm just worn out.

I could take a medical drop from my Bio class. I don't think the professor would give me any issues with that. But I had to fight to get into it and my pride won't let me. Also, it would change my degree from a BS to a BA. I wouldn't have to take a science next semester and it'd make what it already going to be a busy semester much easier. But again...my pride. I know I'm smart enough to do it. I just lack the energy and the focus. And, quite honestly, the motivation.

So tired.

Why do we go to school?

When I was fighting to get into my Bio class, the professor asked me why I was taking science. He pointed out that every semester I took science, my GPA went down (my Psych GPA is a 4.0). And I can get the BA in Psych without it. I told him that I wasn't in school for my GPA, I was in school to learn about things that interested me. And science interested me. Besides, when is the next time in my life I'm going to get access to a proper science lab? Most likely never.

I have repeated this concept to my classmates who are astounded that I am taking a class that most people are failing simply because I enjoy science, even though I'm not particularly good at it. I remember being their age and believing that the purpose of school was to do well (by whatever definition of "well" you ascribe to). But I waited for my education, so I think I get the privilege of learning for the sake of learning. I didn't do great on my lab practical today, but I learned a lot while taking it, including a lot about what I don't know. Every lecture class leaves me with more questions. If I had all the time in the world, I'd be an astounding biologist because the subject fascinates me on a really deep level and I'm constantly looking for ways to expand my knowledge. But I don't have all the time in the world, so I'm happy with a passing grade and a continued fascination. It brings down my GPA, but GPAs are arbitrary numbers. Knowledge may not be quantifiable, but it's so much more fulfilling.

On Sunday evening, Kyle and I were planning to go out to dinner. He had made reservations at Le Soir, which I had never been to. He was ready first (shocker) and took care of Indy while I was getting ready. I called him in to look at how I was dressed - I was feeling funny about the dress because I hadn't worn it much and wasn't sure I liked how it was styled. He seemed to agree...said something was missing. He had me turn around, then when I turned back he got on one knee and pulled out a ring box.

"Are you sure you want to marry me?"

We've asked each other this question repeatedly for the last few months, mostly joking, often in response to one of us getting snippy with the other. This was the best time. Thankfully, I didn't mess up my eye makeup.

The ring in the box is a beautiful art deco piece. What seals it for me - it was his great-grandmothers. She was married in 1924, the year my grandmother was married. Her daughter, Kyle's maternal grandmother, was born two years later. Despite the lady having very tiny hands, her 4.5 sized ring fits my left hand perfectly.

We had a lovely dinner at the restaurant, which is intimate and lovely. The food and wine were delicious, the atmosphere was comfortable and the service was divine. We left phones in the car and specifically waited until dinner was over before I sent the picture of the ring on my hand to my mom, sister, aunt and his mother. Phone calls ensued. Changed Facebook status led to more phone calls and text messages, as well as a flurry of FB congrats and emails.

So basically...I'm engaged!

Someday, a Chanel suit

There are a few items that I truly want to own in my life.

An Hermes bag of my design (leather, etc)
A fabulous sapphire ring
A Chanel suit

These aren't things I need now. They are things that will come one day, marks of a comfortable adulthood and successful life. And that last one...

Chanel has been making stunning suits since Coco herself. The above is an excellent example of a vintage suit. Clean lines, elegant simplicity, the very essence of a lady. And this season, they've done it again.

Karl Lagerfeld's line this year is all about pearls and, like Coco herself, beautiful, clean lines that are actually wearable. I could actually wear that, unlike some of the things that have walked down the runway this season. I'd love to wear that. And someday, I will.