Learning is Teaching

Part of the learning process is sharing or teaching what you know to others. Learning does not exist in a vacuum. Rather, it is cyclical – I think. I am not an expert, but I know that seeing someone else do it first helps. It even helps when I have someone “holding my hand” and walking me through every single step initially. Teaching and sharing are paramount to learning.

The questions that come to mind:

• Do I share enough?
• Do I teach enough?
• Am I missing out on learning opportunities and experiences because I spend to much time in deep learning mode and not enough time in sharing and teaching mode?

The difference between sharing and teaching

I was asked if there was a difference between sharing and teaching in the learning process. Yes! Think of formal and casual. When you are sharing, it is a casual and more passive experience. Teaching is formal and with intentional exchanges of information. In my experience, both are needed and helpful. Sometimes informal and casual is not enough, and sometimes formal is too much.

Helping others in the learning process

Optimally, the free flow and exchange of information and ideas is second nature to us, but being mindful of its occurrence helps us identify opportunities to lead in the learning process. We become proactive learners rather than reactive.

Seize opportunities to share and teach! You know more than you realize and you do not need to be perfect to share. In the exchange, you may learn something from the student because teaching is learning. Share!

Teaching my brother to make bread

On June 12, 2024, I received a text from my brother inquiring about making bread. He was asking if I had a favorite bread recipe. I make bread fairly regularly although it is in spurts these days. I sent him a picture of the recipe that I use the most often and then explained my modifications to the recipe as written beside the ingredients.

In this process, he learned

• How to tell if yeast is still good
• Mixing flours of unknown types (no detailed labels on the containers)
• Proofing bread

The first batch of bread was a success even though it was not perfect. Learning is not about perfection, it is about seeing results. We improve through repetition – adjusting, adapting, and sometimes overcoming. This is a large batch recipe and creates 3 beautiful loaves of bread. In this process, he learned to make bread, but he also knows more about how to adjust certain ingredients (water) when working with different absorption rates mixing flour types.

For those interested, I will be adding the recipe here soon – Favorite Big Batch Bread Recipe.

Teaching my dad to mend a hole in his white shirt

My dad visited this weekend and I have to brag for a minute because he is a true example of how important lifelong learning is. The truth is, old dogs do learn new tricks! No matter how old we are, we can learn to do something new.

He had a hole develop in one of his white dress shirts. Mom is not there to fix it anymore. He asked me if it was fixable. I offered to do it for him if he could wait because it is a fairly easy and quick repair. He wanted to know if it was fixable and how to go about doing it. I provided him with the lightweight mending patch needed and explained how to do it.

This repair is not pretty. It would have been visible even if I fixed it, but it is functional! The buttonhole flap hides the hold and repair. He can now use his shirt again. The best part for me is that HE DID IT because I was willing to take the few minutes it took to explain it a couple of different ways so that he could understand how to do it himself when he got home.

Learning opportunities never stop

The thing that amazes me as I have tried to be more mindful of my learning this past week is that learning never ceases! There are always opportunities to learn (and teach or simply share) if we are searching for them, and especially if we are willing to slow down and take the time. The time is always worth it for me.