Where Do You Learn?

I spent a few days down at the marvelous Poynter Institute last week and my brain is still processing information. I don’t know what it is about that place, but it is a magical mystery learning environment.

Richard Koci Hernandez over at Multumedia Shooter posted a listing of the top 10 multimedia workshops, based on his experience and knowledge of the instructors, and I have to agree with all of them. Get some of these on your list for the next year,

Budgetary issues? That holding you back? Yeah, I can understand that. I got lucky that my boss had a few extra dollars late in the fiscal year and that’s how I got to go to Poynter. But Al Tompkins there said something really important in the closing session, one aimed at all of us teachers in the room. He asked us to think about the safety training you get when you get on an airplane, how you’re always told to put on your own oxygen mask first. Why?

So that you can help others.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a teacher or a professional, newbie or vet, you’ve got to get you’re own oxygen mask on first. There was a time when employers covered workshops and conferences because it helped you get better at a job you did for them. Money is tight, but you still need to grow. The days of spending your whole career in one or two places are over. The studies show you’ll change jobs something like seven to ten times – teacher, train thyself.

Put your own oxygen mask on first.