The Teaching Box

The words teach and educate are sometimes used interchangeably.  They are synonyms, but the etymology shows that they do have subtle differences.  Teach is defined as “to cause to know something” as while educate is defined as “to provide education, or to train by formal instruction“.  Regardless of the word you choose or how you define either term, I have to say that I enjoy both.

I won’t even get into the term Training.  I see training as corporate buzzword that businesses use to define an educational class that it provides to employees. (see Education)

Teaching for me is the process of sitting down and showing someone how to perform a task or a skill.  For example, I spend a lot of time TEACHING people how to operate their computer.  This task is teaching exactly as webster defines it.  Usually it is informal and the “student” and I are sitting by the computer as we go through the sequence of events to to perform a task such as installing antivirus software.  I enjoy this aspect of teaching because of the relationship building with the individual person and the thrill I get when the person “gets it” and understands the task we just performed.  I am further encouraged when he or she is able to repeat the task without my help.  Now they have a skill that can be repeated.

Education is a more formal process.  Again it is to cause to know something, but generally takes place in a classroom.  My personal definition of educate is teaching a group of people in a classroom.  There is still the relationship and the interaction.  It is different, but I still enjoy the learning environment.

Teaching for me comes naturally in the one on one basis.  The classroom is a different animal, and I have had to work hard at improving my skills.

• Classroom control
• Presentation skills
• Eye contact

These three skills are the ones I have been working on for the last couple of years and I have improved.

What are your favorite aspects of teaching and education?  Are your definitions different from mine?
Let me know in the comments section or send me an e-mail with your thoughts.

-Loren
http://www.theteachingbox.today.com

My next posting will be about tutorials, why I like them, and the role they play in education.