Teaching to Learn…

For those of you that don’t know – there is a cool little feature available for iPhone and iPod Touch users called AudioBoo, where you can record up to three minutes of audio soundbites and share online.  It’s a pretty neat little feature, and allows for short bursts of ideas.  I shared just such a recording (they are called “boos”) this evening after I left the Exposure Denver photo club meeting.  You can listen to the recording here or continue reading below my thoughts on the Exposure Denver experience!

Speaking of which, the gang from the group was so cool – everyone was so welcoming!  They asked me to come in and share some tips and insights on Lightroom, which I was quite flattered but honored to do. If you want to learn more about Exposure Denver, follow the link to their blog where they have news of upcoming events, activities and more.  These folks take it to the next level with regular galleries, themes, critiques, reviews, and yes, you can sell prints at the shows!  A lot of thought, time and preparations go into the group and everyone contributes!  It was quite an energizing and motivating dynamic and has me very excited in ways that I have not even explored yet photographically and creatively.  My head is literally bursting with possibilities.  And why is this?

Because I was thrust into a teaching role, on a subject I am (or was) admittedly not an expert in!  I have no idea how it all started anymore, but this further confirms what I’ve known from prior experience in another field – the best way to learn about something is to try and teach it to someone else.  It forces you to get up to speed, get current, and learn more than you did before.  This happens in three ways:

You do research to prepare your class note, talking points and handouts.  I learned so much just from pulling all these resources together.

Others in the class will know things you don’t.  Without fail, this always happens.  There is no way you can expect to know more than everyone else on a subject you are teaching unless you have 20 years of age and experience over the audience.  But I was not in front of kindgarteners this evening – these were peers (and several were even a few steps ahead of me).  We each brought value to the table and while some probably learned a lot from me – others schooled me!  (But in a good way!)

So, if you want to really get your fingernails dirty, dig into something and know it better than you ever did before:  try teaching it!  I did and learned more than I ever have before about Lightrooom.

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