Thoughts on teaching...
So, something was bothering me about the 35th Anniversary event and I could not quite put my finger on it... And then
iarroganti commented that he had heard some people discussing the event on their way out the door and that they had never learned so much at an event. Suddenly I realized what the problem was - a teaching event and I didn't teach a blessed thing all day long. I certainly had plenty else on my plate and I did indeed enjoy the classes I did take, but it still felt odd...
It is sort of strange, but I think one of my most favorite things about the SCA is the endless opportunities to learn something... and then teach it to other people. I think that is one of the reasons I have never felt strongly attracted to other more specific reenactment organizations - I am a quality authenticity wonk, but the 1000+ years of our "period" allows for endless research possibilities and the opportunity to experiment with new challenges while still retaining a focus on my primary period of interest.
I enjoy knowledge for knowledge's sake, but there is something even more appealing about purposeful knowledge, which is why I think the majority of my classes are hands-on and/or practical classes. I do teach a few theory or history classes, but those are generally aimed at sucking people into delightful Pictish pursuits, so there is an ulterior motive there. And that, I think, is the core of the appeal. I love to suck people into a subject, to see that light go on in their eyes and their fingers start to twitch to try it, to seem them grasp the possibilities and the joy of the subject. It doesn't matter if I am playing with
ego_id_non_feci's monsters, or teaching at an event, presenting at an academic conference, educating medical staff, or speaking to elderly folks, whether it is to a single person or an audience of dozens, I am rarely as happy as when I'm teaching...
I don't think I really have a point here, just nattering on - I have known for a long time that I enjoyed teaching, this weekend just underscored that for me....
iarroganti commented that he had heard some people discussing the event on their way out the door and that they had never learned so much at an event. Suddenly I realized what the problem was - a teaching event and I didn't teach a blessed thing all day long. I certainly had plenty else on my plate and I did indeed enjoy the classes I did take, but it still felt odd...
It is sort of strange, but I think one of my most favorite things about the SCA is the endless opportunities to learn something... and then teach it to other people. I think that is one of the reasons I have never felt strongly attracted to other more specific reenactment organizations - I am a quality authenticity wonk, but the 1000+ years of our "period" allows for endless research possibilities and the opportunity to experiment with new challenges while still retaining a focus on my primary period of interest.
I enjoy knowledge for knowledge's sake, but there is something even more appealing about purposeful knowledge, which is why I think the majority of my classes are hands-on and/or practical classes. I do teach a few theory or history classes, but those are generally aimed at sucking people into delightful Pictish pursuits, so there is an ulterior motive there. And that, I think, is the core of the appeal. I love to suck people into a subject, to see that light go on in their eyes and their fingers start to twitch to try it, to seem them grasp the possibilities and the joy of the subject. It doesn't matter if I am playing with
ego_id_non_feci's monsters, or teaching at an event, presenting at an academic conference, educating medical staff, or speaking to elderly folks, whether it is to a single person or an audience of dozens, I am rarely as happy as when I'm teaching...
I don't think I really have a point here, just nattering on - I have known for a long time that I enjoyed teaching, this weekend just underscored that for me....