In the middle of the 20th century, the theologian Paul Tillich wrote a sermon titled “The Theology of Education.” When I encountered it early in my undergraduate studies, it changed my philosophy. Tillich held that the purpose of religious education was to challenge the student to reach beyond the surface to find the deeper meaning in that experience. I found that thinking, that philosophy, applied to my own studies and always strove for that deeper meaning, regardless of what I was studying. It applied to so much more than just religion.
Over time, I discovered my gift and passion for teaching. And in that passion, I discovered that my goal was to guide my learners to find their deeper meaning for themselves. This applied to coaching swimming, teaching Scouts how to start a campfire, and working with graduate students to guide them into the academy of higher learning.
This approach has caused me to focus first on what my students (and colleagues) need and want. From there, I can develop an approach individualized to support each student in her or his exploration of whatever the target content is. My role is to guide and to make suggestions. And, my role is to learn from my students and colleagues, using what I learn to provide even better support to them as they strive to become experts, themselves.
That doesn’t mean I don’t or can’t lecture. Indeed, there are times when lecture is the best approach. But I prefer to keep the lectures short and focused so we can get to the real purpose – learn and then use what has been learned to create something more and new.
In the end, the goal of education or learning is to reach beyond the surface and gain new insights, new ideas, new knowledge that can be shared with others. When that is the result, my teaching/mentoring has been successful.