Philosophy of Community

Reflection 1

This course has made me realize I need to establish a training philosophy. I don’t consider myself a teacher or even educator at times. I consider myself a trainer.

And what is the difference there, really?

Trainer feels like a demotion from teacher but then it also implies an empowered approach to teaching and learning. A teacher has a sense of authority, imparting knowledge; a trainer presents an alternate point of view in which learners are encouraged to adapt to their current practices.

Training implies an addition to current skills and learning, adding layer of understanding. Teaching has the sense that one is imparting completely new learning to a blank slate. While none of that is founded in actual definitions - I find, often, semantics drive definitions stronger than etymology.

Perhaps, considering myself a teacher or not is more due to confidence and the fact that I did not go to teacher’s college. Either way, the readings within this course has had me reflect on the fact that I need to develop a trainer’s philosophy. What is my philosophy to training? what is my philosophical approach to teaching?

In truth, in developing my thoughts for The Praxis of Hope, I came to the realization that training (or teaching) cannot live in a neutral and naïve environment – training must exist in the current context of the world, that we need to build an understanding of history in order to build critical thinking; as trainers, we must build space for social justice discourse in order to build a community, and we must take every opportunity to build community when we invite learners into our training space. Ultimately, this can only really be successible if these are approaches and considerations are built in the crucible of hope.

So, my approach to training? To build hope and connection in every training space I create, to build communities of action and innovation.  

composite of Mercury